This is a tricky facade!

somewhere to start from though....I suggest building out a timber framed pier and roof beam to create an l shaped portico say 450mm deep off the house front, clad in a Hardie board with a render coat applied. I would create this depth for two reasons, to add some sort of shelter above the front door, and also to provide a depth to add much needed dimension to the flat looking facade. I would install a vertical run of timber battens positioned on a vertical diagonal to create privacy but allow light. I would soften this feature further with something like Boston ivy or Virginia creeper. Leave the timber oiled naturally, and a mortar toned render colour. This way you could accent with a monument or grey on trims left around the red brick.

Hi Deb,

If this place were mine I would be going for a timeless Australian look to blend with your native and European plant choices that's durable for our climate.

I would start with a portico built over the entry in hardwood with a colour bond pitched lined roof trim all the wood in white.

Clad the walls with Hardies weather boards or flat planks, building a wide timber trim around the downstairs window to create a feature.

I'd go with charcoal walls to compliment the white trim classic colours that will endure time.

I'd clad the retaining walls all with a stacker stone tile that resembles old English mortar less stone walls.

Some outdoor lights by Barnlighting Autralia are classics.

If you want a cheap alternative creeper over the bricks, be aware that all vines will erode the mortar and attract spiders, yet my favourite creeper for this application would be "ficus pemula" it sits really flat and can be trained as a solid wall. Perfect for privacy.

You could pave the entry path with "Millboards" wharf style boards so it looks like a beach path, they will never rot or need maintenance, otherwise you can use concrete moulded timber look planks. Some flax grasses to add to the coastal look.

As for this upstairs Windows, what was the building designer thinking?..

There's a couple of choices, you can create one way visibility with white shutters inside or out, line the glass with sunblock film or have some exterior screens fitted outside with laser cuts screens, timber etc or replace the windows and create a more balanced frontal feature with higher rectangular windows.

This cladding can take to a contemporary look, coastal look, bush style etc. the best feature of this cladding is the additional insulation and uniformity.

Have fun

Thanks everyone, especially Paul. We have a great architect who has some awesome ideas and has created something where we saw nothing. He has given us an overview of the front which is very consistent with what Paul suggests and we think is going to be great BUT we're looking for a bit of a sanity check re materials as we keep reading how rendering is so "90's-2000's" and we'd like to ensure that we bring the house into the future. The proposal from our architect still needs to be resolved for a number of facets including materials as well as colours and we were wondering how others would do it. We're meeting with our architect later in the week to talk about other elements which are much more important than the facade (we're trying to focus on functionality over form) so we're hoping to focus on those with him and work on this in the background. ;)

I think the brick is what gives your house the majority of its character - it would be a shame to see it all go. My concern is that the use of cladding or render to completely cover the facade would make it feel generic.

My recommendation would be to soften the appearance of the brick, but not eliminate it. Perhaps create a timber pergola/feature entry roof, add a large vertical or horizontal batten feature over the upper windows, and plant a creeper or vine that would climb the brick and eventually give a beautiful soft effect.

Finally, to remove some of the brick I would suggest rendering the brick in the landscaping rather than the house. This is what is creating a 'brick overload' for me and I think it would put the focus back onto the house facade, which once renovated is where you want the attention to be.

As usual, it is poor garden design that is causing the problem.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the facade of the home.
The red Cordylines are totally at odds with the period of the home. To me, they really drag your home down!
There is a lot of terracotta brick around - if the garden walls were grey slate or similar, the effect would be softened.
But it is the garden that is the problem - you don't use red, fad driven Cordylines with Silver Birch trees! I am assuming that this was done prior to your purchase?
And the path would look much better if it was grey 12mm gravel - this will help soften the terracotta.
Alison

Hi there Deb, the house is lovely and in a lovely suburb, my immediate thoughts were to do something with the brick fences, I'am over everyone wanting to do Gray! Not sure about all that gray gravel either, noise etc would it be better to change that.

Your cordalines could be mass planted else where and replaced with low green hedging.

Would like to see the front door with some kind cover even with an extended pergola or the windows facing the street.

A new door, black metal look stunning. similar to this, have you seen "the Toorak House", it's a display house.

The toilet bathroom windows need to be updated for style and privacy, frosted Louvre windows come to mind. all the white dividing panels on the windows should be removed if they are the ones that just sit over a single pane of glass.

Roof colour is lovely and soft and sits well with the red brick

I tried to open the extension that you included but it's no longer available Many decisions to be made.

Hi De,
if you are after a different look try cladding using a wide panel, we have done this over our red brick house and the result is so dramatic, looks fab, if your windows allow remove the cross strips to achieve a larger look window, love your entrance , if you need a cover maybe blend in with a sharp modern look to match the edgy look cladding gives,, we thought to render but were put off with the upkeep and it does tend to crack whereas the cladding once painted lasts and looks better longer, love your birches ,and the red cordylines will look great with a modern edgy look the cladding gives good luck, lovely house to start with.

sorry that should say Hi Deb,
good luck with whatever you do, lovely house to work on. post us some pic's on your progress.

The bathroom and toilet facing the street could have an external screen for privacy, especially needed at night when lights are on, this would also cover and tie the two windows together cheers