Having a closer look at the house, it could be possible to replace the small window next to your fireplace on the left with a door, and still enclosing the side if the garage, I would also install a timber balustrade form the original front door between all posts, so hat door could remain, but be within an enclosed walk corridor rather than wLk our onto a drive. The ballustrading could become a real feature, and be somewhat of an enclosed verandah if people were en lined to need fresh air, or may want to pollute it with a cigarette?? Either way, it will make better use of this side of the home, your windows are too beautiful to conceal and the light they bring in would be priceless. I think removing the brush front fence and installing a picket fence further beyond your front window could tie into the new balustrade m suggesting, and create a new front of house, and still enclose enough behind this feneline for a private and safe yard. I think I can see a timber gate or fence? This is where I would at a minimum put the new picket fence. Maybe say 1500mm high, which is still a nice view fence height from the street but dprivate enough not to see clothes hanging etc. Glad I could be of some help.

I found these couple of pics on houzz. I like both, in the second one (if you just look at the roof line to the right of the path) It shows how you could build the front entrance out just to give the house some shape. and there are endless choices for beautiful front doors. The roof line above the door is the same as yours, and the pic shows how you could add the additional office to the right of the door. I will also add, I am a huge fan of laser cut steel maybe you could build a sort of privacy decorative shaped wall to add balance on the driveway side of your yard, ( something substantial that really stands out) and add feature plants or pots

I wouldn't replace the fibre cement panels under the windows with weatherboards, that would just accentuate the different window heights. Instead I would paint those panels a darker colour, say a charcoal grey, with the corner posts and other window trim in the same colour. (You are right, grey is timeless, while any blue would date very quickly.) Then the windows and panels become consistent vertical elements on a lighter facade. You can also pick out the fascias and gutters in that same grey to tie it all together. If you stripped back the brown painted battens to the undercroft and the balcony timber railings, and instead gave them a coat of decking oil for natural timber warmth and integrity, you could make a similar oiled horizontal batten front fence using hardwood decking boards on 50x50 galvanised steel posts. Then the fence and the undercroft battening would match. If the garage door is a tilt-a-door I would be tempted to replace the steel with oiled horizontal battens. Otherwise, paint it the same charcoal grey. Then you have a 3-tone colour scheme that will give the place simple understated elegance: White, grey, and natural oiled hardwood. I am curious why what looks like the front door is not accessible? It looks like there might have been front steps there at one time instead of the current deck. Probably a casualty of a previous renovation.

The garden will help , and some variety is good , but the low hedge , the white stones , everything there is pleasant enough . But to be honest , I think the problem is the house . The brick is the safest colour you could possibly choose , the lights as already picked look like temporary ones a builder would install just so theres not wires , the door is boring , the windows are not only boring but weird , the roof is similarly nothing , and don't even get me started on the charcoal gutters . Change the $120 door for a $800 timber one , because painting it red or yellow or blue or green will look like a cheap red or yellow etc painted door . Change the windows , or at the very least see if you can get them powdercoated -- charcoal ironically would be nice ( in spite of the gutters ) , or even a silvery blue . I personally think the little segments doesn't suit the house , and would get replacement windows in 2 segments only -- a larger top and a small bottom section would suit the proportions IMO . But on a budget , stick with what is there , powdercoat it AND tint all the sections the same . The gutters -- I'd pick a mid buttery yellow or steel blue for you , as I suspect you don't want to stand out too much . If it was my place , I'd be bright orange gutters and a bright orange door with 3 or 4 glass panels , and the street numbers 25cm tall , and set 3cm out from the bricks , with orange LED lights behind them at night , but not everyone is like me !