Paving paint would be a cheaper option, Modwood is expensive but there is no maintenance, you could you use just ordinary timber decking for a timber look as well but it won't be as inexpensive as paint obviously. I think paint will look cheap. If it was me and I only had a choice between painting the tiles or leaving them as is, I'd leave them as is. I'd worry that it would scratch off the tiles especially on the ends. I used to have a garage painted in grey paving paint, it was very Matt looking, not shiny and the grey looked really grubby after a while. The tiles may not be your favourite part of the porch but make the decorating items the feature or save up and get them replaced with a grey tile you love. It's a small area so it shouldn't cost the earth. Do the removal yourself which would save you some money. It would really update the front of your house.

Hello everybody, I have lived in Europe and also built several houses for which I have used blue stone. It is particularly in Belgium and Holland the most preferred natural stone for architects and home owners. You can of course for the cheaper ceramic tiles with a concrete or blue stone look but it will never be the same. The blue stone quarries have traditionally been in Belgium so you will see there lots of homes, streets and public buildings that are built with this stunning stone. You find it in different varieties (honed, polished, rough, etc..) and you can use it indoors as well as outdoors. We are going to build a hew house close to Sydney and will definitely go for blue stone both inside and outside, including the area around the swimming pool. In Australia, I have been told that blue stone is mainly quarried in Victoria. I am presently considering either to buy it there or to i port it from Belgium (which quality is slightly better and available in more varieties). Another very nice alternative is blue lime stone which in Australia is presently being imported from mainly Turkey. I have built with blue stone before and the result has always been much nicer than with granite, marble, travertin and of course also than the cheaper ceramic tiles that you find everywhere. We will probably combine the blue stone inside the house with underfloor (hydronic, not electric !) heating. Nice and cool in summer and pleasantly warm in winter.

Sherry, I really love your house, I love the charm and character of weatherboards. I'm trying to buy a new home for myself and would choose something like that in a heartbeat, except there is nothing like it in the area I'm looking. Looking at the first photo, I think I would let your house shine on its own merits. Definitely put a decent path to get to the car and along the fence seems perfect to me. Allow width for carrying bags of groceries and such so you don't hit plants. A path with garden each side means you can be brushing against wet plants too as well as damaging them. I really can't see you gaining any privacy in this space without blocking the house from the street so I think I would forget about a hedge and just go for a cottage garden, it would suit the house perfectly. Look for some perennial plants that don't require a lot of maintenance. Hydrangeas, for example, look fabulous when they are in flower, and they grow easily from cuttings but they do require severe pruning each autumn or they grow very leggy and untidy. Miniature varieties of azaleas, gardenias and such will add colour and perfume year after year with minimum maintenance and ground covers will help keep the weeds at bay. Astrogirl mentioned lambs ears - they make a lovely contrast in a garden and are also very easy to grow from cuttings. You can also add some height by putting flowers in tall pots As far as the nature strip goes, you would need to approach the Council about planting more trees. Many Councils will provide residents with trees when they know the residents will care for them or they will specify what you can grow. There are legal issues to consider when this is public land. Some trees have surface roots for example that can cause a pedestrian to trip and fall. Just be sure more trees won't stop sun and light to your garden so your plants don't grow and too much shade will cause moss to grow on your path that can be slippery and dangerous. Another issue to consider in planting close to the house are termites, especially with your weatherboards. How active are termites in your area? If you are in a termite prone area, it is not advised to put large shrubs against the walls of the house, you need to allow for air circulation. Don't stress too much over your plantings, like Astrogirl said it is all an experiment. Small plants can be moved if you change your mind. The best garden is one that evolves over time and it is so much more satisfying.

If you want to make the house hotter, then painting the roof charcoal will certainly achieve that. Repointing the brickwork is the most sensible from a maintenance perspective. Once you render and paint, then you have to keep painting (and it's likely to be out of fashion sooner or later). Try to keep passive cooling in mind (i.e. light colours & permeable landscaping) with any of your renovations, and I think it always pays to try and embrace and compliment the original architecture and be unique, rather than trying to look like the latest project home. In my opinion the arch window is actually quite cool, and the excellent mock-ups provided by Geo Toria are along the right track.