apennameandthata i don't know... vertical is more shed like style, while we still have a colonial style base and veranda. Dust will be an issue here (although its not so bad in that particular spot on a river, good protection from trees) but pressure wash will be regular practice anyway. Thanks for all your suggestions and I will take all on board, especially sandstone ideas. I don't this I want this house to look pretentious, but how can I describe that, I am after some subtle "wow" factor or something a bit different, but it must look like we knew what we are doing and YES, I want it to look like high quality build and not a transportable house or kit home. The house rectangle is so simple that I worry it may have that boring factor in its looks and that is why I am looking for some ideas. My problem is a tendency to overthink but I hope I will find a balance at some point :) At this stage I think: galvanised tin everywhere (or that zincalum), rusty steel posts, aluminum windows with timber look, sandstone features around main door and sandstone chimney. We had a big flood last year and the spot never goes under water, its on high grounds even though it is only meters from the river.

Photos would help

It has a sort of Tuscan/ Mediterranian vibe , and I like most of the features ( that chimney design is clever , for example , and the way the paving is wearing is great ! ) . You say about red trim , but to me it looks like a reddy brown , which suits . The bluey greeny board doesn't suit , and doesn't go with the roof either ( I assume the roof is all those charcoal tiles ? ) . Ordinarily , I'd say to lighten the render and go with a darker board -- probably charcoal , but then thats just a continuation of the roof . BUT I like the weathered vibe of the existing render , and I like how the windows etc works with the render too . So here's my 'easy' improvement -- leave it mostly as it is , but change 2 things . The downpipe and collector near the door ( the single story one ) I'd change to genuine copper ( not just paint ) ; and the barge board around the top I'd change to either crisp white ( the safe option ) or a metallic coppery bronze -- that references the downpipe but also ties in and transitions between the render and the tiles . A bit riskier , but IMO worth trying .

Im getting head around it all now, its like putting a puzzle together and realising you’re missing pieces. i agree a deep charcoal/grey would be the best colour with the brick. Unfortunately my husband does not want to paint the aluminium gutters and windows which are brown. . His argument is that if we attempt to do it ourselves it may look worse as it is fiddly and time consuming painting aluminium and not really a job for a first time DIY, especially as it is a two story house. My solution was to match the windows and gutters with a rich grey with a brownish undertone like namadji. It is classified as a grey but looks brown to me. What i am afraid of is doing what your neighbour has done and making the whole house oppressively brown. Do you think I could get away with a deep grey that doesnt quite match the aluminium and then just paint the wooden trims? I would also paint the white brick in the entrance the same colour and the fence and studio. Im afraid of doing all this work only for it to be half arsed. We need to replace the balconies as they are unsafe but unfortunately my husband and i have had a difficult year financially and we don’t want to sink money into the front of house at the moment. The back will need a complete overhaul and we need to preserve funds for that. I suspect ultimately there may not be a solution unless we commit to doing the whole job. Alternatively we could stage it. I am clearly thinking aloud and appreciate all the input and patience!