wood buring stove question

do you think I can paint the bricks around it and behind it white?

everyone keeps telling me not to because the bricks will turn black around it. I can't imagine it will turn that black, because wouldn't the red bricks be black now

it makes the room so dark and dreary, painting them white would brighten up the room

Anyone else do this?

for the record, I don't even know if this thing is usable, its old and can also burn coal, so we have to have it checked before we even use it

ETA a picture. the mirrors are gone as well as the furniture and window treatments so the room isn't as full

Message edited 4/1/2010 3:23:10 PM.

Re: wood buring stove question

I have a wood stove and some bricks behind it - I also have molding and light colored walls - as long as the stove is working properly, there is no reason the bricks should get black. I should say also that i dont burn my stove with the door open, its always closed bc I want the heat from it - but i still dont think itw ill make your bricks black even with the door opened.