Lovely, would you like that colour scheme?

Keep the brick un rendered unless they're mismatched somewhere else. Keep the tile roof unless it's damaged, leaks, etc.. Spend that money elsewhere. I wouldn't even paint it, leave the old used patina. A lot of builder's renovating houses around Sydney's north shore for example seek out uncleaned or painted roof tiles!! It would be a 50's to early 60's so run with that style as much as you can with a few modern updates. The handrail would be the original which looks cool as! Problem is it is non-conforming to current building code. A standard Dunn & Farrugia flat top handrail would still suit the style and be similar to your picture above.

Add chunkier posts to the awning. Can't see if they line up with the existing brick piers but they could be bricked around. Render these as a feature rather than rendering the original face brick. Box in the veranda beam/s with FC sheet and render as well. Put a flat ceiling under the awning and fit down lights to create an outdoor room.

If you can, add a new window to the front room and centralise it. I don't mind them being off centre but most people I've come across dislike it. It would still be in the original style of the house and also be similar to your picture above. The timber battens over the joins on the cladding is back in style. Weatherboards or rendered FC sheet have been done to death and this battened FC sheet is slowly coming back.

'Flooded Gum' or 'Timeless Grey' is a pale grey that would look similar to the picture above.

Lexicon for trims and handrail although a dark grey for the new handrail to match your new charcoal tiles would be a good option.

Listen to Chook. I rather think your home could have been built in the 1940s.

With respect to the balustrade, that would be a classic almost art deco now - it is a keeper but I would paint it black to give it a more modern edge. To add height for safety, though I would put a simple timber railing above it that conforms with current regulations. Some nice pots with small shrubs would soften the verandah and give you privacy.

The other thing to consider is the neighbourhood. What have other owners done to their homes? One of the big problems I find with people updating their homes when homes around them are similar, is unless megabucks are spent giving the home a whole new façade, you will always see the original house in the neighbours' homes, so yours stands out as "the one that was done up".

Black is the traditional colour for wrought iron. It also "disappears".

That was my thought too Chook.

Yes it would be fantastic if the original handrails could be kept. They look pretty cool.

Be interesting to find out the year it was constructed, definitely post war. Apparently in the year 1954-55, more than half of the new houses in NSW were clad in cement sheet.

lol Cadbury.

Hi Dan,

Why not give a pro a go?

Your homes your biggest asset, why not max its potential for best street appeal possible. I can do 3 schemes and you can choose the one you like to execute yourself. Worth the investment in your future capital growth.

Warm Regards

Liz

Hiya Dan,

Its 1940s - Let's look at highest use and best design for your front of the home together before you decide

Why not give a pro a go?

liz

Http://www.internationaldesign.vpweb.com.au

AS usual its all about the finances.

For a great budget effect, paint everything very pale warm grey or better still a warm white, get rid of the stuff on top of the pergola, make a hole in the concrete and plant grape to grow to cover instead. Then plant pencil pines in the lawn in a group depending on light and consider a low hedge across the front and down the drive.

I agree about the offset window unless you balance it with a tree in the blank section!

It looks like Liz is still plugging herself without shame. Give it a rest Liz.

this style, the wrought iron anyway, is nautical. We had something similar on a house built in 1959. For me the big problem is the addition of the carport and the great chunky blocks they have used to support the roof/patio. Replacing these with something slimmer more in line with the wrought iron, but still with the ability to bear the weight, might work. The aconite over the patio and its supports might also benefit from something in keeping with the nautical wrought iron or else change the look completely.

Timber balustrade and handrail painted white with soft grey walls, white window surrounds and white architrave on door. A gloss black front door would look great with the charcoal tiles. Matching front fence with block piers and base and timber inserts. Add sandstone cladding to the bottom section once you can afford it to finish it off beautifully.

Hi Daniela, our previous house was built in the early 60s and was very similar to yours (two-tone brick, built on a hill, garage underneath), but ended up having to be rendered due to various structural defects that weren't picked up in the architect's report.

There's already some excellent advice here on what you can do if you want to keep the character features, but if you want to follow your heart I'd say go for it because it would look terrific.

Because our house already had charcoal grey roof tiles, gutters and down pipes (and we were hemorrhaging money) we went with a simple charcoal, pale grey and white colour scheme like the one you're considering.

So I'd say paint your roof tiles charcoal grey and all the trims vivid white, including the verandah posts and the beams supporting your verandah's polycarbonate roof (we did this with a deck we added and it made them far less obvious).

When you've rendered the brick, paint the whole house, including the garage door, pale grey (we went with Dulux Lexicon because cool greys look great against the WA sky).

We tiled our front and side porches with charcoal grey tiles but had to get rid of the original iron balustrades because they were rusted out. If you want to get rid of yours and flog them for a fortune on eBay you could replace them with powder-coated steel balustrades in white and in a similar style to the ones in your dream home.

A glossy cherry-red front door would look fabulous with this colour scheme.

You could also put a tree (maybe a fast-growing olive or cumquat) in a huge pot to the left of your front window and have similar, smaller-scaled pots on your front verandah.

Good luck and all the best.

My thoughts.... I like your ideas for the exterior Dan and think it's quite achievable. I would stick with the original roof tiles and the alsynite roofing but I would line the patio roof area and have a barge board at the front edge which would hide the alsynite. This would save money to put into other areas. I would box out the patio posts. A red front door would look great. Looks like a late 50's/ early 60's house to me. Good luck. Would love to see some photos when you have finished.

Lots of good ideas!

If this was my house I would be thinking about replacing the metal railing and building a really nice one out of good quality timber. I would also replace or sand back the french doors to match in timber. I would have a nice quality timber railing with wires across.

I think that would create a really great feature for that side of the house. The timber would provide warmth and really make that side of the house look great.

I don't think its necessary to do over the house in a particular style. But just updating it with a few nice features.

I'm not sure it would be possible to do over your house in the style you like, but it makes me think you want something with classic appeal and simple lines. Your choice of patio furnishing will help you create that feel. You could consider adding a simple ceiling to your verandah as I think it would give it a more finished look.

Like your pics, Daniel, try Modwood, no painting.

Ah, so you're a Daniela, not Daniel, so sorry.

They might like the timber look aluminium planking that's out now. I will try to find it.

Tell the males it's metal

http://www.knotwood.com/

I want it. I'm contented now, think ill go roll in the dust.

Daniela - I think for your area, I would keep the work to a minimum, should you ever decide to sell you would get buyers who probably won't appreciate it, or it will be demolished for a McMansion or another Unit block. Just keep things practical (especially for kids) and pleasing to the eye. Even gardens don't rate highly - and yes, that tinny is important :))

Tinny might "disappear" in a carport walled at the front with the same treatment as the balustrade.

No wuks.

I do love your handrail. Any chance of an update on how your project is looking now?

I would get some siding on the house to give i a nice face lift. I got a quote myself from conservation construction of texas and it was wonderful. From start to finish they were always there to help and the installation went perfectly. Would highly recommend.

Old Post

"I got a quote myself from conservation construction of texas and it was wonderful."

Yeah, bumping up an old post to say how wonderful a business was is real tacky, and it's not even the right country LOL.

Treasure it for the gem of a 1940s/50s home it is, complete with glorious wrought iron work. Suggestions have been made as to how to boost the height to meet current building codes. You will regret updating the exterior for what is likely to be a one that will date quickly and be higher maintenance . It is only a matter of time until such homes are as treasured as Victorian terraces or Californian bungalows. It is an icon of its time. Accept it for what t is. Why make your house look like a fashion victim of 2019, when it stands in almost the full glory of its original period? It will also save you a fortune too! But yes, minimise the concrete! and add a garden that refects the period the house was built. Roses if you like them, with maybe a magnolia or crepe myrtle feature tree but for lower maintenance try some architectural and ground covering succulents. You could also go with edibles like feature citrus and olives for a Mediterranean feel.

Ok. Thanks, Came up as current on my feed!