As everyone has suggested, the area is perfect for storage, hanging wet weather gear, umbrellas etc. The bench is perfect for changing shoes. You will have enough room for a large pot plant on the left and a colourful rug that could tie in with what you decide on for a seat. However I am a Capricorn and we are just too practical for words. I would consider myself very fortunate to have such an area.

Orange brick looks good with beige https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/traditional-exterior-traditional-exterior-nashville-phvw-vp~6689812 with gray with green

Hi Zara.... that's good to have answers to those questions... now I think you just need to work out your budget... timber fencing with slight gaps are probably the most economical and you can 'tart them up' with a lick of pain to compliment your beautiful house and front yard... colour bond panels with timber posts can look really good and are a cost effective option too. Do you want an automatic sliding roller gate for vehicular access that is in line with existing fencing? A few of our neighbours have those and they work well and look like part of the fence until it starts to slide to the side to let their cars in & out. Our neighbour has a a very high blue picket fence with the driveway sliding gate in the same material.

While there are no pictures of your house , so I accept that the existing fence may not suit the house , as a fence I actually like it , and would try and use it as a 'base' . Depending on the primary house colours , I'd paint the gates and those filligres or whatever they are called , in a black gloss , and try and add a cap to each pillar , and even a top along the fence , wider than the brick . Taking inspiration from what you term the 'japanese' slats , how about raise the pillars ( in matching brick ) 250-300mm , and add a couple of 100x25 timber rails , or 4 or 5 30x30 ones in that mid redwood stain ? If you house totally doesn't suit the fence , how about rendering or plastering , or even use it but disguise it with vines and shrubs , even use concrete nails to attach battens and then attach the iron ? To demolish the existing fence , and especially changing the front fence line , won't achieve much IMO , except reasonably substantial extra cost .