Wow love some of those pics Siriuskey! Thank you for the ideas. I struggle with whether to keep walkways 'clear' in this house - for example the two doors either side of kitchen and the deck door all create these weird walkways. (See arrows on drawings) Is it a smart move to 'block' them with say a couch, or an island bench, or the dining table? (See random furniture placement in pictures showing these options) I have uploaded a drawing with the current walls that we propose removing in green highlighter and showing where the current front door is. As you can see it's a wasted space and strange detour past laundry toilet and storage! I have sketched what I think you mean by entry next to bed 3- would you leave a small office room to one side and create a hallway or leave open and place miners lounge against west wall. Am I interpreting it all as you imagined?!

Interesting project there........when you're dealing with extending immediately from an existing building there are usually two ways to go....1. blend/extend seamlessly so that there is essentially no indication of any additions, or 2. separate/distinguish clearly between the old and the new. It's usually reflected somewhat in the floor plan as well. There is also a spectrum within both of those categories on how it can be done and whether its deemed to be done well or not so well. The issue I see with the facade articulation resolution (on your drawings) is that it is arguably neither one nor the other. The window/fenestration articulation is an issue because there's no confident consistency or sequence to the proportions of the new glazing areas. If you want "timeless" then you need to pull it into line with a particular style, either remain faithful to the reference/traditions/scaling/proportions of the original, or if that is either challenging or not providing the functional outcome sought, then consolidate the style/breakup of the extended windows to be visually contrasting yet balanced/controlled against the original. It's a similar story with the materials, it needs to all balance compositionally. Usually the decisions in this area come down to how best to balance also in conjunction with the roof form. And getting to the roof, this is again similar in that it's not ideal to mix & match gable and hip forms unless there's good reason to do so or you feature projecting gables out from a primary hip composition like as in cal bungs. I think you'll find it would be a better outcome to confidently work with one or the other here. In this case the existing primary reference is the gable form and this could be really be made the defining building form feature, but you need to decide upon how you articulate the gable forms - it's like there needs to be a clever/clear approach/language developed with some contemporary material to express the garage gable full height so it reads as the single material, rather than being broken up with the garage door and the gable infill - if it was a hidden door and the form finished more consistently the whole thing would look classier, professional and more elegant. There is super potential here to get this right and look amazing. I think the layout is all OK but some harder work is required/deserved on the facade, street presentation and form resolution, which obviously you are aware about since you've asked the question......possibly here, less in more ;) PD

Hi Jen, Great house, I think a charcoal colour would look great on windows, guttering, steps , porch and brown bricks, here’s a few inspiration photos for you of what you may like for your house and garden, I would keep the bricks and just update the trims etc, could look great, trim off the scallop edge on blinds for a more modern look, you could even paint them to match trims( I have done this ) love the raised beds , adds a real feature, could look fabulous.

I think the existing colour is about right for the house . Go too much lighter and it starts to get the same as the doors , so you don't achieve anything . Go more mushroom and it wouldn't look right for the style of house , grey is just grey and done to death , and to add a blue tinge or similar would make it look older IMO . An English Cream or similar might look smart and modern , and a bit less yellow than the existing shade -- that's the range I'd look at IF it needs doing . Doing the door alcove in charcoal will add some interest , but it will also darken it , so I'd be reluctant , and I'd keep away from brown tones , or blues or reds or anything else . Both Kate and I have suggested a wooden garage door , and I suggested changing the entrance door to match . If you go charcoal , a wooden door wouldn't achieve much , while the existing white doors could look 'cheap' . In other words , my personal preference would be keep the existing colour , and change the garage and entrance door . They will fade and weather too , referencing the beach location . Add 2 or 3 bright warm coloured pots with cacti and similar beach plants and you have a subtle beach look .