Hi Amelia Like the fine lines of the house with the right planting and garden it will look stunning There may be a few things you would like to consider; 1. Its difficult to tell from the photos but I would check that the ceiling veranda lining is not asbestos - The jointing strips of the lining looks reminiscent of how they used to join that horrible material. Get a professional asbestos remover in to check and follow their advice in getting rid of the stuff. 2. The roof tiles are dark and will absorb heat, they will most likely brake in a heavy hail storm (unless their are really good 'terra cotta' ones like Wonderlicht) and also can let possum and other vermin in, (possum are notorious for lifting tiles) and if you do not have insulation and sizalation on the roof this is the time to put some in - and in the ceilings should you be missing some there. Because now you will have a zincalume roof it is good to earth your electrical system and the roof so that all current overloads are taken to the ground, a good electrician will solve this problem. Also if the roof is replaced with zincalume you should check your "Holding Down" straps to the roof. Because the roof was designed for a tile roof there is always the possibility that the "holding Down" straps were not included or are sparse. Because you are going to a lighter zincalume roof these are to checked and increased or included if missing, especially as you may be in an open area were winds can pick up considerably. 3. Its good that you have north facing veranda's to shield you from the summer sun, and what appears to be a concrete floor with tiles on the veranda. I would not replace it with timber decking simply because concrete does not burn in a fire - and if you are in the country there is always the possibility of fire. However some large white or of white tiles say 500x350 or thereabouts resemble flagstones could be good as long as they are very light in color and rectangular in shape. Maybe something resembling a very light sandstone may give more to a country ambiance than the small bathroom tiles of the 50's. Also I would bring out a roof over the front steps ending it with a "or gable end" pitched end" and provide a nice handrail in the middle and pave the bottom of the steps and area to provide a solid end to the steps using the same tiles as the veranda. 4. The existing aluminum windows are certainly and eyesore and not energy efficient in the slightest. An investment in new double glazed timber windows (Not cedar as cocky's like to eat the frames) or powder-coated white aluminum double glazed windows with "Thermal Break" - which are highly energy efficient would return money in energy savings and look great, especially if your frames are around 50 mm in width or greater. 5. I would not touch the bricks - just use very light colours in the veranda and the, doors, window and frames veranda posts. The garden will hide the brickwork below the veranda level making the roof and the lighter units the main features to stand out. The darker bricks will recede. Hoping this is of some benefit Regards Michael Manias

Hi guys.... Thanks for all comments! The colonial windows are timber so difficult to change without huge expense. There is also lace work on the verandah and balcony, And decorative octagonal window difficult to see in the photo. The front doors are traditional with etched glass inserts. We have formal and informal areas in the house - the front rooms have antiques etc. so more traditional formal areas but rear family and kitchens, and outdoors is more contemporary. We kind of like the gracious look of the house so don't want to screw it up with a bad "try hard" render - plenty of these around. What we are trying to achieve is staying true to the original feel but with some freshening up, and making the most of its street presence. The house is really solid - it was the builders own home when built in 1978.

Yes we possibly could have, however then the Entertaining, Living areas of the home would have been on the First Floor which would have meant incorporating a larger Patio on this level. You also must remember over 80% of owners of Two Storey homes prefer bedrooms on the First Floor, so you we need to take this into consideration for our clients potential resale of their home.

I beg to differ from Melwood Cabanas - rendering your home will look nothing like their photo as you don't have the classic Georgian proportions and windows. Render doesn't improve the design and propotions into a classic look, in fact it often does the reverse, and puts an emphasis on things that aren't quite right with a design, due to the loss of texture and visual interest. If the house is big enough to have a bathroom for bedroom 7 then I would be looking to sacrifice that bathroom (on the assumption that you probably have five or six other bathrooms), to improve the appeal of the front elevation. Engage a design professional to redesign the front of the home to be in sympathy with the existing architecture and proportions, and don't try and modernise it for a compromised result. It already has a charm that has been diluted by unsympathetic styling. Just cause somebody has painted the ground floor pink, added topiary and classic timber seating doesn't make it look Tuscan. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls