Do a google image search of "nuts and berries architecture", "sevitt and Pettit", and perhaps "Sydney school architecture". Your house has been inspired by those styles/movements from late 60 and 70s Australian architecture and you should be able to find images of sensitive renovations that inspire you.

hi Belinda, thats what I said to my hubby too, haha!!! Have a look at Peter Fudge gardens, just beautiful, he said he uses them in his designs, it is a medium tree (can grow to 10 mts in maturity) responds to a light prune to keep it to the size required, I prune our pears every 3-4 years and they look fab, he uses it in residential gardens , pleaches and underplants to give that beautiful elegance, look up his website for inspiration and he has great advice and his gardens are divine, can't wait to see what you do.

It's (as always) about balancing the elements.......you can have a timber overload, but you can always counter/balance/freshen up with other contrasting aspects......It's easy to paint out character, harder to put it back if you make a mistake/wrong decision. Below is one of our contemporary projects that features both cedar window frames and cedar ceilings. The owners also had what i'd describe as more traditional styled "homely" furniture rather than super edgy contemporary pieces. It's not right or wrong with this stuff. Rather than try to find the answers from looking at examples from other side of the world online with google or pinterest, perhaps re-focus on what you have in front of you, asking what are the unique/special aspects about your home that are of value, and then build the decisions of what to do and what not to do around the prioritising of the elements. It's easy to standardise finishes with paint or herringbone pattern or whatever is the latest fad, harder though to achieve sympathetic timeless results marrying together elements of yesteryear, last century and contemporary living. It can be a fine line between getting it right, going too far, or not doing enough or completely stuffing it up, which is why potentially you may be best to seek some professional guidance and advice from a designer with an experienced eye (such as the service offered above by Dr Retro)..... PD :) www.pauldistefanodesign.com

Life is too short to strip back old varnish from 35 degree angled beams, and it also sounds a dangerous job if you are using power tools at a height without a proper scaffold. I would be looking to restain them, possibly a darker colour and be done with it. In this photo the beam in the foreground is the original stain, and the background beams have been finished in a darker colour that conceals the reddish tones of the original stain. This photo is from one of the members of the "Pettit and Sevitt Owners and Friends Club" on Facebook. Best of luck (and be safe), Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visit