Of course kitchens of this style often have hanging pot racks which I like to call pot chandeliers. Source an old ladder with character and hang from the ceiling on hooks and chain above the ding table for a talking point or be creative an use a pulley rope to lower it above the corner bench top next to the oven. Pots and crockery take up a huge amount of space. Allocate zones and use them practically. This bench in the corner would make a great breakfast nook, where a toaster, coffee station could be set up and have baskets underneath for dry store pantry items. Select a feature colour for the room, use it in fabrics stools or prints to add personality, perhaps select a fabric and create a pelmet over the corner window and also hang it below that bench top on wire curtain string to hide all the bits below. A gingham would look great Ml design

I detest rendering with a passion. If you go down this path, the whole period of the home will be lost forever. Rendering can be high maintenance after some years and it also affects the breathability of buildings. I assume it's solid brick? So why remove the natural insulation of brick by covering it with a product that is already losing its appeal? And the colour of the brick is beautiful and neutral. I would remove the garden blocking the view of the home. I would have a 1.5 metre hedge at the front with a taller one to hide the neighbours fence. Then consider a tree, off centre in a lawn (deciduous). For a first home and garden, this is simple and will be low maintenance after a few years.

Sydney is out of my comfort zone for plant naming. I would still use the line of trees on RHS of driveway. I would clear the area on the left also. Consider tall trees towards the front of your property with open crowns. Double storied homes need tree height to provide balance. Closer to home maybe one or 2 smaller deciduous trees to give shade in summer. Retain the LHS of driveway with large embedded rocks. Maybe only native Lomandra with only 1 variety in pockets in the rocks. Very simple concept, but I believe will add real value to a good home. Please bear in mind that this advice is from a photo only.

After 3 years in the process we are finally in our new home. Still have doors, architraves and skirting to finish off but wanted to share a couple of our completed rooms