Hi Lorraine, What a great house! I love what you've done so far. If you decide that your dark furniture isn't working for you've got a few options: (1) strip it back and bleach with Oxalic Acid then either wax it or clear varnish (2) strip any varnish off and white wash it (3) paint it. You could also try light neutral décor pieces (vases etc) to boost light and put mirrors on walls opposite windows that will bounce light around your home. Your brown lounge you can lighten up with light cushions (soft whites, creams, pale greens work wonders and don't be afraid of mixing whites and creams) OR instead of getting a new lounge, have it re-covered - if you're handy with a sewing machine or a relative is, try this - canvas style fabrics in a raw cream/white colour can look fantastic (my Mum was the queen of this - it was a bit of work but saved a fortune - and she could take the covers off and wash them when she wanted to). To boost the feel and light in your home, go for warm white globes/lighting in your home - it makes a huge difference. When you come to curtains/blinds - dress the walls around the window rather than the window - it'll make your windows look bigger and make sure that you don't miss out on any available light. For your kitchen avoid the modern look and head to soft whites, warm whites - French provincial and traditional looks would work well and keep your colour pallet a warm light neutral colour. Enjoy the journey!

Hi. Good question from Gallifrey re ceiling height. I'm also wondering if you plan to install new fixture in same spot as the current ceiling oyster? And if you have your piano lid open most of the time? So height of light you are looking for is what? I like the idea of a Venetian chandelier, similar to the red one posted above. What about in black?

We went with Monument and I am delighted. I was worried about it making the house hotter, but not at all as we added some extra insulation while the roof was lifted. We look over our roof to Mt Dandenong and it really feels like we are floating above the rooftops now (previously had a lighter color). I have also noticed there is far less glare being darker. Pic below is not my best shots ... but you get the idea. Forgot to add we also have a flat cliplock roof and used a combination of Monument and Dune on the house.

I suggest the very first thing to do , would be to decide your budget and what you want to achieve , and to a certain degree what the suburb is like ? If it's the 'worst' house in an upmarket suburb , then $100K or even $200k may really lift its value , but if its in a 'cheaper' suburb , you may over capitalise . Like others , some things I'd look at -- -- Do the gardens , trim the tree , looks more like rank grass along the side of the driveway ? Maybe a white stone garden , with a Yukka ort similar . -- The concrete driveway looks 'drunk' , but that may be because of the shapes it was laid in ? Level it , take the front out to the street , talk to an expert about doing a one-run top coat of concrete . -- Remove the fairy lights , relocate the satelite dish . -- Personally , Id frame upwards on the top of the carport and lounge roof , and also the first floor roof , and put bright 25-30cm tall painted or powder coasted alloy panels -- cover the gutters and 'hide' the solar panels . Paint or coat them whatever colour you like , but I'd go for something like bright yellow or orange or red , mid blue , a crisp green ? -- Someone suggested brown wooden 'louvres' full-length over the upstairs windows . I'd be tempted to go with that idea ( buy 30mmx30mm pine , and a mid brown stain -- 6 or 8 'rails' along that upstairs on the side and front you can see in the pictures . Instead of mid-brown stain , a black/charcoal may suit better , especially if you go with those bright panels . -- Maybe a fence in the same 30 x 30 horizontal wood , same stain colour -- ties the upstairs to the 'ground' level ? Relatively budget , and can be done in several steps , but would 'lift' it no end IMO .