I have lots of these at my place, very hardy!! Give them some initial love and they will return it for a lifetime. I have also broken off a few of the end pieces from time to time (once it is doing well) and have placed them in water - my oldest one is going on a year in the water alone!

some photos would explain the dilemma

so relieved you don't want to spoil a great looking brick home with more render but is there a view from upstairs? when funds allow extending the deck/verandah across the front of the garage would add extra upstairs outdoor space and modify the look of the garage doors and consider painting garage doors and rendered wall in the darkest cement colour (greenish) grey with white eaves and fascias with black gutters and simply pressure wash the driveway to retain the natural concrete colour and add climbing plants to fall down the side of the retaining wall

Love the colour scheme but wouldn’t do it in a warm climate as black absorbs too much heat. I prefer light houses, but that’s my preference. Black needs to be supported by lovely feature trims. Pick your deck timber and colour stain or natural and then look at house colours to suit package. I’d do wide steps off deck that a couple can sit on or more a tribe. Planting in front of deck to soften and invite as well as cool house. Depending on your budget how much you want to change.