There are a number of types acrylic sealer on the market (again I would defer to the bricklayers here) which can provide averything from a simple matte surface to something with a semigloss appearance. Your brick started off clean and posssibly even a bit shiny when new and then oxideized as well as picking up discolorations from the environment (fire smoke, dust, cooking grease, film from the oil furnace if there is/was one, tobacco smoke etc. If you can bring it a few shades lighter and then seal it while it’s really clean (possibly bleaching on the really dark ones as best you can) I think you will be very pleased with the look even if some bricks are darker than others. Not all of the brick would have been same color to begin with, after all.

I’m really looking forward to hearing what you come up with and seeing the results.

Best Regards,
Dave

I am not a bricklayer but I have in the past worked laying tile and doing stonework, as well as doing restorative remodel work on 19th century commercial and residential structures.

I have had experience with very old brick where even media blasting would not change the coloration of the brick. I would not, BTW, ever recommend media blasting of any brick you wish to stay smooth…this is a last-ditch effort to be used on “antique” brick.

That much said, while not a brick expert my own opinion is that the brick seems to pick up colors from environmental conditions, such as in this case a small amount of fireplace smoke over time. Some bricks seem to be more porous than others even within the same wall or construction and this may explain part of it. I also see the sense in the geological explanation offered earlier.

On stone I have had success in cleaning with a sulfamic acid solution, but I hesitate to recommend this out of hand for use on brick. If the staining is indeed iron oxide (rust), an oxcalic acid solution may do the trick.

I realize this may seem too obvious and do not wish to insult anyone, but has a bricklayer been consulted about this? That’s what I would probably do if for no other reason than to get his thoughts on what type acid solution would be safest in not etching the brick and what type acrylic sealer he would recommend using after final cleaning to seal the porosity of the bricks and prevent their taking up stain in the future from environmental contaminants.

I should probably explain here that I grew up in a wonderful Greene & Greene-designed craftsman home with a really beautiful (design-wise, at least) built-in fireplace, mantle and bookcases spanning one end of the living room. Sadly at some point in the distant past a previous occupant had covered the whole affair with copious amounts of white enamel. Once you paint something porous like brick or mortar, it’s pretty much forever. (here we get into media-blasting and very strong strippers). The paint can be removed if one really works at it but only to the detriment of the brick and mortar.

Best of luck,
David

I believe the company I got my grasscloth from, was Seabrook. Reasonably priced. Ivory. We love it. I will grab some and scan it and upload it for you right now!

Update: Photo now in post. Note, this paper has a yellowish cast to it…You’ll want to ensure you harmonize with your paint color. I’m not sure it’s right but you get the drift.