Sandra B/LegendaryFlame/MBDesign/Girlguides: thank you for the fence endorsement. It's been oiled again since that photo, so matches more closely to front pillars. I agree that we need to paint the side room a darker colour. I think based on all these comments I'll do the protruding front panel the dark grey of the roof (MBDesign, fyi, roof is brand new) and the side room the mid range grey that the the protruding front panel is now. Remainder of house remains the white grey. CP - I know what you mean with the fence being too imposing. If I had my time again I'd make the height lower. But great idea to plant something on the street side of the fence to soften it. I'll look into that. It feels like spring is almost in the air in Sydney - so time for the nursery's :) Sandra B: I'm not sure what you mean with the bit near the front door. Do you mean painting around the window above the entry? (per photo attached above)? Thanks again everyone: certainly made my thinking clearer having this input. Just need to decide on that panel between upstairs and downstairs window now.

The three things I like are the bricks , the tiles , and the overall style and even 'class' of the place . What I dislike is the yellowy beige ( in fact it has a pink tinge in some lights ) -- shocking haha ! And likewise that blue doesn't suit . For a starter , I'd do everything ( yes , the fence and pillars and caps -- everything ) that is beigey in a crisper white . The blue probably depends on your preference -- a darker almost royal blue may look okay , similarly so may a charcoal ( remember , the sharp white will contrast , and bring out the brick and tile tones too ) . Even a nice orange -- citrus doesn't suit the house style , but apricot is too wimpy against the bricks IMO ) . Fresh and crisp and clean with a sense of style .

It’s like wanting curly hair. I look at my house and it’s a 50.’ S bungalow and has been bagged and painted. I bought it that way 20 years ago love it and can’t imagine it not like that. I look at the house down the road, same vintage single storey and they have done a faux French provincial update to facade even adding parapet walls hiding the original roof line. Someone likes that, but it ain’t me. But I don’t own it so they can do what they like and I can look the other way. People have been painting, bagging and rendering brick for a long time and it’s not brought the world down. Long and short. If you like it do it.

One thing no-one has mentioned is the reverse wave things on the barge boards -- I guess you could say they add character , but yeah , nah , not really ! Just dates the look IMO , so I'd remove them . See Pic 3 of yours , the yellowy butter beige is in the shade , and looks way better IMO . So use that trick of the eyes -- go a light off-white . While Surfmist doesn't tie in with the brick tone , I suspect that with the darker roof ( and my next suggestion ) it would work -- lets face it , its not going to look worse than present ! Keep the dark windows , BUT alo do that 150mm or whatever 'band' between the upper and lower windows , in a charcoal . It will make your place look way more modern . I'd even consider painting the garage door the charcoal too -- I realise it risks looking too dark , especially on a dull winter day , but I'd risk it , as it sticks to the same theme . Leave the front door as is though -- it looks like it doesn't quite suit in the close-up pic , but actually works in the longer shots , which is what 98% of people see . The other option , but more $$$$ , would be to completely change the front door and garage door , going to the same cedar or cedar look for both , or even a Japanese black -- in fact , a Japanese black with those blue influences , and Surfmist ( which also has a blue tinge ) on the timber , would be my number 2 choice ( behind cedar ) .