The walls could be Gyrocked, they would probably need to be on 'furring channels' (or similar) to allow a gap between block and plasterboard with some form of sislation/vapour barrier or insulation. This is similar to what is done in commercial building construction like warehouse's. Call your local 'Gyprock' sales centre as they will know the full story. A insulation company such as 'Fletcher Insulation' may also have approved systems that are in compliance with the building codes. There are possibly other insulation products available that could be directly adhered to the masonry surface but I don't know of any off the top of my head....

Does using 19mm high performance glass make enough difference? What about using a system with frames to use double glazing? Sure it's not frameless but it'll make life a lot easier. What about a combination of different glazing systems from south to north? Or as noted before reduce the glazed area. Rather than full height drop the height down to reduce the area. I'd still change designers though because if this hasn't been considered until now what other hidden 'land mines' are there around to trip you up and lighten your wallet even further. A new (good) designer will go through the plans and assess what needs amending. Designing is complicated and complex and needs a lot of thought, planning and forward thinking.

Hi Erika, First up I will proclaim my disdain for render. This is not because it is inherently bad finish, but there is some much poor render and render look products that crack and an look so cheap it has now colour my view of it as a finish. Make it brick if you want masonry or make it weatherboards if you want it to feel lighter. Depending of the form a mix of both can work well also, but be careful how this is done. Masonry to the external skin is inherently wrong in a hot climate (that is most australian how get it wrong with brick veneer). By place the masonry to the external skin, means it heats up all day and the can keep the building warm all night. Handy for a cold cold climate, but you will need insulation on the internal side to avoid heat loss, thus never really benefiting in a big way from this anyway. Try placing the brick skin to the internal face and you will get the true value from the masonry for its thermal qualities and cladding this with a lightweight material to the external face, shading it from the heat. You will also need to insulate between the cladding and the masonry to avoid heat loss as masonry is not a good insulator. Not even a double brick wall with that has the internal face exposed will meet the minimum BASIX requirements for heat loss in NSW, not with out additional insulation in the cavity. OK, stepping of the soap box for a moment to actually answer your question more directly. Weatherboards - Can look great, you will need insulation in the walls anyway. If not put it there anyway, It's a cheap product and make allot of difference to the comfort of the home in hot and cool climates. There will be maintenance that comes with weatherboards, paint them properly with a quality paint system and you will not have to do much for a long time, skimp on this and you will be back regularly. Render - also can look good, if you spend the dollars and get it done well. This will cost more. You will still need insulation and the masonry will warm you home through the night in the summer. It will also require a level of maintenance, but depending on the finish this can be very minimal. Weatherboard will be cheaper, unless you a building a project home and the scale of economies they get can skew things big time, particularly if you are only looking at a bagged brick rather than full render finish.

Hi Sarah, If you refer back to my initial 'Help' post, you will see the ideas were already there and our dilemma was actually more in relation to which paint colours might work with our bricks. Also, I'm not sure where the idea of us not wanting to add a garden has come from as my post clearly states that the improvements 'will also include a simple low maintenance garden'. I can only assume that the confusion has come about due to so many expressing that we should just do the garden and not worry about anything else, but that would simply put us back to where we were before the previous garden was removed. With all due respect, I can appreciate that many have posted in an effort to save us from what they consider to be unnecessary work and expense, and for that I am truly grateful, because it would be really lovely to simply not worry about doing anything, and as you said, go and enjoy a holiday instead! :) That said, people also need to acknowledge that we are not all of the same opinion when it comes to buying or selling a home. Aside from focusing on our revamp, we've also been actively searching for our 'retirement' home. Suffice to say, the first thing we notice while driving around is kerb appeal, or should I say, a lack of when it comes to some properties, including ours at the moment! :( While the photo's may look good, in reality, the exterior is tired and dated, with the gravel driveway being close to bare earth. Compared to the interior of our home, costs outside have been relatively minimal, therefore I can honestly say that we are quite excited about this project, but, it's goes without saying that we don't want spend a bomb either. Might just be the only little revamp this exterior's ever going to get! :D Anyway Sarah, full credit to you for giving me my first aha moment, which came through reading the final paragraph of your post. You've made me realise, that up until now, some of the decor and colour preferences I've presented are those both myself, and my husband would like if we were the prospective buyers, as opposed to what might work in favour of a broader market. Therefore, after some discussions tonight, we have concluded that... Columns, will definitely be plain square, as round will appear too similar to the existing ones. Front Door and handle will be simple classic Porch tiles - both against the idea of painting, so will definitely replace Paint - haven't ruled out neutral creams. Colour is simply something we're going to have to experiment with Existing gates will stay and get a repaint Our home is a spacious 3 bedroom/ 2 bathroom/ 2 car space with granny flat out the back, therefore we see it appealing more to couples with a young/growing family. I can't thank everyone enough for their time and effort in providing an endless stream of invaluable advice and photos... it's been nothing short of enlightening and I only wish I could print the visual that's in my mind now, compared to the muddle that was present when I first reached out for help. As with any revamp, the journey will be a mix of both highs and lows. That said, it's the end result we're working toward, and we expect to achieve nothing less than a positive outcome. Cheers again to all, Sandi :)