hi Adrian and Erin, now that looks flash! and it is amazing the difference the small things make! we will certainly look at this and Erin, tks so much for the photo. Do you think the new square posts holding up the veranda should be painted the same colour as the windows ( we think we will restore the windows to the existing white) or made a feature, ie maybe dressed timber or another colour? Our landscape plan includes a pergola ( maybe dressed timber or painted white) leading up to the front porch and a few low retaining walls ( maybe rendered or sandstone?) and maybe the post colour can tie in somewhere? cheers kim

You can get any colour paint you like in any strength - 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or full - its only a colour, so they will mix it to your request. Have you made yourselves a colour board? if not, you will need to get all your selection colours together and then go to bunnings or a paint shop and get some sample pots of the colours you are debating. (yes it will cost to get sample pots, but seriously you need to do it - and get the varying strengths in the same colour as well). If you are worried about the render colour marking, go the 1/2 strength on the render and 1/4 on the mouldings. Your Wow factor will come with your varying textures - brickwork/render and trims/timber doors, and the wrought iron. I'm guessing you have exterior lighting? some beautiful exterior lights will be the icing on the cake.

Hi Sarah I absolutely think what you have suggested is perfect. I love Paperbark for the mouldings and the double strength for render. The brick you chose is awesome. I think you've got it sorted. How exciting! All the best. Regards Lisa PS. I love the elevation.

You have a classic post-war cream brick home, and the cream brick is the feature with its subtle variation in colour. The dark brown accent colours, which are not original, were probably added in the early 1970's. With your tight budget I would not be rendering the brick. You may like to read my blog post about why you should NOT render a classic home. https://secretdesignstudio.com/render-brick-home-tribute-triple-fronted-blonde-brick-veneer-home/ I would be looking at removing the "feature" awning and replacing it with something more appropriate to the home such as vertical black and white stripe which I suggested to these clients who have a similar brick and tile combination to yours. I would then look at repainting the gutters and fascias to co-ordinate with the awning. Introduce some landscaping to soften the look, and consider painting or rendering the dark brown base brickwork (but never the cream brickwork). Finish all of the timber window frames in the original Dulux Vivid White. I would not be adding the fake Victorian-style verandah to the home as you have proposed with its ornate iron lace. It will just look so wrong mixing these elements from different centuries from homes with very different proportions. I don't think I have actually seen a new renovation with fake decorative iron lace since the 1970s! At the end of the day, you won't be able to "modernise" or change the style of the existing home with your budget. What you can do is to celebrate the 1960's character that you already have and build on the original parts of your home which will be more cost-effective. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.