White-matte cabinets (flat panel, not shaker) and white bench (or maybe epoxy sealed marine ply??...siriuskey can tell you about that), mirror splash. Love the ceilings. I personally would go for a modern, stream-line, no handles, integrated appliances look. This space has real potential to be very cool, even with the slate. It doesn't need any more more texture or darkness. This is a nice kitchen, you should be able to sell it on ebay.

Yes go monument!and if you go for some lime acacias out the front (tall weeping or the low bush)it would brighten up you whole look.Also adding strappy green plants that bulk up would give it a bit more of a clean look. If you don't want to go monument on roof go a light grey and tie in with a couple of tall light grey planters on either side of your door. Pleas please please!find someone with a jigsaw and cut the tops off your pickets to give a cleaner look before you paint them. I'm stating the obvious but those security screens are pretty overwhelming,can you just have them on windows that can be opened,it might not look so busy out the front.

@dreamer yes I was thinking a simple timber balustrade would look better than a more modern one. we are planing on putting a covered deck off the back with a similar balustrade too. @fianou Luca I love fixed upper. They were the reason we bought this house as I could see the potential. it is much harder than it looks go bring a look all together. I was contemplating painting the brick lighter like a wash but to scared to vomit incase it looks terrible and it is an expensive job to do. I was even thinking of putting shutters on the windows downstairs to give the front some texture

I agree with Jan -- a lot is personal , and your lifestyles . You say neutral colours , so a wheat type colour for the carpet is a good middle of the road choice , but maybe not practical with kids who like crayons and facepainting and stripping down motorbikes haha . So in that case , maybe a burgundy or mid blue or similar 'solid' colour may suit better ( burgundy may tie in more with the exterior tones ) , but is still sort of neutral , but what about furniture and linen and artwork -- if you have royal blue or fluro green drawers and a brown chair and sunshine yellow duvet/dooner cover , and the room is for someone older than 4 , then burgundy carpet mightn't be the go haha . The existing wall colour works with most things , you can add artwork or posters or sports or academic certificates -- maybe back to front , but I'd sort out everything else ( carpet , furniture , etc ) before deciding on a wall colour , unless sticking to the existing or similar colour .