How can I make these bricks look more presentable

[bricks]

Hello,
I have a brick fireplace that was painted over by the previous owners of the house. I would like to get back to the bare brick and have removed the paint from a few of the bricks and mortar with a blow torch. Unfortunately the bricks that I have revealed so far look as if they would be better painted again!
Would you mind looking at a couple of pictures that I took of them and letting me know iwhat I can do to the bricks to make them more presentable.
Here is a link to the pics
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLandingSign in.jsp?Uc=203t16v1.bdo1zbi5&Uy=-t9js3q& ;Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare &Ux=0

Thank you in advance
Ian

[Toureman]

I think the only way is to get a sand blasting company to do it.

[bricks]

Thanks for the idea but as we've just redecorated the rest of the room, I'm not keen on having s beach in my living toom.

Any other suggestions

Ian