If you like the house, don't be put off by the front, it's only cosmetic. I don't think that the fence is doing the house any favours. You've got two strong horizontal lines from the roof, as the gable is at the side of the house and I think the strong horizontal fence is foreshortening the house, making it look a bit squat, which it actually isn't. I personally would avoid something like a slat fence which will reinforce the horizontal, I'd go with something more open and some lush planting out the front. I agree with wuff about the driveway and a carport. A carport at the side could help break up those strong horizontal elements.

Hi there Double D, you have a very pretty house the windows and stone feature wall are wonderful. I was thinking that perhaps you could put a flat roofed portico out from your entrance similar to the photo without the extra pitched roof but by replacing that with a narrower pergola across the front, it would have similar flat exposed beams as per the photo and would allow light into the house with future plans for the double carport to come out from house over the circular driveway( where to car is currently parked) so two cars parked side by side parallel to the house, built in the same style as the portico, this would depend on how much space you have and the set back from the boundary allowed to build The Icebergs would have to be transplanted, if you were concerned about light getting back into the house you could add some clear panels into portico Happy Easter to you as well

my suggestion would be to add a front fence with letterbox and single gate and landscaping to enhance an upper front footpath to the front door so that guest don't have to go down and up again and add a carport and/or garage with roof deck to the right hand side extending across teh front (and rear?) of the house but all depends on available space and budget...please post a site plan showing width and depth of the block, best views, direction of north, location of kitchen and living areas as well as distance from the original house to all four boundaries

with a gravel driveway, you will forever have gravel spread everywhere inside and out so, if tree roots are affecting your choices, maybe it's time to discuss removal of the offending trees with your neighbours before more damage is done to both homes OR i would just pressure wash and paint the existing cracked concrete (a dark concrete colour paint for driveway and carport floor) that's already so much better than any expensive alternatives and, with money saved on the driveway, extend the porch roof in front of the carport and make the porch deep enough for a small black or white table and/or chair plus walking space for a more welcoming entry and give more shelter from carport to front door and enlarge the porch floor and add lighter (tone to the bricks?) colour non slip tiles with an matching edge tile and i prefer the existing classic look of the blond bricks with white trim and grey roof but would invest in a new (black or white) front door or new plain security screen so that the patterned entry doors don't clash so much and consider potted (terracotta and black or white painted existing concrete pots) with tall narrow plants and/or decorative white screens against the hot wall