I never got around to posting about this before, but I painted the faux saltillo tiles in our tiny kitchen in Brooklyn and it held up so well for the year that we were there. (You can see the checkerboard pattern I did peeking out here). As we started to demo the ceramic tile and the wood in the Valley house I was so tempted to take out all the brick at the same time and just live with raw concrete until we tackle the kitchens and the bathrooms over the next year or two.
But then I decided to paint the floors in the laundry room on a whim and I actually liked the look. The pavers take paint so well!
This time though I painted the grout lines so it would look like the tiles were enameled or something and not just like the brick tile floor got a coat of paint.
I used Benjamin Moore’s Advanced line in the laundry room. It’s a water-based alkyd paint that wears so much like oil-based does. I love it. In the brownstone kitchen, I used an oil-based porch and floor paint and decided to go that route again in our kitchen here at the Valley house. It’s fumey and it takes forever to dry, but I know that it will wear the very best of all my paint options. My kids are up at my parents house for the week so I’m taking advantage of their absence to do the floors.
I think depending on your floor surface, it’s always a good idea to sand and possibly to also prime, especially if you’re drastically changing colors. I used a strong cleaner called TSP to sort of do a mini strip on the sealer on the brick. I did the same thing in the brownstone and it worked like a charm – no need to prime. If you clean the floors really well and use the right type of paint, it’s hard to mess the rest of it up! Pretty simple.
I purchased this this little square brush by Zibra (I guess it’s meant for painting mouldings?), thinking that the shape would help with getting the rectangles filled in accurately and quickly. I usually just buy those $5 stubby two-inch angled brushes, but woah, there’s a new kid on the block! I am in love. This thing is amazingly easy to control and there’s a hollow-ish center, so it holds an awesome amount of paint. It is making the floors an absolute pleasure to paint. Seriously! It’s like coloring – so relaxing. :) I haven’t used it on furniture yet, but I have a feeling this brush will become a staple in my DIY arsenal.
I’ve got a first coat down on a good 3/4 of the brick pavers in the kitchen and mudroom. I’m hoping to finish up today and give everything a light touch up coat early tomorrow morning so the paint will be fully cured by the time our movers come on Saturday. Can I tell you how excited I am to have my stuff again!? Granted, a lot of it will be in the garage for another two weeks until the wood floors are getting installed, but at least our things will be somewhat accessible. So, so excited!
i was hoping you'd post a tutorial on the floors, and you did! Thanks, Jenny! The floor looks great!! I can't wait to try it out!
The floors turned out quite nicely. I'm going to have to look into that brush.
Gorgeous Jenny!!
This turned out great! Was wondering what BM colors you chose to use on the bricks and grout.
this makeover it amazing! You are so talented, but of course you already know that :) Great job!
I really like the floors! Cool way and to save money!
Emily
eageremily.blogspot.com
I've been eyeing that same brush! I'll have to grab one now that I've read an actual review on it. I'm loving the pattern you picked too – you have me thinking of a pattern for our concrete floors now!
Hey, it says in your post that you painted the grout lines "This time though I painted the grout lines so it would look like the tiles were enameled or something and not just like the brick tile floor got a coat of paint."
I think you mean you didn't paint them?! I love the pattern and color choices, they're amazing.. but I think the grout lines look dirty compare to the rest of the space.
You did an amazing job though, I love your work and you are a great inspiration! Keep it up :)
how did you decide on a design
how did you decide on a design
I think you meant you didn't paint the grout lines. If you wanted to touch those up with paint too you might look into something like this product:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/10-Antique-White-8-fl-oz-Grout-Renew-GCL10HPT/100096585
I've had it pinned for a while because I can't stand the color of grout in my bathroom, it always looks dirty to me but I haven't tried it out yet though.
I absolutely love that you painted the floors! It makes them look so intentional; like part of the design plan instead of something you had to work with on a budget. Thanks for sharing the how to!
thanks for sharing your knowledge. i can't wait to see what you're doing to the kitchen and mudroom floors!
I've had that brush for a couple years and it is my favorite painting tool ever. It's perfect for cutting in around doors and corners and around the ceiling because it holds its shape so well.
I love BM Advanced. It has changed my painting life. Glad to see you endorsing it :) Floors look great. I might try to paint some of my floors now. So far I've only painted cabinets and furniture.
You are rocking my world with your last three posts!! Thank you!!!
nice, jenny! it looks amazing! i love the painted brick floors, and the pattern gives you so many options for your colors :)
If you get a chance, would you mind saying whether you sealed the floors after painting? It sounded from the post like it wasn't necessary with the paint you're using, but I'd love to know. Good luck with the kitchen floors!
Looks fantastic!
I can't get past the dirty grout lines. If those had a fresh coat of white grout, the whole room would look TONS fresher.
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The floors lok so much better! I can't wait to see the whole house come together! Just a quick tip that I like to use to clean up grout lines without having to re-grout; sanding block. You just give the grout line a few scuffs and remove the top layer and then you can reseal it. Saves so much time. You just have to be careful not to apply too much pressure.
Jenny, I have a question about mixing hardware finishes. We're re-doing our 1930 rowhome's kitchen and renovating the windows which have brass pulls. I was thinking about (subtle) brass for the rest of the fixtures–ceiling fan, cabinet pulls, pendant lamp, faucet–but it's hard to find the right brass finish (or sometimes any brass finish) in all of these genres. Any tips on how to mix or is that extremely challenging to do without looking too mis-matched? Thanks.
Gorgeous jenny
I think your husband should learn to ride asap! Decisions, deo08icns&#s23i; I can’t help you here, but both perfumes are ideally suited for cooler weather, so maybe it won’t be so bad to wait until they reach the US.
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This turnout of so beautiful! What a fab idea and a great way to spruce up your space!!
–Sayeh, The Office Stylist
The painted floor looks great – I love the idea. For color inspiration check out the Color911 app for instant help with color choices – I highly recommend it!
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Very nice idea for floor painting. I will try this in my kitchen. Nice home decor.
I am impressed with the flooring idea. Thanks for sharing this article.
Curious how the floors have held up. I have brick floors that I don’t like the red color and have been wanting to paint them. Multiple decorators told me not to as they say the paint will chip and become a nightmare so I’ve been afraid to. Have you had any issues, and did you seal after you painted?