1. Paint over bricks, either in a light grey (white-wash) colour or a mid grey/blue-grey... https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/resort-inspiration-tropical-exterior-perth-phvw-vp~4028776 or https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/bilgola-house-contemporary-exterior-sydney-phvw-vp~12387394 2. Paint the cladding/paneling on the side in a colour opposite to the one chosen in 1. above... https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/decarle-st-oak-park-contemporary-exterior-melbourne-phvw-vp~6535555 or https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/marbel-st-contemporary-patio-melbourne-phvw-vp~1520623 3. Reseal the roof tiles in a darker grey-blue or bluestone/slate colour, similar to this, but match the garage door colour to the roof colour (i.e. not that timber look) https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/ethel-st-oak-park-contemporary-exterior-melbourne-phvw-vp~6535879

We had the same problem. I ddidn't like our colour brick. So I purchased lime wash paint from PROTERS paints. You need to dilute the lime paint with water. they'll give instructions. Then I did the whole house. You need to go lightly on the brush. I have attached some photos for your benefit. You will see the before and after shots. I hardly put any paint on every 2nd brick around windows to give it the old look. out the back, I even painted a lge pot and the concrete slabs and transformed into a Water feature. You have to really work lightly with your paint brush so it gives it the lime wash look. You can pick any colour you choose. Hope it helps. I am 64, and honestly it didn't take long to do whole house. You need to house it down to remove dust and cobwebs. good luck

I would relocate the steps to the front. The landing could be the full width of the door/ window space. Possibly extend it right out past the brick columns and place tall pots either side. Stairs as wide as possible. Side gate as high as possible in matching timber? Simple structured landscaping.

we've used rendered thick foam for one extension which looks great but the rendered painted surface is difficult to remove messages from low flying birds and can't hold standard screws and love the look of Colorbond steel (installed vertically doesn't hold so much dust) but our latest favourite is well insulated painted modern fibro with rounded timber cover strips over the joins and we love it ...has a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of grandma's fibro cottage and is cheap, quick and easy to install