It all depends on how you want to use your front yard. I live on a corner block and in an old suburb in Canberra, where hedges are everywhere and for good reason, Privacy! You're front yard is a little more magical too when you aren't exposed to the street. I definitely would plant a tree in the corner so in time it overhangs and softens the driveway but please research the tree first or it could be a disaster. If you're not into hedges then garden beds at the front and around the corner, edging is a must, maybe a sculpture or garden feature not small but more of a statement piece. As already suggested, have a look at pictures on Houzz I'm sure you'll fall in love with something that suits you're lifestyle, and don't forget to add some soft garden lighting, good luck!

How exciting El Bee. I live in a similar rural climate. Everyone with bottled gas for heating (and anything else) constantly remarks how expensive it is. It’s really expensive to run. The most efficient heating type is reverse cycle air conditioning. The Daikin US7 has a COP (coefficient of performance) of up to 7. What that means (in lay person’s terms) is that one unit of energy produces 7 units of heat. Most other brands have a COP of up to 5. COP is also affected by the size of the unit and the temperature where the compressor is located (usually outdoors) Other forms of electric heating have a COP of 1 at best. An alternative could be wood fired or heat pump hydronic heating and water heating. It gives a much nicer heat than ducted and may be cheaper to run if you can source your own wood. If you buy firewood then the economics may not work for you. Whether a heat pump system will work for you in winter, which is when you need heating, depends upon how many sunny days you get in winter. It still needs to be powered by some electricity but is efficient. The best solution is to build a house that requires very little heating or cooling (or even none) using solar passive design principles. Good places to start are the yourhome.gov.au website, the alternative technology association website (although it can get bogged down in debates about technology) and renew and sanctuary magazines. If your house is oriented correctly, right amount of shading, cross ventilation, insulation, right materials etc then you may need very little heating or cooling at all. Good orientation and cross ventilation costs nothing but will reap huge benefits in terms of comfort and liveability, and reduced reduction on energy to heat and cool the house. For me, I would prefer the master separate to the kids rooms unless there is a solid reason for grouping the bedrooms together. It’s good to be close to kids when they’re little and need you during the night, once they are older you might want more privacy for adult activities. Teens typically go to bed later than their parents and there are likely things you don’t want them to hear. If possible it’d be great to get the loo out of the bathroom. Especially for morning rush time. Even though there’s another loo in the laundry. Think about wood storage too. Accessible to the house and easy access for the delivery truck. You don’t want to be pushing wheelbarrows of wood up a steep slope. Some wood storage inside is also a good idea so you don’t need to dash out in the cold to stock up on wood all the time. And finally, possibly more pantry space. If you are not close to a major town or decent food shopping then you may have longer between shopping trips and need more storage for food. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Just bigger. Think about using a building designer or architect with an understanding of sustainable design and solar passive principles in your climate. Or if designing yourself then going with a builder who understands these principles and has worked on similar projects in the past. They’ll have great insights about what works in your climate. Is there a sustainability or permaculture group in the area? They’ll probably be a great source of information and contacts. Good luck with the build.

With all due respect I think that your home looks more like 1980's than 1950's. 1980's homes tend to be lots of brickwork, and 1950's are often more lightweight materials. My crystal ball says that the colours that you are looking at are going to date as we move through these grim times as pre-pandemic colours. After World War Two there was a general movement to lighter palettes and brighter colours, so the cliched Monument trim, grey render and black window frames will be going out of fashion. Here is an example of a 1950's home with a joyous use of colours. Some of these colours were also popular in the 1980's so if you want to be true to the original era you should do some historical research. For many people it is hard to visualise how colours will work on their home, which is why what has been done to death before is often repeated. If you need a hand with colour selections then perhaps you should contact a Dulux colour consultant or other design professional. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits.

Hey! Figuring out the layout can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, I've been there too. It's all about finding what works best for you and your lifestyle. Personally, I'm a fan of open floor plans because they create a spacious and connected vibe. It's great for entertaining and keeping an eye on things, especially if you have little ones. As for the bedrooms, it depends on your needs. If you're thinking of a home office or a guest room, that's always handy. For those planning to purchase a condo in the near future, I recommend looking at the options that Hillock Green has to offer. They are considered to be one of the best real estate developers.