Hi Donna - Look for a company that offer a 10-year warranty and a product that complies with Australian Standards. There are some companies that provide a 'kit' for your builder to install to make it a little bit cheaper again. There are also products that have a 'rack and pinion' design which minimises maintenance and eliminates the need for a motor pit - just do a google search for "dumbwaiter rack and pinion' . Good Luck!

I'd echo most others views -- personally , I could live with the aircon and the lights , but the furniture and the mirrors would go ! Again , just personally , I don't have a problem with the mirrors sizes , it's the silver that doesn't suit . I'd go approx 20% smaller mirrors , BUT with really nice wide sculpted dark wooden frames , and lift them a bit -- they almost look like they are sitting on the mantlepieces at present -- lifting them would show more balance IMO . Lounge suite I'd go big , boxy , good quality bright red leather . A modern corner suite would probably suit , or one with a moden interpretation of a chaise , but in big boxy red leather . Or maybe a more classic looking buttoned leather suite , just not in brown -- that would be too much brown . Red or white would work well . The dining suite could be a large 8 seater wooden table in darker brown ( that mahogony one clashes to me ) , or glass top and stainless if you want to be more modern , and modern red chairs -- several styles would work , depending on what table you choose , and how modern you want to be . And for a more modern twist on the windows -- wooden slat blinds -- I have done very similar in my own 95 year old place , and it works well ! My place is similar , although it doesn't have those higher picture rails -- my place has carved rails approx 1.2mtr above the floor level , and Rimu panelling ( a NZ wood ) below that -- has that 'gentlemans club' feel . I did the walls above that in a mid steel blue in some rooms , a grape colour in others , english cream in a couple , and an earthy orangey-brown with white gloss tiles in the kitchen ! And in most rooms , I did a feature wall , wallpapered in complimentary colours to the other 3 walls in that room ! Strange sounding I know , but it works ! In the larger rooms and entrance foyer , I have large gold waterfall chandaliers , the other rooms I have gold curved light bars with 4 to 6 led spotlights -- all with crisp white ceilings similar to yours , and art deco inspired ceiling roses and architraves . I love the mix of classic and modern , with a twist of class

It's the landscaping I'd look at. The right (arched) side of your house is much prettier than the garage side, but is largely obscured by letter boxes and planting. The front path is an after-thoughty offshoot of the driveway. So from the street your focus is pulled to the wrong side. I'd demolish the mail box, and create a new pathway from the street to the front door, with pretty planting either side. Move the small tree in front of the door elsewhere, and keep the plantings in that bed low. Then paint the front door a bright colour, (yellow? turquoise?) to draw attention to it. Does the driveway need to be so wide, or could you curve in one side or another to expand your garden beds? Your lawn/existing beds are in fantastic condition btw. I don't love the driveway brick colour against your house bricks either. Don't really know the solution though.

It's difficult to say without context. It sounds as if you plan to render eventually? If it's a possible future change, might be worth thinking about how it might look, whether it will enhance the house taking into account proportions. I've seen beautifully updated rendered houses and I've seen houses that look just, rendered because it's the thing to do to update, but they still look old. It doesn't always work, sometimes for all the expense and effort it still just looks like a cheap upgrade, and not easily reversible. If it's worth doing I'd try to work on the entry with that in mind, so those changes are not something to change again. Are the rest of the windows matching and is it all visible, I mean if you paint the door will it look like a modernised bit that doesn't go with the rest of the facade? If it's obscured by the gardens and you plan to do more to the facade in the future it might be okay. I'm just thinking of the possibility it could look like a stuck-on difference. I personally liked the idea of a new wider door best, but is that within budget? Those bigger doors are heavier and need suitable frames. Is there suffcient space for a wider swinging door inside? Do you need a source of natural light inside? It's the sort of 'one thing leads to another' idea. I like it though, and there are some nice modern styles of door which include glazing if you don't want to lose the natural light inside the entry. The other thing I'd change is the light. Julie Herbert's large boxy one would look great I think. It also crossed my mind, could a sort of colour blocking work? Render the wall with the door. Maybe that could lighten up the dark area and enhance the brickwork and look interesting with the angles of the house? Difficult to say without a bigger overview but I wondered.