I like all of your ideas. Extend the garage to the fence and by extending the veranda to the front of the house that will reduce a lot of heat and potentially give you something to work with the screen the middle window.

A black roof is not the greatest for keeping a house cool.... Good insulation R4-R5 and through roof ventilation should help there too....

Make a bold decision on the front yard, private courtyard with a low maintenance garden, no or limited turf, I'm assuming you may be in WA because of the sandy soil, but if not, look at WA or Melbourne sand belt natives to plant out the courtyard. I have previously toyed with the idea of ripping up all of the turf in my front yard but baulked at it, but my current house is all plants... most definitely doing it again...

I love all the above ideas . I'll take a slightly different tack though -- maybe get you thinking ?

I don't like the balance of the house sorry -- the garage at a lower level , but without a corresponding split level roof , I personally don't like . To me , it makes the house look 'stubby' . Depending on your budget , and need for space , I'd either add a 'higher' window in place of the garage door -- in line with the window next to it . OR I'd change the garage door to a ranch slider -- turn the garage into the master bedroom , or an office ( presumably with the laundry at the rear ) . The problem with that is that some people may mistake that for the main front entrance .

I'd then add the garage to the left hand side , BUT I'd bring it forward by approx 1.5-2 metres -- the new roof could then be at the same level , but as it comes further foward , it would give the illussion of a split level roof . There's a slight advantage that you'd have a bit more space too -- maybe even extend it out the back , and then the boat can fit too ?

Between the new garage and the front door , I'd then do a pagoda style veranda -- 200 x 50 beams , stained a nice medium brown , probably with clear acrylic panels above . The right hand eve , and the window sills , I'd also do in a mid brown -- personally , I think it looks a bit too grey and black at present . The front door looks nice , but again I'd do it in a nice mid-brown colour , rather than the lighter varnished look that appears to be on it now .

Obviously , alter the driveway , so you can get in the new garage , and park 2 vehicles side by side , using the existing and new driveway .

And then gardens as above .

A bit ( lot ? ) more expensive compared to the above , but you'll have a nicer , and nicer looking house with more room , and obviously a lot higher resale IMO .

I would extend the garage out to the side and also forward giving space for cars and boats and tools and mowers then house looks like a U shape. I would extend the porch to give yourself a good seating area, and if money allows change the window to the living room into doors that open onto the new larger porch. You could add some form of roofing to make it cooler - a slatted roof would allow light but also stop the glare. I would put a fence across the front and make go for a garden full of boulders and bits of greenery for looks rather than usage

I get full sun in the afternoon out front. so my yard is very dry, I'd probably create raised wicking garden beds. I have plenty of room as well so instead of installing expensive security shutters. I was going to create a new patio door entry/exit where my small living room is to extend out to a garden living area. I was also thinking about putting up laser cut screens & more solar lights, this is to increase security as I'm at the end of the cul de sac. But all of this of course will cost money.