You can definitely combine different timbers in your scheme. Furnishings will tie into your floors as a material rather than a tone, although the red tone in jarrah is quite dominant, it would be a mistake to ignore that. I would opt for warm pigments and colour notes, but not so light on the walls that you emphasize the red by contrast! Without knowing your stele in furnishings, interior directions, I am making suggestions on rooms I have seen or created that do work in this scenario. You will take from it what is relevant. I have seen a rich wine colour, which does look fantastic with timber furniture, it creates a moody ambience which is rich and has a sophistication to it. Lighting is key to creating a successful look with rich tones. This deep rich plum shade can be used for modern, traditional or specific interiors, like provincial or deco quite easily. Have you read pantones colour of 2015 is Marsala. Is a crimson shade, so you can be right on trend too. I suggest keeping your trims white to really crisp up the architectural details, ensure your ceiling are Matt white to absorb light and introduce texture to soften the look. Jarrah an look very formal, so if you have a glossy finish, bring in elements that counteract or contribute that same shine, as in metaliics or mirrors etc. Textiles in plush textures like tactile fibres layering pillows featuring cashmeres or velvets will add to the luxe and keep it comfortable too.

Thanks - this is our living area - it's a l-shaped living area comprising lounge, dining, playroom & kitchen. I want to highlight the outside (it's basically an l-shaped room with the outer area mainly windows leading out to 2 tiled balconies. It's elevated amngst tree tops. Currently interior paint is a ale green - but it doesn't work withthe natural meranti wood (seems to exaggerate the honey hues of the wood). We like a "fresh" environment. Thanks for your help withthis. (BTW we currently have aubergine furniture which we'll change also).

The plan looks a nightmare - bedrooms facing the street, a tiny internal bathroom with no window to the outside (is that legal?) and a "lounge" that looks like it was meant to be a third bedroom. If the internal walls are stud and don't support the roof you're in with a chance, but I'd say to do a proper job the cheap option is NOT going to work. I'd put two bedrooms where the current family room and lounge are and extend the bathroom into the boot room to give window access, or scrap the current bathroom altogether and use some of the space in what is now the kitchen for a new one. Keeping the WC separate is a good move. If you make the street side the social side of the house you can open it right out and create a big front porch that's a social spill-over from the kitchen/dining area, creating indoor-outdoor flow. Planting (two or three shade trees and some stands of tall perennials rather than a "green fence" hedge) keeps your front garden private yet inviting and stops your front porch becoming a stage set for the street. Good luck! I think you'll turn this very ordinary house into a much nicer place to live!

Hi Matthew we bought an old doer upper that needs refreshing so I was keen to follow your post. We so far painted the front door replaced front letterbox guerney washed the concrete drive and have bought a panel lift door for the carport. We removed all the overgrown trees. Maybe guerney wash your roof , driveway and front steps, thats our next job (roof) and start with the gardens. If you keep the awnings - spraypaint them in a single tone, paint or replace the driveway fence, Remove that tall shrub or trim it, plant a row of plants up along the drive. Great house, like ours you can only improve it in value. Enjoy renovating!