Could you add an exterior picture of the front door? Is the roof tile terracotta with some charcoal colour throughout? I've seen house with similar brick and roof colour (I think) and they've done new gutters and fascia in colorbond monument. Looks great. The colour is already there on the window sills and fence capping tile.

siriusky thank you for the photos that looks beautiful (your exposed brick is stunning, sadly ours is a really ugly colour so we will be covering it up!). I am a big fan of 70s features - the high ceilings, raked beams etc and was looking specifically for one that needed renovating! I have 2 kids but I also work from home so need a study and I think a 4th bedroom upstairs would add value to the house. Can a bedroom have no windows? Because downstairs there are no windows in that little section and I dont think there is the possibility of creating one (built on a sloping block and it is built into the hill). That will be my study in the interim or long term if we decide not to change the layout upstairs. I really love the idea of the doors out to the balcony from the main bedroom too, will definitely investigate the cost to do that with the builder! definitely plan to open everything up upstairs as it is quite dark, opening it up will make a big difference. Tweeza thank you I really love that plan, and think the laundry and pantry like that would work very well! Jess I LOVE that first plan and all that lovely storage, if only we could find some way to incorporate a laundry. Hubby suggested a cupboard style laundry (washing machine behind doors) but I am just not a big fan of those! would probably have to sacrifice my lovely pantry for a laundry :) Thank you so much for everyone taking the time to help me I really appreciate it. Will post some photos after settlement and will be back for lots more advice!

Hi Melanie yes this lovely brick colour does cause some grief for homeowners when wanting to update colour scheme without rendering.... !!!First of all I would recommend you keep the downpipes blended with the bricks rather than highlight them. Secondly I agree that charcoal grey would be two harsh against your brick colour so maybe look at a three tone colour scheme to breakdown the harshness of a dark colour against the light bricks. For example, dark on gutters and possibly on some smaller trims and mid tone on fascia and the vertical timbers.... obviously the 3rd colour is the brick colour...

Wow now we can see the front, I think you should use the double garage for parking with side access to the garden to unload shopping etc. Remove the other roller door and carport, replace the carport with a pergola,. As previously suggested make lovely garden path access from the new front gate which would be to the left side of the picket fence, , Run another courtyard fence off the garage so that you can plant this area and include a clothes line, this now the rear entrance to the house. At the end of the new pathway to the lane side of the house, extend the deck and add stairs so that you come from the pathway up onto the deck on the old carport side. All that parking drive way parking space could be a lovely out door area. Paint the garage doors and gutters on both buildings grey to match your roof.Use a fence similar to this with a gate at the front and between the neighbours to the left. cheers,