Id have Raised planter boxes put in around the outside of our yard so my mother in-law doesn't have to spend hours on the ground with a bad back to do the gardening!..

Definitely paint. Depending on what the approved colours are through council, I'd pick a scheme that will allow you to have your window frames one colour, the walls one colour the rounded window mouldings to be another colour (Possibly the same colour as the the window frames) then the door to be another colour in a different finish. You might want to try a scheme on the grey scale - make it light enough so it's modern, fresh, neutral and should be allowed through the heritage council. I would then change the style/colour/size of the number of the house and like suggested above, some potted plants on either side of the front door - make them heavy enough so they can't get pinched. Good Luck.

Hi Cheryl, it sounds like you are getting ready to brief an architect for your project? Have you worked with an architect or designer before? I ask because it is often the case that people who haven't worked with a design professional sometimes struggle with where to begin. If that is your situation, my advice is not to sweat the details before you have found the right designer. When interviewing potential architects it is important to have a budget range and a set of desired outcomes clear in your mind, but it is not necessary, or even advisable, to present candidates with a pre-conceived "solution" because that can shut the gate on their creative input and potentially deny you the best value from your investment in their services. By all means canvas ideas here, but please try to keep an open mind and give your designer room to do their best for you.

Hi Matt The walls are Sandy Day (Half Strength) while the ceiling, cornices & such like are Vivid White. The kitchen is White Box (Half Strength) and the bathroom is Silverton (Half Strength). The pressed tin for the kitchen backsplash is in Shoji White and the bathroom pressed tin is White Satin. They are all Dulux colours.