How do I darken or glaze a brick fireplace?

Question:I have dark walls, but above the fireplace is brick with a lot of white mortar smeared all over it. It's too white and light. How can I darken it a little, without ruining the brick. I don't want to paint it, just glaze it. I'm pretty sure I need oil paint, but I don't even know what color, How do I do this?

Answers:
You can buy grout stain at the hardware store. (Like the kind used on floors). It comes in many colors. You can also apply a sealer to the whole thing to seal in the color (and change the overall appearance). You may also want to check out the concrete stain. I would have a talk with someone knowledgable at your local hardware store.