What a great opportunity you have!

How about a freshen up with white timber and updating the glass panels on the verandah to somhting like...

Avalon House - Kingscliff NSW · More Info

Thanks TazzieDevil, i love the Hamptons beach look. I just wasn't sure if I should paint the bricks as I thought cladding would be too expensive.

I agree with the above comment; Paint the wood white or grey and render the bricks with grey and it could have a beautiful Scandinavian look.

Thanks Loom Living, due to the position of the house you hardly see the roof but i'm just afraid it is too flat with just the rise and no dormers or character - do you think this will affect the look?

I quite like the boxy brick look as it is in proportion.

If you add colour to the timber you could make it look a bit fragmented.

Take a close look at your brickwork and see if there are any other colours coming through. If there is a blue / grey hue you could try using dark charcoal almost black on the timber parts. If it throws green try a liquorice shade.

Place some test paint on a flattened cardboard box to test the effect.

Alternatively you could paint both brick and timber in a gentle washed logy grey - head towards the blue rather than yellow shades. I would avoid adding more timber to the balcony.

iI would also pay to think about the entry area- if you make changes inside make sure you consider how this will look with the garage doors.

All the best.

Great thanks all. Any ideas on whether the two brick pillars between the two garage doors are load bearing. I would love to take that out and put a double garage door on the front bit. We are definitely putting in internal stairs. Depending on where they can go will dictate whether the external stairs will stay or go.

Have you though about either painting or cladding over the external bricks? I would suggest in white and then paint all remaining exterior walls a light grey (or really any color you desire) Also i actually like the glass panels. In regards to swapping the exterior stairs to interior stairs I think that's a great idea and although a big job would make a lot more sense. As the staircase is quiet a stand out point on the front of your home you could install a eye catching large door to replace this! Please keep us updated in what you choose :)

What a great transformation! Also with the cladding - what sort of ballbark figure would we be looking at. I do love the grey white combination but initially turned off it as i thought it would be way too expensive and i need to focus on the steep backyard and interior re-design first.

Hi Donna - I see you have a great range of suggestions above! I think constructing a new internal stair is very sensible. May I also suggest allowing room for a small lift or dumbwaiter (without putting it in) to add to resale value, or sufficient width in the stair for a stairclimber. This will broaden its appeal should you wish to sell at a later time. The current location of the stair looks like a great spot, it should work with only a slight impact on the interior, and you could build out towards the edge of the eaves to enclose the new stair and entry all underneath the existing roof. The pier between garage doors looks likely to be load bearing, however a simple beam across both openings should enable a new garage door to be installed. A builder should be able to organise this for you.

And as for design suggestions - painted brick is making something of a comeback - not that it ever goes out of style (and I have often said we stay clear of following trends however I thought I would mention it) - so you could keep to a lighter colour palette and go with an antique-white or lighter tan in a paint or a render system, or alternatively you could even go for something a bit more edgy in dark grey, say in 'Monument' or similar. And for 'wow' factor........ line both balcony and roof soffits with timber battens! They will add a warmth and richness and instantly modernise the whole. You could add timber cladding elements elsewhere, particular above the new double-garage door and, if you feel up to the maintenance requirements, strip back the windows to reveal the natural colour of the timber.

Good Luck with your project.

Thanks mcmahon and nerlich, could you please elaborate on the lift/dumbwaiter idea. Is this something that you think all two storey houses will require in the future. I did actually look at the residential lift as an alternative to the staircase but as it isnt a multi million dollar property I cannot really justify that. Although this property looks like your standard two story layout all the living and house is up the top level with the garage and flat only on the bottom so the entrance would consist of only a staircase with access to the garage and flat (to become rumpus). I will definitely be exploring the dumbwaiter idea. We wont be able to renovate this house for a few years when we move into it but i am trying to get ideas organised. As there will be such a massive overhaul i will have to break down all the projects into several topics.

Hi Donna - lifts, dumbwaiters and stair-climbers enable people with mobility issues or in wheelchairs to live independently in a multi-level home. I wouldn't suggest it to replace a stair, but by at least considering the space requirements now, it means that the house not only can accommodate you as you age, but can also broaden significantly the pool of potential buyers when you come to sell. Generally we don't think of these things until we are affected by mobility issues or are looking for dwellings for our elderly parents etc. As our population ages it will become very common in multi-level homes. They are expensive though! From around $8K-$10K * (I will check this) or more for a dumbwaiter and from $28,500 for a lift, full installed. You would be surprised how much convenience it adds for moving shopping and heavy bags up and down though - my aunt uses hers several times a day - but certainly not a necessity until you need one or are selling.

There is a brief article on HOUZZ.com - search "Home Elevators: A Rising Trend" - and some discussion boards on the topic as well.

Yes, i think the dumbwaiter is a great idea and will be exploring this option. When you think of the cost of a nice staircase the lift really doesn't seem that unreasonable. My only concern would be maintenance and repairs.

I kind of like it as it is aswell. Saying that, I don't like the upkeep of render/paint so I may be biased. Maybe update the balustrades, either frameless glass or laser cut panels, black gutter and downpipes. I'm not sold on the lift, it's quite a slope to get to the house fro the street I doubt someone with mobility issues would buy/stay in this property because of this anyways.

Paint the main features in a grey and change the heavy wood work in the middle sections of the staircase for cables. It would lighten the whole of the front.

Hi Donna - Look for a company that offer a 10-year warranty and a product that complies with Australian Standards. There are some companies that provide a 'kit' for your builder to install to make it a little bit cheaper again. There are also products that have a 'rack and pinion' design which minimises maintenance and eliminates the need for a motor pit - just do a google search for "dumbwaiter rack and pinion' . Good Luck!

Hey Donna,

Beautiful house you've got here, and some fantastic tips from Houzzers!

I'd also update the balustrade to a fully frameless channel system, like the one below:

Number 17 · More Info

and like others have said give it a new lick of paint.

Can't wait to see the end product!

Thanks. Probably wont extend at this stage as the house is already over 330m2. If it is easier to build out and enclose the staircase than try to fit it in then we may look at that also.

davmeljj- glad you like it, nearly made my blood pressure spike....... I 100% preferred the “before“, and certainly the new look would prevent me from purchasing it. Which is all irrelevant if you love it and did it for you.

Just an update. Only monument colour at the moment as inside has been completely re-done.

That is a great improvement over the burgundy

Great colour combination with the brick. Well done. Looks wonderful.