Thanks for your thoughts, they have helped us with our decision. We're now planning on using the barramundi roof tile (it's a grey, a bit softer than the soho nights black. And not so shiny) with matching gutter and fascia. And the cladding in paperbark. I was thinking cream windows instead of the timber, so there's some lighter colours on the brick downstairs to tie it to the top. We can't match it exactly to the paperbark cladding because we aren't using aluminium windows, but I'm hoping the cream (which is supposed to be more of an off-white with this manufacturer) will look okay in the clad dormers upstairs. Fingers crossed!

The back looks more inviting than the front at present , but anything can be worked with . Is it a permanent home , or a beach place , only used occassionally ? The design and needs will vary a lot . Also , you said there is a carport to the right , that you are adding a door to , but the image seems to show that on the left ? Likewise , is that an addition to the right , or is that the carport closed in ? Anyway , assuming the windows are staying , and assuming its a holiday home ( the only reasoning is that 2 x 9kg gas bottles wouldn't be what most people would fit to a permanent home . I wouldn't do a footpath along a wall , I'd be a metre out -- allows for a garden , but also in case you need to get to plumbing , power , etc . Roof in a light grey ( yes , I know , but it is tropical , so don't go dark anything ) with charcoal ( or orange if you dare ! ) gutters and white eves , and slightly off-white walls , with 2 timber doors . Boring eh ? But then I'd have black steel frames around the windows ( not the window frames ) with security bars across , BUT with stained 80mm x 80mm timber rails screwed over the crossbars , so that is all you can see . The combo of white and a reasonably deeper toned stained timber exterior will look classy , clean , modern and be secure . The additions much the same , some rock or bark gardens , tropical plants , ferns , palms , knock yourself out !

Hi oklouise, thank you also for your excellent ideas. We like the idea of the window seat, but in the first instance we will try removing the existing gable end and exposing the overhanging eaves as you suggested. We saw this sort of thing on some old houses in Orange (NSW) last weekend and really liked it, so it is uncanny that you suggested it. Do you think we could get away with a gable vent to make a bit of a statement, or do you think that might be a bit fussy? Regarding the roof, we are considering Shale Grey as it is light (and therefore will absorb less heat), and it it the Colorbond colour that supposedly most resembles old zincalume. However, we are still trying to work out if this works the best with our brick colour. Again, thank you for your advice !

I personally think it would be too dark -- do the roof and the trim in Monument , but do the walls in say surfmist and a 2nd lighter tone , or a steel blue and surfmist -- or go offwhite with cedar toned trim , or similar -- but Monument on Monument looks dark , warm when you want it cool , and dark and moody when it doesn't need to be .