I am only making slow progress so it could be up to two years before I redesign and rebuild my little house on a hobby farm. Previous reno took 18 months. I envy anyone who can afford to stop work to do it - hubby and I only ever had weekends and much help form friends.

Oh Boy! This is where I come into my own. A few years ago my daughter was working in England and I was driving her small red hot pulsar to the shopping centre to buy coffee (six cans of 500gms). I saw toilet paper was on special so I bought 480 rolls. The only problem was there was not enough rom for the toilet paper and the two dogs, so I left the dogs at the shops and took the paper home and then went back for the dogs. When we had used all that toilet paper I kept my eyes open for when they were on special again and bought 600 rolls - no problem this time because I did not take the dogs. Next time it was 720 rolls and two trips to the shop to pick them up. It should have been 840 rolls the last time but a sudden burst of common-sense saw me buy only 480 and I am regretting it already because more than half of them have gone. So 960 here I come.

Love the 80' house, because you have a lot of sun to deal with a pergola from just above the front door running along the garage wall (minus the furniture) you could set a clear roof on top of the slats for shelter from rain. could even consider a similar pergola at a lower level running across from the front entrance and above the two front windows, these can be built to help block summer sun. Maybe render the garage wall to break up the brick and paint same as the garage door and timber above, this looks pale beige /grey, then this colour above windows remembering that window and door frames are cream, they can be painted. please keep the 80's door celebrate it.

I saw a similar problem on a reno show recently, the solution they used were eyelid awnings on the windows, in your case, 2 x big eyelids across the 2 x 2 bays of windows. The eyelids mimicked the shape, form and materials of the roof.....not curved like the windows. It looked really good and the house looked more complete. But.....this might not be for you, it will enhance the Spanish look. Spanish designed houses can look awesome done well. The mission brown is what is dating your place.