I finally managed to attach photos as requested !! What I did last year was to mix one part house paint with 30 parts water and brushed in long dragging strokes to achieved the weather drift wood look 18 months later which about 4 weeks ago, I bought a grey deck paint and watered it down 1 part paint to 3 parts water Thus is the results It covered the grain a bit more

Hi again not sure what your budget is but these cushions are lovely great colour range and textures the brand is eadie just google them send you some pics of mine the others found in opp shops and put feather inserts in them love cushions

Further to Julia and Julia's decking and planting comments I would consider tidying up the front eave. At the moment the carport and verandah look like late add-ons (which they are) due to the "stepped" gable. By extending the verandah and carport roofs forward to align with the front gable fascia, then adding a consistant fascia and eave lining across the full width of the house the side additions will look more integrated. Don't even think about a faux stone as they look fake, and you will need to continue it down the sides so it looks less tacky. I would consider just painting below the beading line a darker shade of the wall colour to anchor the base of the house. I would not widen the windows as the rythym works quite nicely, but consider increasing the height to the ceiling line to give a better proportion using awning style windows instead of poorly proportioned sliding windows. If you have ceilings that slope to match the roof line the head of each new window should be raked to follow the ceiling line. If this is the case then you will have a nice looking home with a slight mid-century modern vibe, and which may even be the best looking house in the street! Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Juli's examples look perfect and my suggestions would include three separate zones starting with an entry area at original tiled floor level including the hot water heater (the wiring and heater can be painted to match the wall as long as the identifying details are still visible}. there's space for bins (garbage, recycling, compost or worm farm?) and raised gardens beds in troughs not in ground and then a step up to a deck, level with inside and a pergola that can include adjustable shade cloth and/or waterproof permanent roofing depending on sunscreen and privacy needed all year..the depth of the pergola (from house to fence will depend on local council and any body corporate conditions but even partial shading will be worthwhile and can include horizontal and/or vertical screens, climbing plants or hanging pots ...all the planting should be in deep troughs or pots and the problem with bamboo should be discussed with neighbours as control should be on their side of the fence and any bamboo that keeps sprouting away from the parent plant will be a constant problem for all the neighbourhood and needs to be removed permanently... the last unroofed zone includes the clothesline barbq and space for extra chairs...my choice for the flooring would be one of the composite decking products that are cooler on bare feet and the pergola could be built out of narrow powder coated steel...both more expensive than some other options but once installed should be low maintenance and an excellent investment in the quality of your family's outdoor lifestyle