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.

Treasure it for the gem of a 1940s/50s home it is, complete with glorious wrought iron work. Suggestions have been made as to how to boost the height to meet current building codes. You will regret updating the exterior for what is likely to be a one that will date quickly and be higher maintenance . It is only a matter of time until such homes are as treasured as Victorian terraces or Californian bungalows. It is an icon of its time. Accept it for what t is. Why make your house look like a fashion victim of 2019, when it stands in almost the full glory of its original period? It will also save you a fortune too! But yes, minimise the concrete! and add a garden that refects the period the house was built. Roses if you like them, with maybe a magnolia or crepe myrtle feature tree but for lower maintenance try some architectural and ground covering succulents. You could also go with edibles like feature citrus and olives for a Mediterranean feel.

Definantely keep the old garage, it's been there much too long to be considered illegal, your neighbour would also love the privacy it provides to both of you, we have a similar one next to our pool, we love it. Agree some gardening and clearing away some old bits and pieces. Just attaching a couple more photos, don't throw the plants away just repurpose them. the first photo is of a builders house, he used the existing garage as a games room with added pergola over original driveway, a second carport is off to the left looks brilliant (they get quite a lot of sun on this side). The next two are before and after shots of a mid centuary house similar to your's, the last photo is of our current house, flat roof garage is hiding solar panels, we have changed the colour pink to a more original one, grey green.

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