This is just like our Mediterranean house in Canberra. It was rendered white which never cracked or got mould on it, though I would prefer it to be done in a modern colour like our current home on the Gold Coast which is a rich sand colour with a heavy bagged appearance that has faded from a strong dark sand. With beautiful dark patterned orangey tiles all outside that reflect their colour on the walls during the day it is quite magical. Roof tiles also spray painted after being re pointed. I suggest you amplify the lovely quality of arches and don't go for what is trendy. But go with colour scheme for the house design. At our entrance there is a built up garden courtyard feature with wonderful iron gates and a large water feature in the courtyard that the lounge room looks out to and has the French doors that also opened onto the courtyard garden. Commence the courtyard wall to the left side of the steps and create a flat area at the gated entrance where we had a north single gate and a west double gate. The Pines were planted on the outside of this courtyard wall and gave extra privacy and blocked the westerly afternoon sun. The house always looked impressive, yet was just a simple presentation.

I had a lot of Tile Photos and shapes on my old Computer XP But the new one is Apple and I was Wondering why I couldn't Find Things that should have been there..The best ones are those that fit together as a complete Panel. It is True that it is not easy to Make The Shapes yourself...I did a tile Course a few years ago....You can Roll the Clay out and then print out the shape you require. (You need to spend time making or getting a Metal Worker to Make several Shapes in Steel...It is like Pastry Cutting ..Probably would take too long...You are right that some Clays are Easier to Work with...There is a type of Terracotta that is very forgiving...But a lot of the white or beige clays will crack very easily and are too fussy.. You have to leave things to dry out slowly over about 4 weeks ...The Kiln needs to be heated up very slowly any rushing and crafts will happen . I still have my old Computer so I hope to get Photo's unto a clip so that I can move them to iPhoto...Good luck with your Project....

I would leave the render colour and just tile a trim around the base in a pattern and over the arch of the brick. But I also recalled the pizza oven at a pizza place where I grew up. They make great pizza, but the oven is so cool! You could do something like this!

Your builder seems to have used features of Spanish Mission, Mexican, and Spanish Revival/Hollywood looks. You could keep that look and build on it with compatible decorative features and colours. Go online to see whether you like such a look. The alternative, if you do not like that look or do not think it will resell in your area, would be to eliminate arches and disguise/play down beams.