While you are saving up for a whole house paint job - 1. Work out the exterior colour-scheme. 2. Paint the pickets around the base is the house, yourselves, if possible. I agree that it should be a dark colour, that works with your chosen final scheme. 3. Prepare garden beds along the front, choose appropriate shrub species and plant ASAP, with possibly something taller sweeping up to the left (of the photo) to break the strong horizontal "box" look. If you decide to change the stairs at some stage, you may have to remove a plant or two, but at least there will be an inviting entrance growing happily in the meantime. Have fun :)

The roof is in good nick and being green probably fits in with the surrounding trees. It just needs a bit of modernising, which I don't think you will get with the Paper Bark. The following image shows a 'soft' colourscheme which you can imagine with your green roof, having very pale grey-green walls, off-white architraves, darker green shutters and charcoal door. Now check out the following colour mixes that also keep in mind your roof colour. I hope this helps.

Hi Brant, All colour schemes are great but i totally understand the hesitation in choosing. I'm the same with anything for myself! To choose a 'side' i would like to vote for: Exterior - the ocean blue for the weather boards and an offwhite for the window trims etc. Its a small front however since you have the white picket fence, and the trees, these will offset all the dark colouring on the house. Make sure the off white is on the creamy side rather than the grey/blue side or it will just be more blue/grey looking against the dark ocean blue. But then that depends on the look you want in the end. :) Interior - I'm really not a fan of painting brown, if the skirtings are wood and you're just varnishing or oiling them, then ok but not paint. You could use the same off-white for the skirtings and door trims, and a blue-toned grey for the walls. It will be like having a paler version of your outside colour-scheme and very subtly tie them together. Don't forget buying sample pots and painting on large board to get an idea of how it will look on a larger scale is also a great help. If you paint two colours on one board its better to have them meet rather than leave a gap between them. The slightest suggestion of another colour can change how you view the ones you're trying to decide between. Best of luck in your final decision. Carol

if your garage already has a spare shower and toilet, its a great spot for a laundry! It will save kitchen space. as for future family the main problem is the sheer amount you end up with. you need space for laundry hampers at least 1 per person, and a lot more for a baby. THEN, you need somewhere to fold and sort it. ie not in the middle of your loungeroom or bedroom. so a little laundry corner in the garage with a long bench for folding, space for hampers under and an above bench cupboard for storing washing powders, pegs etc... it will need a door direct to the line to be convenient. the meantime if you don't need all the space that long bench and cupboard could be used for tool storage moving the laundry to garage means a larger kitchen which is a worthwhile upgrade. it'll be easier to afford and do now than when a family is suddenly on the cards. future proof yourself. it'll make it a family house if you decide to sell or move.