A house in our street is very similar to this, the owners have done a fabulous job celebrating the style of the house, the roof line and bessa blocks have been made a feature, they have decked the front and landscaped the gardens, it is dressed beautifully with 59/60s style pots lowish profile with three legs accopulco chairs out on the deck. I wish I could take a photo (but a bit creepy - going up and taking photos of some one else's front). They have put in new windows and doors. The front garden is large and they have views over the inlet here. It has gone from one of the worst houses to something pretty remarkable. The new Windows are black framed

Hi all, Sorry for the slow replies and thanks for the input so far. From what I've read online a re-inforced besser block wall should be about $600 p/sqm including footings in Sydney (Hornsby shire council area). Given the wall is 1m x 10m it should be let's say $7k including design and DA or am I way off? I'd also need to dispose of the current wall + footings but I could probably give the blocks away. The paved area is about 40sqm. Would it be safe to assume $200 p/sqm for concrete base, paver supply (travertine) and install (coping and surrounds)? So the wall and and paving would cost let's say $16k + fencing + cladding. This isn't too bad considering how much better it would look and the value it would add to the house. I like the flexibility the besser would give - render, cladding etc are all options. I'm not sure how bad it is structurally it just has a couple of spots where I can see the blocks have pulled apart over time. Below are some pictures of the bad spots. Also looking at the Amber website it says the maximum courses is maximum non reinforced wall height of 972mm (6 courses). It looks like my wall is actually 7 courses un-reinforced. The wall and pool was built back in 2003. I definitely think planting in front of the wall would help, as would removing the lights but I'm in two minds about whether to bite the bullet and do it properly or just hide it.

One thing no-one has mentioned is the reverse wave things on the barge boards -- I guess you could say they add character , but yeah , nah , not really ! Just dates the look IMO , so I'd remove them . See Pic 3 of yours , the yellowy butter beige is in the shade , and looks way better IMO . So use that trick of the eyes -- go a light off-white . While Surfmist doesn't tie in with the brick tone , I suspect that with the darker roof ( and my next suggestion ) it would work -- lets face it , its not going to look worse than present ! Keep the dark windows , BUT alo do that 150mm or whatever 'band' between the upper and lower windows , in a charcoal . It will make your place look way more modern . I'd even consider painting the garage door the charcoal too -- I realise it risks looking too dark , especially on a dull winter day , but I'd risk it , as it sticks to the same theme . Leave the front door as is though -- it looks like it doesn't quite suit in the close-up pic , but actually works in the longer shots , which is what 98% of people see . The other option , but more $$$$ , would be to completely change the front door and garage door , going to the same cedar or cedar look for both , or even a Japanese black -- in fact , a Japanese black with those blue influences , and Surfmist ( which also has a blue tinge ) on the timber , would be my number 2 choice ( behind cedar ) .

Firstly , your pictures look like 3 different tones of brick , with that front wall being a 4th ? That may be lighting or even how they've been cared over the years , but just my first observation . I'm not a fan of painting bricks , so that probably taints my thoughts , but even painted , its going to look a mish-mash of looks and eras -- no matter what you do , you'll see the 60's roots and design cues . I'd tidy the mortar ( stay period with the light mortar ) and keep the 'red and white' theme , and any spare money maybe change the wrought iron and netting on the balcony , paint the barge boards and gutters , do the front fence , add variety to the garden . Tidy what is there in other words , don't try to make it what it ain't .