Hi Guys thank you so much for your input. Yes LouieT, meals is west and dining is north. We are in Perth with scorching late afternoon sun. Julienewans, we were thinking along similar lines: changing bed 3 into laundry, use part laundry for a butlers pantry. This opens up lounge, dining and part laundry for the kitchen and living area with meals. it also gives access to both north and south side of the house. The house is on a slab and games was added later. We also consider changing meals and kitchen to a guest with bathroom / powder room. This will have an outside entrance to be accessed from the to-be pool on the northern side. New entrance between current meals and family - this allows for a wider entrance. Keeping family as a study/library / reading area (taking out the bar). Our biggest concern is how to fit a kitchen into the space that flows easily from the walk-in pantry to the lounge / dining area.

Hi, depending on budget, I would render white (although I am not always keen on render), have roof sprayed white, warm timber door and garage door (see vertical timber battens in photo to follow), change porch to a contemporary, thinner, over hanging steel one in black or one with vertical timber battens in front of the door to break up the facade a bit. Ideally you would update the windows but that may not work with the indoor layout.

There looks to be a fence or wall to the left of the garage , in a nice stained timber -- see how clean and modern that looks , and compliments the bricks . The problem -- I doubt you can strip and stain the existing balconies timber -- but there does appear to be some doubt as to the timbers condition anyway . So here's my plan of attack -- if the timber is needing some or all replacing , replace it with stained timber uprights ( the white rails may be okay , and/or they may actually be metal supports ) . So go that nice stained timber . But if the timber is okay and you want a change on a budget , just repaint everything currently green , in a charcoal . And no matter what option -- new fabric on the sunshades , or just bin them altogether -- the roof looks like it has an okay overhang , but I assume they were installed ( years ago haha ? ) as they were needed , but they may have been more visual ? Anyway , that's a no-brainer -- do something , almost anything , with them ! And no matter what option , consider changing the garage doors with stained timber ones , the same shade as the fence/wall . A touch of class , and would really tie in if you did the veranda uprights in the same stain , but it would still work with charcoal 'upstairs' , or stainless wires , or smoked glass panels . Just a thought !

I don't think the carport is too bad , but agree with most of Kates ideas . It seems minor , but the letterbox being a different brick and style just gets the look off to a bad start . And again , those panels are just a bit weird -- it would be hard to get right , but maybe an apricot or a yellow would work for them ? Just one thought that would probably look good may be to keep the flyscreens ( assuming they do their job ) and the cream panel , but paint it charcoal , BUT do 2 or 3 upright poles in steel or wood , also painted charcoal , ground to gutter height , and then have 12 or so cedar battens 50mm x 50mm bolted horizontally , evenly spaced . I'm guessing $2000-2500 , it would add the timber warmth and more modern look , hide some sins but hopefully won't cut out too much light , nor too much vision . Add some rocks , some pebble gardens , I actually think 'formal' steps would spoil the look , but a series of stepping stones would look informal but structured . Maybe a big glazed pot , especially one in red or blue or green , with some imaginative plants , would all add to everthing . If your front door is brown , move out haha ( I can't see it clearly enough ) but it sort of works in black . Red or orange might be more noticable and add some brightness for the door , but I actually think the cedar 'shutter' , the lighter bricks , the light carport , and a black door in mostly light colours would suit the house and the era .