Hi Montana, this is a home gallery I visited on the weekend, I loved it, smiled all the time I was there, loved the art and my husband took these pics of me in the garden, excuse me, but enjoy the garden..was a very happy place and the artist very bohemian . Bought these little slippers for my grandchild, there were big people ones there as well, I really wanted them but there is no phone coverage at gallery so cash only and I didn't have enough on me, I also bought a little stool but stays until end of open gallery . There was painted furniture, art, garden statues, but this is the artists own garden, and she was so bohemian and just lovely, even served chicken soup at lunch time..I must say I was a bit surprised it wasn't just vegetable !

I like the look of the outside of the house , and initially I wouldn't change the yellowy beige colour . What I would do is get the concrete block retaining wall either rendered in the same colour as the house , or if the budget ran to it -- get a genuine stone facade . As far as gardens to soften the look , I'd stick to the meditarreanian theme , and do a couple of 2 metre tall green leafy plants in wooden round planters ( half wine barrels or similar ) , and maybe a long , slim garden ( 4 or 5 metres long by 40cm wide ) with marigolds or similar .

Please excuse this quick dodgy recolour , but just wanted to show the difference some kind of contrast would add to the effect of the exterior. Whether it is painting the roof (because it is such a big part of the facade), rendering or painting the bricks or refinishing the windows in black or white, something to let the architectural features is the key to sprucing up the outside. I think someone mentioned adding a verandah too. That would depend on how much light already comes through the front. I can imagine one of the windows on the side being transformed into french doors leading to a lovely flagstoned garden. I love the black and white interior photos someone posted above too. anything to bring some contrast to all that mud coloured brick. What an inspiring project to have ahead of you, so many possibilities! I wish this were my little house :)))

Zinc