Don't waste your money rendering the bricks - that look will go out of fashion. Don't replace your tiles with a colourbond roof either as that would be giving you an inferior roof and colourbond roofs are noisy. Replace your front door and try and choose wrought iron bannister railing. Then start off fresh with your front garden; soften it with magnolia shrubs, white agapanthus and trailing plants such as erigon to trail over brickwork in the driveway. Your bricks show a lot of character; please don't render them.

Are you thinking of painting because of maintenance or just aesthetics? Have you talked to your real estate agent about whether changing the colour palette would improve curb appeal. Your home's facade is a bit dated but not so offensive that it would put buyers off and if they wanted to change the colours to suit their tastes then they will anyway at some point. Unless the paint is peeling, leave it as it is and put your energy into a really nice garden as that will be more attractive to buyers. From the photo your letterbox looks like it is lost and should be moved closer to the path to the front door. Better planting and some pots on the verandah would make it look more welcoming. Ask for some landscaping advice as this will be a more effective approach to improving your curb appeal. All the best with selling your house.

Sorry for the delay coming back to you all and thanks for all the input so far! We had our second baby just after posting this so have been distracted since :-) Thanks for all the suggestions and photos I think you are all spot on and I just need to get rid of the terracotta and brown as much as possible. I've got some colour test tins from bunnings so when I can I'm going to try out the following scheme and will post back: Windows - Really not sure? Black/White/Silver? Roof - Monument or Woodland Grey Garage doors - Monument or Woodland Grey Gutters - Monument or Woodland Grey Fascia - Shale grey Eaves/poles - Shale grey Downpipes - Monument or Woodland Grey Driveway/Tiled area - Respray or stencil in some sort of mid grey (the tiles are all cracked anyway). Something like attached. Back paving - Adbri Eurostone in Zurich - http://www.adbrimasonry.com.au/homeowner/paving/see-all-paving/euro-stone - photo attached Couple of questions: Can you paint split face block work and it sticks ok? I didn't think you could if not will render I love exposed aggregate but didn't think you could recoat in this format? It doesn’t seem that common in Sydney compared to Melbourne. Really not sure on window colour and would love some ideas? Other things: Definitely planning on getting an awning once new pavers are down Windows I will get quotes to replace but if too expensive will get a specialist painter for now Zurich is on the right. It's a light grey paver with an exposed aggregate. Available in 400 x 400 and 600 x 400 Cheers, Frank

Do people lime wash brick in Australia for exteriors much? Perhaps your facade is not the type for it and anyway I think it's a really cool facade as is. It strikes me as going with a mid century modern vibe as oklouise is suggesting rather than perhaps more trad plantation shutter look. But if it is a look you like then limewashing could inspire. Having said that I like your bricks and the idea of using Domino.