love your house but not fond of the white cladding on the clerestory windows or the look of the blue? roof tiles but please don't render the bricks...with available funding i would replace the arched garage doors with a single full width door coloured to match the windows (or gal Steel?) try Colorbond paint Ironstone for all the cladding, a darker shade for the gutters and down pipes, Ironstone?, mid range like Bushland or Dune for the roof, Surfmist eaves and fascia and a bright colour like Calendula or Perfect Flower for the front door and big strappy plants and grasses and natives shrubs to enhance the garden and define the front boundary

Hi Belinda

you could look at cutting back the roof line over the windows and extending the existing wall upwards with render over it and get away from the slope downwards in the elevation.

The arches could go and be raised so that there was more clearance above the cars, even if it meant also raising the wall as adjacent. new sectional doors also.

The high line windows could be replaced with a linear aluminium style to give a horizontal band.

the front entry wall could be replaced with a timber or steel feature set forward but more open eg a rectangular ring?

Cheers

please don"t render and change the original style too much but i would expect changing the arches and having one new roller door with remote would cost at least $7000 but better planned in conjunction with the upstairs renovation... the extra height above the garage would give more variation to the wide expanse of roof and then the cost of the other changes included in one budget ..post a floor plan of the existing house to invite suggestions

Thanks everyone. I am really lost as to where to go with landscaping. Want to keep it easy maintenance and we have just had all the trees removed so I have a blank slate. We have considered pulling the pavers up and doing a new path to make it more modern but just aren't sure where to start to freshen it up.

Hi, Belinda. Good ideas above. Just looking closely at your 3rd photo (of that front wall just below white infill) it looks like lower bricks might need repointing. That said, I do like idea of lowering that wall (in line with white infill) so you get a better view of your front door and entry way. It's probably better for security as well. The bricks at entry are attractive so I wouldn't render them.

Agree with Julie about landscaping, esp garden bed on left in pic. A smallish tree (so no interference w/overhead lines) and underplanting as suggested would make nice transition from end of house and garden.

you mentioned modernising, so I'm wondering about the entry and garage front light fixtures. Can they be changed to help with this. I can't really tell from photo if they complement each other or are modern design. Plus, I think you could use additional lighting, and possibly some along your pathway too (solar?).

the idea of building into roof cavity over garage is a great one, if you are planning a renovation. The roof line as it is would make for interesting ceilings in rooms; however, I tend to agree the strip of 3 windows looks disproportionately small in relation to the roof.

Do you enter the house from inside garage? Do you find path from drive to front door inconvenient as you have to walk around the garden bed/entry wall?

I'd go with new landscaping as the modernisation rather than the dwelling itself.

I would remove the brown paved front path. Its all too much brown on brown for me bit like the grey on grey we seem to have at the moment.

These are a design 'classic'. Becoming quite popular with the mid century modern (and onwards) retro lovers.

Perhaps remove arches to roller doors, new tiles to entry? Repaint the white to something else, Monument or black, match it with window frames or roller doors perhaps. Whatever you do, either run with the current style or change completely as anything in the middle may end up being another house style not knowing what its trying to be.

Do the plans mention builders company and year, Pettit & Sevitt did a lot then many others copied the style?

Another thought is if you pulled down the front brick entry walls and open up the entry. Remove that garden bed for time being. Either extend the tiled porch outward to enlarge it, including adding steps leading from porch to drive near garage. Then finish concrete with tiles to match what you already have. My personal choice would be to replace and enlarge the current porch with decking and timber steps between deck and driveway near garage. This would modernise your entry, plus extend it so you can have greater functionality. Would be a lovely spot to sit for cuppa and book, perhaps.

I would have to agree with Annb about the front entry, that would open up the front and make it look more inviting. I actually like the bricks on the house and wouldn't render them.

This house is interesting.... it certainly displays a lot of roof to the street!

I'd remove the Brick wall blocking the entry as a start. The wall does create privacy but its isn't very welcoming. You could easily define a new entry by incorporating an entry pathway that is sufficiently landscaped with a combination of large shade trees and ground cover (also contributing to privacy from he streetscape). I like the brick however, the arches are quite dated. A new large garage door would be much more practical as well as an aesthetic improvement.

I would definitely look at fencing the front yard and opening the living area into this area to increase the openness. The living space would currently feel quite enclosed.

Any suggestions of plants????

I have planted a frangipani tree on the LHS not viable in photo.

I have NO idea with gardening so types of plants to look for would be great!

your house has so much potential.

i started drafting some suggestions, but i think it would be misleading as i think the suggestions would only work together as a whole and once everything has been considered - i could assist you if you would like to appoint us for a consultation. it'd be well worth the investment.