By now you’ve probably heard how thrilled we are with the transformation after painting our brick house white last fall. It ranks among our favorite home makeovers from 13 years of ownership. Since some of you might be thinking of doing the same, we wanted to share what we learned, offer some helpful advice, and show a few springtime photos of the house with the white dogwoods in bloom out front.
First, a quick declaration: we don’t believe every brick should be painted. Natural brick is beautiful and often worth preserving, especially when it’s historic or has character—like the 100-year-old chimneys we exposed at our beach houses or the reclaimed brick steps we added. But not all brick falls into that category.
The brick on this house was an example of the opposite: early-80s brick in a blotchy maroon and dark brown, with yellow-beige mortar applied in a way that felt messy. It didn’t have charm; it felt dated and heavy. The white paint swatch we tried immediately neutralized those visual problems and gave the facade a more classic, stately feel.
There are many types of brick—some look amazing left alone, others don’t. If you dislike your brick, trust your instincts. Don’t feel pressured to paint unless you’re sure. But if you’re completely committed, like we were, it’s a strong sign you’ll be happy with the result. Looking back, our only regret is not doing it sooner.
Even when you’re confident, it’s a big decision. We debated everything for years: would we regret it, choose the wrong color, annoy neighbors, face extra maintenance, or spend too much? Now that the project is complete, none of those worries proved true. We love the finished look and felt the investment was worthwhile.
- What if we regret painting the brick?
- What if we don’t like the color?
- What will the neighbors think?
- What if it’s much harder to maintain?
- What if it’s wildly expensive to do?
A key factor in our confidence was finding the right paint. Many readers recommended a breathable mineral masonry paint called Romabio Masonry Flat. It’s formulated for brick and other masonry and doesn’t act like standard latex paint, which can trap moisture and later crack or peel. The qualities that convinced us included a long warranty, eco-friendliness, natural mold resistance, a classic matte finish, and a formula commonly used on historic masonry in Europe. As our professional painter said, it’s “like painting brick with brick.”
We weren’t sponsored for the makeover—we paid for it ourselves—but during the process we got to know the team behind the paint and later collaborated with them on a curated collection of exterior colors. Picking the right color can be paralyzing, so we narrowed options to a thoughtful set of shades we genuinely love and would use on our homes. The collection includes classic neutrals—greiges, sand tones, khakis, and deep chocolatey hues—plus a few muted color options like soft blues, mossy greens, and a subtle blush.
Mineral paints are created from natural materials, so they typically aren’t available in very dark, highly saturated tones. Darker colors can also fade more quickly outdoors. For durability and longevity, our collection favors timeless, muted tones with enough gray or tan to remain elegant in sunlight.
Note: mineral paint has limits on how dark it can be because of its natural ingredients, which is why the palette leans toward muted, long-lasting colors.
We took cues from painted brick homes in our hometown—especially Richmond’s Fan district—which is full of inspiring examples in a wide range of shades. With swatches in hand, we walked the streets to test how colors read in real daylight and selected a streamlined palette rather than overwhelming choices. After narrowing down favorites, we ordered painted sample boards to compare how each shade looked on masonry and refined the lineup until we were unanimous about every color.
During our research, we also saw examples of brick painted with conventional latex paints. Those finishes often look glossier and can peel or crack over time because they trap moisture. That reinforced our decision to use a breathable masonry paint designed for longevity and brick health.
For our own color selection process we tested many samples on actual brick sections before committing. That step is essential—colors can look very different on masonry than on paper swatches. We loved the final collection so much we joked about needing more houses to try all the shades.
Naming the colors was unexpectedly fun. We aimed for names that would feel right on a house and reflect our inspiration—some nod to our hometown, others just playful. Our actual favorite white, “Richmond White,” is the tone we used on our home. It strikes a balance—not too stark and not too yellow—so it pairs well with brighter trim when needed.
Choosing our final white took time: we narrowed dozens of swatches to a few finalists, had the masonry paint color-matched to similar shades from other brands, painted them on the house, and then produced the final batch in the chosen formula. Because color matching between brands can vary, asking for the exact named color from the paint maker is the most foolproof way to replicate our shade.
Romabio’s masonry paint works on exterior and interior brick (for example, fireplaces), and small test buckets are available if you want to try a color before committing to a full job. We also shared tips about coordinating exterior color with existing trim and roof tones and offered door color suggestions that complement the collection.
If you decide to use any of the colors from our collection, we’d love to see photos—tag them or send them along. Seeing other homes transformed is the best part of this whole process.
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