To paint or not to paint that is the question

I get asked "should I paint my brick?"

My answer is usually "is your brick ugly ?"

If it is then yes paint your brick. I do love a painted brick house so much so that when buying a house I am generally only attracted to an ugly brick house that needs paint. I know I have issues but truly I have rarely left a house Unpainted.

I use two different types of products Benjamin Moore exterior paint the Aura line since it gives a great sheen or Boral Brick Re-Cote Product that has a thick sand like finish that should be rolled on and feathered into the brick. See house below where we used the Boral product.

The house below was a handsome house but I thought the brick was a little orange for the roof color which had a green undertone. Although I love a White House this roof color was better suited for a creme colored paint on the brick. Gas lanterns were added and one set of columns removed. The columns doubled kept you from seeing the new gas lanterns and newly added front door. The original door was a metal door with side lights. Not attractive right? So with a single door with sidelights you have room to do a double door. We had one custom Made out of cypress. Such a beautiful wood and makes the front of the house so much more attractive. Also brought in much needed light for the foyer.

So next time you buy a house with ugly brick or already own one don't be scared to paint the brick. Painted brick is beautiful.

Happy Friday Y'all

Love Where You Live

www.stacyjacobihome.com

New House

I am so excited to be back in Knoxville ( but missing my sweet Chick Fil A husband who by the way is very busy selling Chicken!)) I am excited to be working on a project in Sequoyah, one in the Duncan area, one in Westmoreland and a few selections for a builder in Jefferson Park. Today I toured a few homes in Bridgemore  a neighborhood in Farragut. One was a new construction and another a resale. I love looking at houses it is an addiction that I never tire of and one I can always talk about. 

I am currently renting a 900 sq. foot small white cottage with my two teenage daughters. We are patiently waiting to close on our next house #16 in Knoxville. This one is a Knox Box as some would call it. It has the usual layout formal living room ,dining ,kitchen and family room. It has all the bedrooms up and I am so excited about my little box. I have so many ideas in my head I would like to try some are my typical ones like the house below (no its not my new one) which is a painted brick house. I would love to paint the new one all ivory it would look amazing. New front door made especially special from Sam Vargas out of Morristown. He is a true craftsman and the sweetest man. 

Here is another picture of an older home painted white. I love a white painted brick house. I wonder if I will ever get tired of it probably not.

 The wood floors in the new house need to be refinished and there is no time or budge for it but how cute would it be to paint some stripe on it. I would need the fabulous Lynn Arnwine to paint that dreamy vision for me. She is another amazing dream maker in Knoxville. She can do anything and then some when it comes to faux finish, painting furniture and art.

I have also inherited in the new house brown kitchen cabinets. My close friends think its funny that I wont' have those painted immediately upon closing. Well I am trying to figure out a way if closing is at 10am then painting begins at 10:01. I have also inherited green granite on the island and tan quartz on the perimeter. I would love to do marble or even a white quartz top and just do an all white kitchen with some amazing island lights like these Hicks pendants. Will see what the budget allows. 

 Just like this photograph of an all white cabinet with just black counters looks classic and amazing.
No matter what you inherit in your house if you don't like it paint it! If you think its ugly it probably is so get rid of it. You don't have to spend a ton of money. There are plenty of places to get lighting to update your home without spending a fortune.

Finally here is my new house and hopefully the next time you see it we will have a transformation to show you. I am hopeful David won't notice that the house was once brown and the next time he sees it, it could be painted. Wonder if most husbands would notice :) My new motto: Love Where you Live.
Happy Friday.
xo
Stacy Jacobi Interiors
If I can help with any of your design or real estate needs please call me
865-803-2918

The Pink fireplace goes what else but White

There is nothing I like better than to tell my painter to get out the spray gun and fill it with Benjamin Moore White Dove. This room is from a 1950"s rancher. I am not sure why it was pink or who thought pink was a good brick color. I told the painter to paint the whole room in white dove with a high gloss finish. The painter along with some of the guys working on this project were skeptical about painting the brick and the paneling. I thought it can't be any worse than leaving it pink so I took my chances. The room became a light and bright room and I added a new burlap drum shade handmade light fixture from my favorite ladies at www.lowcountryoriginals.net

This room became a room everyone wanted to hang out in. 

The lesson here is don't keep the pink brick.