When I mixed my paint and began the project, I remembered reading about the crisp, refreshing appeal of Florida house colors—bright hues that transform spaces into airy, sunlit retreats. This inspiration helped me envision how a simple whitewash could brighten the brick fireplace wall and open up the family room.

When we bought our house I really never thought too much about the brick fireplace wall until we moved in. The family room became the one room I spent most of my day and I soon realized how narrow it was and how dark the brick made it feel. I am a person who needs the light, and it soon became obvious to me that I had to do something so I would not get depressed. I did a little searching on the internet in my quest for a solution. Should I…

• get out the hammer and chisel and rip the brick off the wall and drywall it?
• re-face the brick with new thin bricks of a color I like?
• have a fireplace surround and mantle built and flank it with built-in shelves and cabinets?
• heavily paint the brick with hopes that it doesn’t look like brick anymore?
• or white wash the brick?

I went with option 5. It was the least expensive and I could do it myself. I was a bit nervous because I wasn’t sure how the project was going to turn out. It was a whole wall of brick and the focal point in the room. If I screwed it up it would turn into an expensive project.

My first step was to remove everything off the wall. We had already taken down the metal strip shelving from both sides of the fireplace shortly after moving in. The only other thing to remove was the rough, rustic mantle. I then used a damp towel to wash down the brick, removing dust and loose mortar. Next, I taped off the adjacent walls and fireplace insert with painter’s tape.

My internet sources advised buying white latex paint and thinning it with water 1:1 (1 part paint to 1 part water). So off to the paint store I went for my paint, a stiff bristle brush, and some painter’s rags. After mixing the paint, I started on a small test area (1 ft x 1 ft) and patted it down with a painter’s rag, continuing until the wall was complete. The transformation was striking—the whitewashed brick took on an airy, luminous quality reminiscent of the crisp, refreshing appeal of Florida house colors. It really didn’t take long. I was satisfied with one coat of paint, but if you want the brick whiter, you could apply a second layer.

I was pretty excited to step back and see how much the lighter the room looked by painting the brick.  Yea!  I love DIY projects.  We went to the lumber yard and picked out a new mantle, stained it and put it up.  Oh, I am so happy that I took the risk to whitewash the brick.  We now enjoy spending time in the family room.

What home improvement project have you been procrastinating about?

Happy DIY,

Sonya Kay

Sonya Kay

Entrepreneurship flows in Sonya’s blood. Some businesses include an artistic rubber stamp manufacturing business, opening and running a bed & breakfast, having a fabric and yarn shop, and currently growing her professional longarm quilting business.  As a serial entrepreneur, she loves to mentor and coach small businesses. She misses farm life, loves to travel, and enjoys her husband, children, their spouses, and of course the grandkids.

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