• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
    • Get Your Free Ebook

      This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • 20240206_185022-01Before & after: tiles steal the show in 90s kitchen revamp
    • IMG_0235Kerb appeal: 3-bedder given fresh new look for retirees
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • TheClassicOutfitter_AbbieMelle_43Quartzite is the new ‘it’ stone but it’s more than just Taj Mahal
    • 0C5A0574-EditMosman en suite gets “sexy, strong, girly and sophisticated” look
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • COMMERCIAL_GoldOverBlue_28May2025_0007What’s new in furniture and homewares: May 2025
    • Screenshot 2025-05-19 at 1.02.34 pmClean your carpets professionally at home without the dry time
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • Montage Apartment by Studio PrineasApartment takes out two major categories in design awards
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Crispy egg noodles with seafood p. 116Foodie Friday: crispy egg noodles with seafood
    • 1293660_lifestyle Crossland Pearl GL-Porc Txt Rect 597×1195 UNI_Crossland_AMB 02_Living_PearlHow to bring your favourite travel destinations home
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Painted brick houses: 3 readers share before & afters

By Jen Bishop •

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

Having recently taken the plunge and had our sixties red brick house painted grey (Haymes Paint Rockslide if you’re interested!), I’m a bigger fan than ever of the transformative effect this can have on a dated home for a relatively small spend. I mean, you’re still talking thousands, especially if you have it done professionally (which we did because we would have made a terrible job of it, not to mention probably given up after a few hours!), but the difference is huge. I’ll be sharing more of our facade as we complete more of our exterior plans but you can find it on my Instagram if you’re interested.

Three generous readers who did the same, are sharing their before and afters with you today. I hope it gives you some inspiration if you’ve been thinking about painted brick. If you have any technical questions about painting brick, please drop them in the comments and we’ll get our painters BK Decor to answer them!

HOUSE 1

Olivia Stoeckel and her husband bought their house in Southern Barossa, SA, for the land, and many people told them to knock it down. “Early in the renovation, we decided to paint the exterior to freshen it up. No one told us to knock it down after that.”

“We looked at render briefly but wanted to keep the texture of the bricks. We think it would have lost some of its charm. We love the result!”

They used Taubmans Endure in Silver Dollar (matt) for the walls and Struan Grey (low sheen) for the windows and trim, and did the job themselves! “We used a really thick wool roller from a paint supplies shop. It gave great coverage and got into the mortar.”

HOUSE 2

Bree Pollock was inspired by Mid Century Palm Springs homes when she decided to transform her brick abode in Highett VIC, with white paint. “It seemed like the quickest and most cost-effective way to dramatically change the face of our home. I actually love the detail of brick, and our home was so well built, the bricks from 1965 were still in great condition. I wanted to honour some of the original detail in the home instead of simply covering it all up with render.”

Bree chose Dulux paint in Snowy Mountain quarter strength and her husband sprayed them himself.

“I am totally obsessed with the result! It has transformed our home into a light and airy paradise! If you’re thinking about painting your brick, don’t hesitate, it is totally worth it! The front of your home sets the vibe for what’s inside so for me, the front is a major aspect of any renovation.”

HOUSE 3

We love this before and after from Alison Scardetta using Dulux colour Wallaby and a spray gun.

“We decided to paint the bricks for two reasons,” she says. “We knew we were going to sell the house and we didn’t want to over-capitalise. Rendering is very expensive. Secondly, the roof line of the house is pretty extreme! I thought that by rendering it and making it a “solid” surface that it would actually accentuate the roof line instead of softening it. We changed the boards on the front of the house to make them horizontal as opposed to on an angle for the same reason.”

She loved the result. “It modernised the house very easily and it kept the textured look of the brick. I spent a long time choosing the right grey. You don’t want your house ending up looking like a jail!”

Alison said the key to painting brick is good quality paint and good preparation. “The bricks must be completely clean and dry.”

Got a question about painting the exterior of your home? Please ask it in the comments!

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

January 23, 2020

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Australian bathroom standards: dimensions explained by an expert

  • Win the new super slim robot vacuum and mop from DEEBOT

  • Interior designer sees her Mediterranean dream home come to life

  • Quartzite is the new ‘it’ stone but it’s more than just Taj Mahal

  • What’s new in furniture and homewares: May 2025

Follow us on Instagram

SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jas SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jasminemcclellanddesign delivered. And then some!

"With a keen eye for design, they wanted their main bathroom to feel calm, spa-like and elevated with more storage, better layout, and soft, layered textures in a neutral palette. Lighting was another big focus, with the goal of creating a space that felt luxurious enough to unwind in, preferably with a glass of champagne in the bath.”

Is it a yay or a nay for you?

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for all the suppliers as well as a look at the powder room with its bold wallpaper 😍

#spabathroom #zenbathroom #spavibes #bathroomremodels 

📸 @jonathantabensky
Vacuums, mops, empties itself. Slim enough to get Vacuums, mops, empties itself. Slim enough to get under the lowest furniture and beds.

Comment 'enter' and we'll DM you the link to enter for your chance to win this top of the range $1499 robot from @ecovacs_anz, the DEEBOT T50 PRO OMNI.

Good luck!

#robotvacuumcleaner #robotvaccum #robotvacuummop #robotmop #smarthome #houseworkhacks
>>>Swipe for the transformation! 😮 From cold t >>>Swipe for the transformation! 😮

From cold to cosy!

This primary ensuite for a successful career woman working in luxury cosmetics and homewares is sexy, strong, girly, but sophisticated. We love its warmth and personality.

If you'd like to take the tour and find out where everything is from, comment 'luxe' below and I'll send the link to your DMs!

Bravo @howardlanedesigns 👏🏼 
📸 @capturedbykels__

#ensuiteinspo #ensuitedecor #ensuitegoals #marblebathrooms #statementstone
The latest addition to my @kirstenjackson_gallery The latest addition to my @kirstenjackson_gallery collection. This is a framed canvas and the quality is amazing. I feel like beautifully framed canvas prints are the perfect affordable halfway point when it comes to art.
What's your decor style? Spring, summer, autumn or What's your decor style? Spring, summer, autumn or winter?

I could have told you I was spring even before I took the quick quiz to find out, and pleased to report the quiz gave me the right result!

Comment the season you THINK you are below (spring, summer, autumn or winter) and I'll send you the link to the quiz so you can double check!

Fun!

This quiz from @templeandwebster jumps on the colour analysis trend for fashion and applies it to interiors!

#seasonaldecorating #seasonaldecor #colouranalysis
The @thermomix_au TM7 launch in Sydney yesterday w The @thermomix_au TM7 launch in Sydney yesterday was a real treat. Such an exciting and sleek looking upgrade to my favourite kitchen machine!

The new look speaks for itself and, as usual, the engineering is impressive. Here's the biggest changes that stood out to me:

1. It's SO quiet and in fact SILENT up to a certain speed 
2. It has a much bigger 10 inch screen
3. A new insulated, cool to touch bowl (the inner metal bowl detaches to wash)
4. A gorgeous new matte black design with fluted and herringbone details and made of 30% recycled materials 👏🏼 

Enjoyed a beautiful lunch all prepared, naturally, in the Thermomix! Was great to meet @mise_en_place_aus in real life as well as special guest dessert queen @kirstentibballs and catch up with the lovely Thermomix team.

Tag a friend who'll be coveting the TM7! It's available from next week!

#thermomixtm7 #thermomix #thermomixaus #thermomixlover
Awards are always a great place to get inspo. Chec Awards are always a great place to get inspo. Check out the kitchen and bathroom of the year winners in this month's @hia_au @csrdwelling Housing Awards. There's more winning homes and rooms to check out in our blog post on the homepage, via link in bio or stories now. 

Kitchen by @build.theory Bathroom by @birdblackdesign and @aspire_constructions 

#hiaawards #hiaawards2025 #awardwinninghomes #australianinteriordesign
We're so in love with this reno by @jdzdesigns_ 😍😍😍

It's a remodel of a previously dark and pokey extension to a Victorian Gothic home. It's now an open plan dream, and the transition from old to new is beautifully done with impressive black steel doors.

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for the full story and tour.

#kitchenislands #superwhite #luxurykitchens #openplanlivingspace #steeldoordesign

📸 @lawrencefurzey
Swipe for before ▶️▶️▶️ This kitchen Swipe for before ▶️▶️▶️ 

This kitchen is small but mighty and very very pretty! Swipe through for the finer details of this reno by Casa & Co Interior Design. It sure went from boring beige 90s to stylish and full of detail and storage!

What do you think?

Read all about it on the blog now via link in bio/stories.

#smallkitchenideas #kitchentile #potfiller #featuretiles #hamptonskitchen #pulloutpantry
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: Just One Thing To Elevate Your Interior, featuring Australia's top design talent.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Jen Bishop

About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. She founded Interiors Addict in 2011. Jen also works as a copywriter and comms consultant to small business owners and brands, helping them with their own content as well as working out what will make them appealing to the media.

More from Before & Afters

Before & after: tiles steal the show in 90s kitchen revamp

Kerb appeal: 3-bedder given fresh new look for retirees

Something out of nothing: reading nook created in roof space

Love it or hate it? A kitchen with not one but two…

Luxurious black and gold glow up for Sydney city bolthole

Arts & Crafts home’s heritage restored while giving it new life

Before & after: 80s home given new life to stay in the…

Apartment brought back to life by interior designer

Our new dining nook with built in banquette seating

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mel says

    January 23, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    Just wondering if the metal windows frames were painted or windows replAced. I would love to pain my red brick but the windows are cream aluminium, which would clash with the grey or white

    • Lucille McLaren says

      January 26, 2020 at 9:32 pm

      You can paint aluminium, I did opposite the sea with blowing gales and cyclones and it didn’t lift. You may have colourbond which may be different but the manufacturer can advise you.

  2. Foong says

    January 26, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    For the third photo. What grey colour is it ?

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      January 28, 2020 at 10:42 am

      Hi Foong, we have just added more info about the third makeover including the colour. Hope that helps!

  3. Lucille McLaren says

    January 26, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    I’m sorry but I really dislike painted brick, it looks like those 60’s blocks of flats they went crazy painting in the 80’s.
    I think save a little longer and render the house.

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      January 28, 2020 at 10:41 am

      Everyone has different taste, Lucille, and that’s ok! I personally wouldn’t have rendered even if I had the extra money. It wasn’t a decision based on budget for us, it was wanting to keep the texture of the brick and not have our house look like a plain grey box, but it doesn’t have many other features and this would be losing one more. I love all these three examples that people have been kind enough to share with us.

  4. Sandra says

    January 27, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    Our house has raked mortar joints and rumbled (not too heavily) bricks. Any advice or feedback if the bricks were to be painted?

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      January 28, 2020 at 10:43 am

      We will ask our painter, Sandra, and put together all these Q&As into a future blog post.

  5. denise grant says

    January 27, 2020 at 7:28 pm

    maybe its just me but sometimes i would like to be able to zoom in the fotos a bit more thanks

  6. John's Painting says

    January 29, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    The painting really makes the house more beautiful. The results are amazing especially on the house 1, the before photo seems to be like an abandoned house and the after photo makes the house looks new and beautiful.

  7. Kylie says

    April 16, 2020 at 11:48 am

    Did you also spray your roof? We have just started to spray our 1970’s yellow brick white.

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      April 16, 2020 at 12:15 pm

      Which house are you referring to, Kylie? We personally haven’t but we plan to soon! Jen

  8. Kelly says

    February 3, 2021 at 9:18 pm

    I love the look of these transformations. Exactly what I am wanting to do. My house is soooo 1990’s
    Have you used or heard of brick tinting? do you rate it?

Promo Area

Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2025 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in