Your welcome Mari, like I said you already have a good eye. I don't think you necessarily have to paver the whole drive either. I’d recommend doing driveway improvements after you’ve done the major stuff that might scuff up the existing driveway, like landscape contractor or fence guys with equipment and extra dirt or stone being scraped off of it. I was just thinking a skinny band of pavers to help out, maybe 3’ or however wide the covered walk is on the side next to the house. It looks like the existing drive is asphalt. You can just saw cut a nice straight edge and then install the pavers next to it. I also did the band across the end to help fix the cracked piece. You could have the asphalt resealed black to make it pop or since it looks like most of the sealer is worn off you could probably pressure wash and do a colored acrylic sealcoat. It might work but you’d have to do more research and ask some professionals in your area of Australia. I like the idea of a lighter color on the drive so it doesn’t get intensely hot on summer days. Here were a few of the color choices off this website I pulled up. Thanks for letting me contribute - Septic Tank in Chicago http://www.sealandcoat.com/colored_asphalt_coatings/index.php

Hi Trish, Glass splashbacks can be any Dulux paint colour. As long as you have good lighting like led strip lighting under overhead cupboards you can use the glass splashback to show your personality. Laminex Diamondgloss laminate for the cupboards in a light colour will brighten up your kitchen. This project we used dark edging to the cupboard doors and recessed drawer pulls to make it a bit more interesting rather than it all being the same colour. Regards Jane McDougall ARBV 14988 alsoCAN architects 1/52 Burnley Street Richmond V3121 Ph: 9421 3433 Mb: 0413 332 874 www.alsocan.com.au

apennameandthata i don't know... vertical is more shed like style, while we still have a colonial style base and veranda. Dust will be an issue here (although its not so bad in that particular spot on a river, good protection from trees) but pressure wash will be regular practice anyway. Thanks for all your suggestions and I will take all on board, especially sandstone ideas. I don't this I want this house to look pretentious, but how can I describe that, I am after some subtle "wow" factor or something a bit different, but it must look like we knew what we are doing and YES, I want it to look like high quality build and not a transportable house or kit home. The house rectangle is so simple that I worry it may have that boring factor in its looks and that is why I am looking for some ideas. My problem is a tendency to overthink but I hope I will find a balance at some point :) At this stage I think: galvanised tin everywhere (or that zincalum), rusty steel posts, aluminum windows with timber look, sandstone features around main door and sandstone chimney. We had a big flood last year and the spot never goes under water, its on high grounds even though it is only meters from the river.

There are so many variables , but I'll just throw a few ideas . Really , you'd need to know yojur personalities and tastes , the houses in your suburb , your budget and what you want to achieve , whether you want to live there for 20 years or sell in 8 , and 1000 other questions . To me , the roof looks great , and it looks like the fences are stained charcoal . So thats a great starting point , but it also means its difficult to go mid-century or beach chic . I'd keep away from greys or beiges , but keep it light -- I just looked at Dulux Australia , and if you want to go 'interesting' , something like Lexicon Half or My Chincilla are subtle but not too shy -- My Chincilla looks like a grey with a slight purple tinge ! Either of those two I'd do stark white window surrounds , and probably white aluminium windows , but then charcoal powdercoating would actually be great IMO , and add a bit of Wow . Obviously whites and offwhites are more logical , but then you'd pretty much have to go with black or charcoal windows , and white or off-white surrounds . BUT if you did that , heres what I would do -- that front eve and the 3 'tall' windows ( yes I know the glass is only about 1/3rd of the frame ) I would do in a light teal , and then continue that to the wrought iron , and then a really bright but not fluro teal for the front door . Now , you may continue the light teal onto other window surrounds ( personally , I'd do the ones on the veranda in stark white , and the 'rear side' one in light teal ) , and all the 'other lower stuff' you can see , like the terrace boards , the bottom 100-150mm across the front , etc ) in charcoal to visually 'ground' the house . From there , a narrow , low stone and rock garden across the front of your house would make it look a lot better , with a few grasses and cactuses and low leafy bushes and red leaved bushes etc . One other idea -- those front windows aren't too bad ( although you say high maintanence ) so if replacing them , maybe cover them with 12-15 vertical wooden battens -- I'd do nicely varnished natural timber 50mm square and around 2 1/2 metres tall each . They will add a natural wood look , add a bit of privacy , a bit of interest , without cutting out all the light . Obviously , that is a pretty budget once-over-lightly idea , but it will change the whole look and feel of your place for maybe $5k materials , whatever labour costs ( $10k ? ) and whatever windows cost .