I'd agree with adding darker colours to the mix... if reupholstering things is not in the budget just by adding chocolate, charcoal or navy blue to the chair and bedding will help. Add some rougher textures, chunky knits, pin stripes, vintage linen and right on trend velvet.... Adairs have a sale for another couple of days on their linen and other products https://www.adairs.com.au/search/?q=Vintage+washed+linen Accessories to consider are things made of dark marble, timbers, geometric shapes and gold... A bold feature wall could give some mood to the room again in the above colours.

Aluminium windows have come a long way. Their thermal properties are excellent and the range of colours is extensive (some companies more than others, so look around). Door hardware varies too, if this is a consideration. Timber would require more upkeep. I had timber in my previous three homes, and now have aluminium and they are the far superior product. Shop around and pay particular attention to thermal benefits as you compare. Best wishes.

picture frame all around? Fashion is only dated if you can remember when it was new so, for me diagonal looks very 70's but, enough time passes and a look becomes vintage or classic so it's really a matter of personal taste. The difference will be that the new decking products look so much better, laste longer and are easier to maintain. From the little i can see of your house a more formal style would be my choice and decking laid at right angles to the house allows for the easier extending with more decking? if/when you replace the old bricks on this side of the pillar

I would re-evaluate my brief, my budget and my site. It is another case of trying to squeeze too many rooms into too small a space and compromising the living space. If you draw furniture to scale in your living room then you will see that it is undersized for a four bedroom home. With the best orientation going to the garage door and bedroom 4 I would look at a complete redesign by pushing some of the bedrooms to the rear, and a central courtyard to give you an opportunity for north facing light to a living room. There is nothing nice about the current design and will feel like an apartment with little resale appeal. The designer has shown no flair or imagination in this "gun-barrel" floorplan, and is a variation on a concept that has been around for centuries. But your biggest problem is the number of rooms. Do you really need 4 bedrooms plus a study and 2.5 bathrooms, a long wasteful hallway, and only one modestly sized open plan living area and kitchen on a narrow block? I would start again with a smaller brief and a designer who can challenge your thinking about what good small house design actually means. Small house design is the hardest to do really well, so don't use a large house designer. Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits