Transforming your home’s exterior can be one of the most impactful makeovers you undertake. For us, painting our brick house white last fall stands out as a truly favorite project in our 13 years of homeownership. The results have been nothing short of transformative, completely revitalizing our curb appeal and making us fall in love with our home all over again. If you’re contemplating a similar journey for your own brick home, we’re here to share our insights, advice, and some truly exciting news that will simplify your decision-making process. And as a bonus, we couldn’t resist including some fresh spring photographs of our house, now beautifully complemented by the white flowering dogwoods, a sight that truly fills our hearts with joy.
To Paint or Not To Paint: Understanding Your Brick
Before diving into the specifics of our project, it’s crucial to state upfront: we firmly believe that not all brick should be painted. There’s an undeniable charm and historic beauty in untouched brick, especially when it features unique characteristics or significant age. We absolutely adore natural brick homes and appreciate original brick accents, particularly when dealing with truly historic masonry. For instance, the 100-year-old brick chimneys we lovingly exposed at our beach houses, or the wide, reclaimed brick steps we incorporated into both properties, are prime examples of brickwork that deserves to be preserved and celebrated in its natural state. Their inherent beauty, texture, and historical significance are irreplaceable.
However, the brick on our current house presented a different scenario entirely. Dating back to the early eighties, it lacked any particular historic charm or unique aesthetic appeal. Its original facade featured a rather uninspired, blotchy maroon and dark brown coloration, further compounded by yellow-beige mortar applied with inconsistent, messy triangles in the corners. It was, to put it mildly, far from the stately and classic look we envisioned for our home. This specific type of brick, while functional, simply didn’t resonate with the character we wanted to cultivate. Below, you can see exactly what we mean—a visual testament to brick that, while structurally sound, lacked the desirable aesthetic qualities of truly timeless masonry.
Notice how that small white swatch of paint immediately transformed the brick, neutralizing its dated appearance and instantly elevating it to that “historic, stately, and classic” aesthetic? This highlights a fundamental truth: brick, much like any other building material, comes in myriad styles, ages, and conditions. Some brick is inherently stunning and timeless, perfect as it is. Yet, other brick, often a product of specific architectural eras or inconsistent manufacturing, might be far from what you would choose today. The liberating realization is that you don’t have to live with an exterior you dislike. If you’ve been contemplating a change for your home’s brick for some time, our foremost advice is to trust your intuition and give it deep consideration. If you’re unsure about the painted look, it’s perfectly fine to hold off. But if, like us, you feel 110% confident and eager to make the change, that’s a strong indicator that you’ll absolutely adore the outcome. Reflecting on old photos, our only thought is, “Zero regrets, except that we didn’t do it sooner!” The transformation has been that profound and satisfying.
Addressing Common Concerns About Painting Brick
Even with absolute certainty, we understand that painting brick is a significant decision, not one to be taken lightly. We, too, navigated a whole spectrum of concerns and reasons *not* to paint our brick house over the years. These included:
- What if we regret painting the brick? This was a monumental fear, imagining an irreversible change we’d come to despise.
- What if we don’t like the color? Choosing the right shade for such a large surface felt incredibly high-stakes.
- What will the neighbors think? The worry of being “that house” on the block was surprisingly potent.
- What if it’s much harder to maintain? We envisioned constant touch-ups, peeling, and a never-ending battle against dirt.
- What if it’s wildly expensive to do? The potential financial investment loomed large.
But now, having completed the project and living with the incredible “after,” we can confidently reassure you: absolutely none of those concerns proved to be founded. In fact, we are far more in love with the result than we ever anticipated. The benefits—from enhanced curb appeal and a refreshed aesthetic to the sheer joy of pulling into our driveway—have far outweighed any initial apprehensions. For those interested in the practicalities, you can learn more about the process and see how much it cost here, providing transparency into our investment and journey.
The Game-Changer: Discovering Romabio Masonry Flat
If you followed our decision-making process on the podcast last summer, you’ll know that a significant turning point, the one that finally gave us the confidence to take the plunge, was finding the absolute right paint product. Ironically, it was a recommendation from many of you, our wonderful community, that led us to Romabio Masonry Flat (which was known as Boidomus I at the time). This wasn’t a product we had previously encountered, but as we delved deeper into its properties, our interest was truly piqued.
Learning that Romabio Masonry Flat is a breathable mineral paint, specifically formulated for brick and other masonry surfaces, was the key revelation. Unlike conventional latex paints that often seal the brick, trapping moisture and eventually leading to cracking and peeling over time, Romabio allows the brick to “breathe.” This crucial distinction ensures the longevity of both the paint job and the brick itself, preventing common issues associated with painting masonry. The more we understood about its unique composition and benefits, the more confident we felt moving forward with our project. Its properties truly set it apart, making it the ideal choice for a lasting and beautiful exterior transformation. It wasn’t just paint; it was a solution.
Why Romabio Masonry Flat Stands Out:
- 20-Year Warranty: An exceptional guarantee that speaks volumes about its durability and performance. This offered immense peace of mind.
- Eco-Friendly: Made from natural ingredients, Romabio is a greener choice, aligning with our values for sustainable home improvements.
- Naturally Mold Resistant: Its mineral composition inherently resists mold growth, significantly reducing maintenance and preserving aesthetic appeal.
- Historic European Application: Knowing it’s the preferred choice for painting historic brick buildings across Europe lent immense credibility, linking it to timeless beauty and proven resilience.
- Beautiful Matte Finish: The paint delivers a stunning, classic matte finish that never appears garish or overly shiny, perfectly enhancing the architectural character of the home.
- “Painting Brick with Brick”: As our professional painter eloquently put it, “it’s like painting brick with brick.” This perfectly encapsulates how the paint integrates with the masonry, becoming part of its structure rather than just a superficial layer.
For a more comprehensive understanding of our decision-making process and why we ultimately chose this remarkable product, you can delve deeper into our reasoning here.
Curating the Romabio Exterior Paint Color Collection
It’s important to clarify that Romabio did not sponsor our initial house makeover; we covered all costs ourselves. However, throughout our painting project, my inherent tendency to ask “10,000 questions” led us to connect with the incredible husband-and-wife duo behind Romabio. Their passion and expertise were truly inspiring. A few months after we completed our project and expressed our profound love for the results, they approached us with an exciting proposition: would we be interested in curating a paint color collection designed to simplify the daunting decision-making process for other homeowners? Our response was instantaneous: “Um… YES!”
Choosing a paint color can be an agonizing endeavor for any interior space, but we had just experienced firsthand the nerve-wracking complexity of selecting the perfect shade for an entire home exterior. The sheer scale and permanence of the decision amplify the anxiety. Therefore, the opportunity to help others navigate this challenge, empowering them to choose the right color with confidence and minimal second-guessing, was incredibly appealing. As someone who genuinely enjoys playing with paint swatches and imagining transformations for every house I pass, this was, quite literally, a dream project. We enthusiastically embraced the task of assembling a collection of our fifteen absolute favorite exterior paint colors, specifically tailored for brick or stone. These are, without a doubt, the very colors we would use if we had 15 more houses to paint (a notion John has firmly vetoed, much to my playful chagrin).
Note on Color Depth: It’s important to understand that mineral paints, due to their natural material composition, have inherent limitations regarding how dark they can be formulated. This is why you won’t find super dark, highly saturated colors within our collection. Additionally, dark colors are more susceptible to fading when exposed to constant outdoor elements. Romabio prioritizes exceptional durability and easy maintenance, a commitment underscored by their impressive 20-year warranty. The curated palette reflects this dedication to long-lasting, beautiful results.
Inspiration from Historic Richmond
Our inspiration for this carefully curated collection largely stemmed from the stunning array of historic painted brick houses found in our hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Specifically, the picturesque neighborhood known as The Fan served as an endless source of visual delight. This area boasts blocks upon blocks of exquisite painted brick eye-candy, showcasing an incredible spectrum of colors. Strolling through The Fan is a favorite pastime of ours, so turning these leisurely walks into “research” trips—armed with our paint swatches—was not only productive but immensely enjoyable. It allowed us to observe how different colors interacted with various architectural styles and natural light conditions, providing invaluable real-world context for our selections.
Crafting the Perfect Exterior Palette
Working from Romabio’s stock color deck as our initial guide, we began our reconnaissance in downtown Richmond. Our focus quickly centered on selecting a range of classic, no-fail neutrals that offer timeless appeal for exterior applications. This included sophisticated greiges, versatile khakis, warm sand tones, and rich chocolates – shades that provide a beautiful, understated foundation. For those desiring a subtle infusion of color, we also developed options like misty blues, verdant mossy greens, and even a delicate blush pink, all carefully chosen to complement rather than overwhelm.
It’s crucial to note that the paint blobs you see in our collection on screen might appear somewhat muted or subdued. This intentional characteristic is vital for exterior colors. On an entire house exterior, especially when bathed in direct sunlight, colors with too much saturation can quickly read as “too crazy” or “too bright,” losing their stately charm. Therefore, each color in our collection has been meticulously balanced with just enough gray or tan undertone – often referred to as “muddiness” in color theory – to ensure it maintains a classic, sophisticated, and enduring presence on a large scale.
Once we had narrowed down our initial selections to a few dozen favorites, Romabio provided us with large painted swatches. This allowed us to meticulously tinker and fine-tune each hue—lightening some, subtly graying others, and eliminating options that were too similar. Our overarching goal was to genuinely simplify the decision-making process for homeowners; offering ten slightly different blues, for example, would have defeated that purpose entirely, and real fast. We aimed for clarity and distinctiveness within the collection. So, if you’re seeking a light, warm gray, we offer “Instant Chateau.” If a deep gray-blue is what you envision, “Navy Steel” is your perfect match. We undertook several rigorous rounds of narrowing and adjusting, consistently taking our samples back to the streets of The Fan for crucial real-world “gut checks,” ensuring that we absolutely loved every single color in the final collection, without exception.
During some of our extensive paint color reconnaissance missions, we also encountered numerous examples of what can unfortunately happen when a non-masonry paint is applied to brick. Beyond the aesthetic issue of latex paints often imparting an undesirably shiny finish, the long-term consequences are more concerning. These paints can peel and crack over time because they create an impermeable seal, preventing the brick from breathing naturally. This trapped moisture isn’t just detrimental to the paint job; it can actually cause structural damage to the brick itself. This firsthand observation further solidified our conviction in the superior performance and necessity of a specialized breathable mineral paint like Romabio for any brick exterior project.
Final Touches: Sampling, Naming, and Our Signature White
The penultimate step in our creation process involved painting large sample brick boards with every single color option. This crucial stage allowed us to visualize precisely how each hue would appear on a brick facade, providing a realistic perspective that small swatches simply can’t replicate. You might have caught a sneak peek of these on our Instagram. And, honestly, we fell so deeply in love with all of them that I genuinely wanted fourteen more brick houses to paint! (Thankfully, John intervened with a firm #JohnSaidNo, keeping our aspirations grounded.)
The final, and arguably most enjoyable, step was naming each color. As someone who has always harbored a secret desire to name nail polishes and paint swatches, this was an absolute blast. And because we appreciate a good outtake, here are some of the delightful, albeit ultimately rejected, names that sparked much laughter in our cutting room:
- Green Day
- Villa Rosa (a nod to RHOBH fans!)
- Theon Greyjoy (for all the Game of Thrones enthusiasts)
- Red Wedding
- Rachel Green (Friends, anyone?)
- Moss Gellar
- And perhaps our all-time favorite: Mossy “Mossdemeanor” Elliott
Ultimately, we aimed for names that homeowners would be proud to associate with their properties. “So Succulent” remains a personal favorite of mine. We also thoughtfully incorporated a few direct references to our inspiring hometown, Richmond, with names like “River City” and “Richmond White.”
Introducing Richmond White: Our Signature Hue
Speaking of “Richmond White,” this is the precise white paint color we used on our own house. It strikes a perfect balance—neither too stark and blindingly bright, nor veering into undesirable yellow undertones. It’s a beautifully balanced tone that works harmoniously even with bright white trim, which is a feature of our home thanks to unpaintable white vinyl-wrapped windows. Its versatility ensures a sophisticated and clean aesthetic that enhances, rather than competes with, surrounding elements.
You might recall the extensive agony we endured to land on our final white paint color for our project. We brought home dozens of swatches, painstakingly narrowed them down to four contenders, and then had Romabio expertly color-match their Masonry Flat Paint to specific Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore shades. These samples were then painted directly onto our house for a crucial real-world evaluation, leading to our definitive selection. Following that, we had Romabio color-match that exact chosen swatch once more to create the large buckets needed to cover our entire home. It was a rigorous, multi-step process!
However, because color matching across different paint brands is inherently an imprecise science—due to variations in pigments and base formulas from each company—we wanted to offer you a foolproof method to replicate the exact white on our house without any margin for error. Thus, “Richmond White” was born. You can now simply ask for “Richmond White,” which represents the true, original formula Romabio created specifically for our house using their proprietary pigments and bases. This ensures you get the identical, beloved shade we have on our home, effortlessly.
Get Your Romabio Colors and Expert Advice
To delve deeper into our exclusive color collection with Romabio and gain comprehensive insights into their masonry paint—including its unparalleled durability compared to latex paint, and what materials it can and cannot be used on—we invite you to visit the official Romabio website. For your convenience, you can also order all 15 colors on Amazon. (NOTE: Amazon is currently experiencing a shortage, so the link has been updated to the textured version, not the flat, though it’s very similar to what we used. Please read the instructions carefully and feel free to call Romabio with any questions – we’re merely the color selectors!) WOOT! Before purchasing, ensure you check Romabio’s information regarding suitable materials and whether a primer is necessary. For example, already painted brick typically requires this specific primer. You can always reach out to Romabio directly at 678-905-3700 for personalized assistance.
Beyond exterior applications, Romabio Masonry Flat also performs beautifully on interior brick surfaces, such as a fireplace – for which you’d likely only need a 1 or 2.5-liter bucket. Furthermore, if you discover a color in our collection that you adore for an indoor space, Romabio can custom-make any of these shades in their standard interior wall paint; simply call them to arrange shipment of the exact color.
Additionally, on their website, we’ve compiled valuable tips on how to select an exterior color that perfectly complements your existing trim and roof colors. We’ve even curated some fun and inspiring door color ideas designed to pair beautifully with several shades from our collection, providing a holistic approach to your home’s exterior aesthetic. For any technical questions concerning the paint, its application process, or how to acquire a small sample bucket to test any color before committing to a full project, we highly recommend contacting the experts at Romabio directly. While we meticulously selected these stunning colors, they are the true paint professionals equipped with all the in-depth knowledge.
Finally, if you choose to incorporate any of our curated colors into your own home projects, please, please, please send us pictures! You can also tag them with #YHLforRomabio on Instagram so we’ll be sure to see your beautiful transformations. I promise I won’t cry over them.
Just kidding, I totally will.
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