The brick, though not my first choice, really doesn't look that bad. Anything painted will, inevitably, need to be repainted and defeat the low maintenance purpose of the brick.

Even if you hate the color of the brick, DON'T paint the brick; stain it instead. Not saying it may never fade some but, as far as I know, because it is intended to be absorbed into the brick at least it will not begin to peel and flake off like paint or whitewash.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Staining+brick+dark&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjn8tq87pHpAhUOn-AKHZh4BocQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1348&bih=648#imgrc=n-R4MKq9qurmgM

Don't let the orange brick limit you. It can be painted with the Romabio as Beth mentioned.

Idk why you can't have a red door, not lipstick red, but one about as muted as what's already there.

Paint your downspouts to blend into the house.

Is there brick all around your house or only that little bit on the front?

@partim it's only on the front

@houssaon something like this? you don't think that grey is too light and trim too dark?

For that very small amount of brick, just stain it.. There are products specifically made for staining (or painting) brick. As far as it lasting, I've accidentally gotten deck stain on brick. Impossible to remove. So a product made for brick will be fine.

@Beth H. : Thank you! If i left the brick as is, would you do the trim in darker color or the white? I used the colors in the swatch you posted

Navy blue paint would coordinate really well with orange brick.

I like those grays w/the brick (although, I'm in the Paint the Brick camp)

Try using the Origami somewhere. if you do a dark roof, you won't be able to see the dark fascia, so try the white around the roof line. lets see how that looks.

don't know if I care for the red door. Maybe it's the style of the door. perhaps if you got w/glass ? maybe a little more modern looking?

the other think that's fighting that brick color is your rocks in the flower bed. if you switched the rock to something charcoal, or black (black lava rock, black mulch) or even the red mulch, I think it would blend better.

You said you despise the brick colour so what is your hesitation to paint it?

My neighbourhood is almost 50 years old and the houses are a combination of brick and aluminum siding for the back and sides, but the front also may have a bit of stucco and/or stone. Some houses just had too many finishes going on at once, so people have simplified by painting. Some have added stucco over the original stone or brick at the front which also looks good but is more expensive than just painting.

The more I compared grays, the more On the Rocks looked purple to me. So I looks at the lighter versions of Peppercorn. Here is Argos with Nebulous White and with Peppercorn.

@partim we've been told it might lower the value of the house if we do anything to the brick. I keep going back and forth with it. My husband wants to whitewash it. Also, there's only one other house in the development that has painted or whitewashed the brick (and I'm not sure it's really a part of our development) . i'm not sure if HOA will approve.

Not a pro. Whitewash will defeat the low maintenance reason a lot of people like brick. How could that not lower the value of the home.

I actually like the siding color you have with that brick but would definitely change the gray trim -- preferably to the darkest brown in the brick or to a white or black.

If you put the wrong paint on it and it starts to peel, then it would lower the property value. But if improves the curb appeal of your house it will increase the value. I suggest stain not paint, so no peeling.

I have no experience with HOAs.

I'm all for leaving beautiful brick but you will never get rid of the orangey/brown and I fear, will never be happy if you leave it that color. It is just so limiting. iI'd use the Romabia and paint out the brick, gray roof and the red door you want.

There's maybe 120 square feet of brick on that house? How long would it take to stain it, even brick by brick? To touch up in a few years if needed? I can see the issue if all 4 walls of a big 2 storey house need periodic painting. But this? It's nothing.

What would it cost to remove and replace with an attractive colour brick? It's just brick veneer. I've seen them take it off and replace it in my neighbourhood. Or stucco over it.

For what you're spending on the roof and painting the rest, pay a bit more and make it look really good.

suez and partim, would you please read up on Romabio?

Suez, you constantly post about ruining the brick and requiring maintenance if one paints it. Do a little research. No one has told the OP to go out and get Latex paint for her brick. (Partim, that's what would peel. masonry paint lets the brick breathe so it won't peel)

She can have it stained, or she can do the natural mineral clay of Romabio. It has a 20 year guarantee and is less maintenance than a house that's been painted. I really don't see what the issue is. She said she 'hates' the color of the brick.

And sorry, but this looks a million times better than that orange brick. I wouldn't care if I had to give this a coat once every 10 years. it's worth it. Plus, there isn't that much of it! paint it!

Doing a lime wash on it will give them maintenance free for 10-20 yrs. At the very most she would have to apply another touch up coat. Not a big deal.

ulia, if you husband wants the lime wash, get a small sample pot and try it out. It will completely wash off within the first 72 hours if you don't like it.

And if you want more of a solid coating, then use they masonry paint.

@Beth H. : Thank you! I think you've convinced me to try the limewash. I can't imagine it will decrease the value if it improves the appearance of the home. That brick is so ugly, I can't believe anyone will say it looked better left alone than limewash/painted. I will check out Romabio, thank you!!

No need to convince me about Romabio. I am all for it because it is the right product.

I am generally in the don't-paint-the-brick camp, because I really like the look of most brick. Not because I am worried about peeling, as long as the appropriate product is used.

I would definitely cover the OP's brick.

More options

taupe/greige

Taupe-greige

Without hesitation you should paint the brick!
It’s not much brick and will transform your homes curb appeal. I would go with a soft white paint like sw Shoji white or sw alabaster .
I’m not familiar with the Rombaio product but I think if you do it correctly and full coverage it will look spectacular!!

@Celery. Visualization, Rendering images wow, you have some talent! are those SW paint colors? I love the first 3

this is the only one I like. the darker, warm gray, white trim and the wood door. don't like the red door w/the brick

I like a full lite wood door w/your house. if you're keeping the brick

or like this. w/the arch in the wood too

Moonlit Orchid SW

Mystical Shade SW

Painted brick

I know that you didn’t ask, but...once you re roof and repaint, please landscape your home! If you want to downplay the orange of your brick, remove the golden toned rock mulch and replace it with dark brown mulch. Pretty plants, bigger pots with colorful flowers, will help, too. And remember to paint your downspouts to blend in, not stand out, from the siding color! Good luck!

@Celery. Visualization, Rendering images wow! This is amazing! This gives me hope my house can look nice! We are planning to add/ improve landscaping - remove river rock and add mulch and plants/flowers. I never considered widening the steps and changing walkway. I love it! Probably not in our budget but maybe in a couple years. Also, i was going to use the rambio whitewash instead of painting the brick to match color of siding and leaning towards summit gray. Do you think i should paint brick vs. the whitewash look?

Geez. If that is all the brick you have on the house you could have it REPLACED with something more to your liking.

@gustaviatex I'm on a budget - wouldn't that be more expensive than limewash? Also not sure what my HOA will approve of.

Even if new steps and pathways are not in this year's budget, you can shape the flower beds to make a grass path instead of the concrete one. Make the beds and plant shrubs in the shape that will suit the later work. Still looks great now, and by the time you do the more expensive work your small shrubs will have grown to a nice size.

In case anyone is interested, here’s some after photos.

we just limewashed the brick today, still need to weather it a bit. Next, we landscape!! if anyone has any tips on how to hide the electrical box, holler!

It looks stunning! Thanks for the update.

Julia, wow! what a difference. looking good! What products did you end up using and what colors?

here some ideas for the box

check w/the utility company and see if you're allowed to build a fence around it or something similar. If so, try some cedar slat and do a box. (if it's something that easily lifted up, I'm sure they'll let you do it)

or try something like a screen, and do some tall ornamental grasses in back of it.

Amazing difference.

Very very nice!! Looks like you had no issue with the HOA after all.

Your home will be an example to others on this site for a dramatic improvement! Bravo!

@Beth H. : we used Romabio bianco white limewash on the brick, SW Summit Gray on siding, SW Extra White trim, and SW Sundried Tomato for door. Might change the door at some point. Thank you for the electrical box suggestions!!

I have an orange brick home. It's the prettiest house on our block.
Use a browned green and a deep brown for the trim. We used SW too. The color at the time was High Tea. High Tea is the garage door and the gutters/trim color. Previous owners had the trim painted a yellowish tan. Once we put the green and brown up, the eye sighed.
We get compliments every day on it. Bad time of day for pictures, but I think you get the idea. The previous owners also had a green roof that was sorely faded. Oh, it was a very good day when the new roof went on. This is a 7 years ago remodel.
*Don't dis my shutters. I know they're not properly sized and that's ok cause they're for looks only. :) We did them pre-Houzz knowledge.

@Lisa T very nice! Love your garage door!

Agree there is nothing wrong with orange brick but the OP said she disliked it, and it made sense to whitewash it since there was only a tiny amount.

Lisa T now we have another color to recommend to those who want to keep their orange brick. Thanks for sharing!

Oh my. Get the Romabio stuff from Home Depot (either their masonry paint or the lime wash) and get rid of the orange brick. Easy peasy. It'll be beautiful. Do what you want to make your heart happy!

she did! it's already done