Painting Brick White

        Consider the dynamic qualities brought out by painting the interior brick white. Brick, by nature, is a visually demanding element. It's bond work, corbeled shadowlines, and rich, gritty color tend to dwarf other neighboring elements. Building with such a loud material quickly limits the palate of interior design. 

        A generous application of paint changes all of that. Natural light begins to play about the interior with ease. Floor and ceiling elements have the freedom to captivate the eye without fear of sensory overload. White brick walls create spaces that imbue a soft crispness throughout.

        For those who care to diving further down the rabbit hole, these pictures all come from houses designed by A. Hays Town. Aside from the antebellum plantations, Town's houses are perhaps the single most influential homes in the state of Louisiana. His work stands as a testament of how impactful the commitment to a local place can be.


*Many thanks to Fred Nowicki for kindly pointing out that brick should only be covered with a lime-based paint, or lime wash. An oil or latex paint will prevent the brick from breathing and trap moisture in the brick. Ultimately, this causes erosion. When I wrote the post, I forgot to mention the problems associated with conventional paints and brickwork. Pardon the assumption and oversight. Below I've attached an image of what a conventional paint will do to a brick wall.