Penny the Raku is on our house & carport & we love it! Our house is timber (white) & hardies composite painted Raku along with the carport to the right. White Duck weatherboards (Dulux) & Windspray (Colorbond) roof, gutters, fascia & timber poles . Though we have no brick we do have a patio & gates in a rust colour along with Merbau stained timber decks which all seem to work together nicely.

I think a formal garden like in that beverly hills house would look really great with what you have planned. Its a big grand old house so it really suits to go quite grand in the style. i think the pencil pines in that picture would be a good addition to your front garden, The long lines really suit the height of the house. Some height in the garden is really what's lacking in your garden, also consider long tall flowers like lillies, agapanthus, hippeastrums or alliums. A few pants that echo the line and height of the columns would look great.

I'd take out those bitty little windows and put in full width glass bi-fold door going out to the new deck over the garage. I'd also put in put in seamless sliding windows to the left (looking at the photo) which would make your view even better as well. Painting the exterior would transform the house as would removing the current garden and replacing with a more attractive design making sure it won't interfere with your view down the track. Nothing you're thinking about is cheap to do so I'm assuming it's your 'forever' house? If not a lick of paint and landscaping will enhance the appearance greatly. As is it kind of looks like a cruise ship to me, if you're quirky you could make that work for you. Darker colour on the ground floor, lighter on top with nautical features. You could keep the little windows/cabins then. I have a vivid imagination haha. Good luck with whatever you decide, show us the finished product.

From your latest photos it looks really great, glass would look awesome also , it really depends on the look you are after, glass would look really modern but that iron work looks really great, decisions , decisions.