Im not sure how much brick is seen around the window frame, if its only a little brick, you could paint it, although I'd prefer it be a smooth rendered finishor plaster like your other finished walls, because if there are three surfaces visible in there, none will be a feature, and all will look incohessive. To let the ply wall take the focus the plaster is perfect in contrast, so if absolutely necessary, pair. He brick white, although my recommendation is to gy rock and paint, just with he back wall in marine ply. Good luck, I'd love to see your finished result. By the wY, mentioned split battens to hang the ply, if you're unfamiliar, it's where timber battens are cut in half on the diagonal through section, and one half is fixed to the wall, the other the ply sheet, when they go together they become a secure locking fixing. Any handy person or tradesman will know how to do hat, without glueing or messing up the brick wall. It's quick, cheap and secure, and best of all can be removed without much effort to allow you flexibility in time.

Hi dinkidi4, I'm dealing with the same thing right now. I did paint some of the walls white, which have been good for the time I've been here before doing the 'real' job, however, I don't want this really textured look from the bricks as there are too many walls. I'm about to try Dulux Acra tex on a wall to see if it gives a smoother bagged finish. So still showing the brick lines but not so rough. I'll show photos of the original bricks. Dark, very textured with lots of holes and missing bits of brick as well as deep grout grooves. Such a hard decision - cost and I don't want to make it a flat boring plasterboard house. I have extremely high cathedral ceilings so not a cheap job to plaster either. Excuse the white box - I was playing with it to look at removing arches. Any thing else you've found out since would be a great help

Hi Jenny, You have not posted any photos, so I hope i am on the right track with this advice! I have recently assisted two clients with updating their property, both of which were similar to how yours sounds. In the first instance, the timber panelled ceiling was retained and the exposed brick walls plastered over & painted in Resene 'Quarter Spanish White'. In the second instance, the timber panelled ceiling was retained and the timber panelled walls were painted to match the remaining plaster walls (a picture is attached below). In both instances, the spaces were dramatically opened & freshened up and modernised. I think painting the panelling and retaining the brickwork (on the basis that you like it) will work very well.

We recently lightly rendered internal brown brick walls in our house and are thrilled with the result. The outline of the bricks is still there and gives good texture. Otherwise I would suggest you could paint the metal on the staircase to lighten the overall look.