Thanks for these fabulous comments! After reading them all we think we will definitely leave the red brick and replace the red wood with monument. We will add eaves across the front and will get a price on roof restoration with paint to match monument compared to reroofing in monument. Adding a double skillion carport to the front is a great idea too. We will definitely replace concrete with new as its old and cracked. The drive will have to curve in due to the water metre location right next to the letter box and a cost of over $2000 to move it. The garden definitely needs an upgrade. We have done a little bit out the front, not a great photo but I've attached a more recent one, we are thinking we will leave the bigger trees in this photos and add kangaroo paws through out. Front has been neglected a bit due to other renovations out the back. Nearly time to attack the front! Thanks again, we really appreciate all your thoughts! I'll post some photos once we get underway. I've added some of what we did out the back with the original 70's look we had. Been fun and hard work. All the work was done by ourselves and our sons.

If your block is facing North or West (within Australia) maintenance will be required to ensure movement is minimized. Timber doors are beautiful they just tend to be susceptible to sun damage. FYI Cutek is a great timber protector if you want to keep the natural look however you will need to keep applying year after year.

Judy, do you know if the stepped facade on the art-deco extension is hiding a roof gable or is it purely decorative? If it is only decorative (and heritage regulations allow) I would remove those top 2 courses to make it a simpler box shape. Not essential, but in my opinion that stepped gable is not very attractive, and makes it look more like a public building than a residence. This would simplify and give it more of a modern look, but still be genuine art-deco. The house is already a combination of different eras, so adding a bit of a modern touch will not detract and is more honest when you are renovating anyhow. I would paint the driveway terra-cotta to match the tiles, garage door green to match the roof and change the cladding on the garage front wall to flat fibre-cement panel rendered and built up to a straight line parapet on the front. Paint all walls white, including the rendered panel over the garage door (IMHO this is the only colour that really works with art-deco). Remove the shutters and paint window frames and other trim the dark charcoal you already have on gutters and other trim. The middle section of the column should be that same colour as the top and bottom for its shape and proportions to read well. I would probably leave the stone paths as they are, as they seem to match the dark surround to your front porch tiles. With the front fence I would remove the wrought iron, then extend the pillars up to 2m and fit batten screens between them. To alleviate the sun-load on the western window after those shutters are gone I would instead plant a screen of high growing vegetation inside the front fence, e.g. a row of bamboo. That would give you a better outlook and still provide sun shading and street privacy.

Thanks for your help so far.. I have had some chats with the builder, he said it's not prefarable to remove the top section and put window to match others, as you'll be spending alot more money doing that on something that you may be able to cover and not notice. I woke up this morning with an idea. What about if I move the front door to meet the middle of the porch (this has been something commented on before on here, how the door is really tucked away and not noticeable enough) , do some panelling or rendering in a dark blue/charcoal colour. Then use that same effect where the sliding door is surrounding it, including to the top. I have done a little mock up so present my ideas... I could even do the same on the front window to carry the theme, or that might be overkill, i think it probably is..... Rendering would obviously be the easiest, or even just painting those sections of the brick... Don't want it to look too higgledypiggledy.