Id have Raised planter boxes put in around the outside of our yard so my mother in-law doesn't have to spend hours on the ground with a bad back to do the gardening!..

Hi Amelia Like the fine lines of the house with the right planting and garden it will look stunning There may be a few things you would like to consider; 1. Its difficult to tell from the photos but I would check that the ceiling veranda lining is not asbestos - The jointing strips of the lining looks reminiscent of how they used to join that horrible material. Get a professional asbestos remover in to check and follow their advice in getting rid of the stuff. 2. The roof tiles are dark and will absorb heat, they will most likely brake in a heavy hail storm (unless their are really good 'terra cotta' ones like Wonderlicht) and also can let possum and other vermin in, (possum are notorious for lifting tiles) and if you do not have insulation and sizalation on the roof this is the time to put some in - and in the ceilings should you be missing some there. Because now you will have a zincalume roof it is good to earth your electrical system and the roof so that all current overloads are taken to the ground, a good electrician will solve this problem. Also if the roof is replaced with zincalume you should check your "Holding Down" straps to the roof. Because the roof was designed for a tile roof there is always the possibility that the "holding Down" straps were not included or are sparse. Because you are going to a lighter zincalume roof these are to checked and increased or included if missing, especially as you may be in an open area were winds can pick up considerably. 3. Its good that you have north facing veranda's to shield you from the summer sun, and what appears to be a concrete floor with tiles on the veranda. I would not replace it with timber decking simply because concrete does not burn in a fire - and if you are in the country there is always the possibility of fire. However some large white or of white tiles say 500x350 or thereabouts resemble flagstones could be good as long as they are very light in color and rectangular in shape. Maybe something resembling a very light sandstone may give more to a country ambiance than the small bathroom tiles of the 50's. Also I would bring out a roof over the front steps ending it with a "or gable end" pitched end" and provide a nice handrail in the middle and pave the bottom of the steps and area to provide a solid end to the steps using the same tiles as the veranda. 4. The existing aluminum windows are certainly and eyesore and not energy efficient in the slightest. An investment in new double glazed timber windows (Not cedar as cocky's like to eat the frames) or powder-coated white aluminum double glazed windows with "Thermal Break" - which are highly energy efficient would return money in energy savings and look great, especially if your frames are around 50 mm in width or greater. 5. I would not touch the bricks - just use very light colours in the veranda and the, doors, window and frames veranda posts. The garden will hide the brickwork below the veranda level making the roof and the lighter units the main features to stand out. The darker bricks will recede. Hoping this is of some benefit Regards Michael Manias

Oh C'mon V Richards...every epoch has its treasures. B4 you make a mad run for it stop a while and consider the period and the reasons for the style...it can be extremely enlightening....unless its not the period you want to escape from but from some of the opinions. I spent many years of my youth outside of Australia living surrounded by old ruins in Europe. I forgot what it was like here. When finally I returned to Australia and found myself living in some of the 60s and 70s places..I found much to admire and wonder about. I may not have fallen in love with much of it but there was a certain mistique and a feel that I can still conjure when talking about certain places. Not saying that it was all romantic and pleasant but it conveyed something of the era and the kind of Aussie from those days.

This is just like our Mediterranean house in Canberra. It was rendered white which never cracked or got mould on it, though I would prefer it to be done in a modern colour like our current home on the Gold Coast which is a rich sand colour with a heavy bagged appearance that has faded from a strong dark sand. With beautiful dark patterned orangey tiles all outside that reflect their colour on the walls during the day it is quite magical. Roof tiles also spray painted after being re pointed. I suggest you amplify the lovely quality of arches and don't go for what is trendy. But go with colour scheme for the house design. At our entrance there is a built up garden courtyard feature with wonderful iron gates and a large water feature in the courtyard that the lounge room looks out to and has the French doors that also opened onto the courtyard garden. Commence the courtyard wall to the left side of the steps and create a flat area at the gated entrance where we had a north single gate and a west double gate. The Pines were planted on the outside of this courtyard wall and gave extra privacy and blocked the westerly afternoon sun. The house always looked impressive, yet was just a simple presentation.