Progress, our laundry is becoming a laundry bathroom and sink is in and washing machine working a big relief when you have 3 children under 6. First photo can see washing machine sink next to external door, I was planning to mount dryer above bench but have found out my dryer is not able to be mounted on wall..... oh well I don't use it very often it can live in the garage maybe more overhead cupboards Second photo new external door where window was ,,, am loving the extra light and the direct access to the clothes line. You can see the existing toilet area. The old broom cupboard now has a window for light and ventilation and plumbing for shower Third photo the opening for the new cavity door into spare bedroom yet to be completed. The plumbing showing hole in wall as we have put an outdoor shower both hot and cold, taps for washing machine and sink. We also had to put water and drain in for shower. In answer to the costing $5500 for the demolition, doors windows and all plumbing. cabinets $1500 $500 for the fittings taps 2 showers etc Still have to tile and paint We are happy with the way it is looking

@jactheshe, it would be very hard to imagine. Even digital photos of the colours together can look so different. And depending on how your house is situated & how the light plays on it, that changes things again. I was looking at a picture online of a house using woodland grey with colorbond dune. The dune colour looked completely different to the colour card on the charts. If you have some large lightweight boards around, I suggest painting them out with colours you're considering. Or getting a large sheet of foam core from office supplies or sign companies and using that. It would be light enough to attach temporarily on the facade & give a better idea of which colour works. That way the angle how the light hits the colour is accurate.

Hi Katrine, The renovation went really well - thanks! It's been finished for more than a year now - hard to believe!! I could only find one pic of the cladding that was easy for me to upload - here it is. We've been really happy with the FC cladding and how it looks. We replaced all the existing exterior weatherboards (which ran on an angle parallel to the roof) with the same Duragroove FC cladding that we covered the new extension in. Our builders said it is very easy to work with and it certainly went up very quickly. Their only comment was that you can end up with a fair bit of wastage as it often gets damaged in transit. The supplier they used said this is pretty common, however, and so they actually allow for it and oversupply somewhat to allow a proportion of damaged sheets - sorry I can't quantify this aspect for you. The cladding was very easy and quick to paint and we're very happy with how it has come up. If you're interested in details, it's painted in a new Colourbond colour called Gully. The darker trim (fascias, gutters, downpipes etc) is Woodland Grey. Good luck with your decision making. If you'd like more photos, let me know and I'll try to take and upload a few more. Cheers, Kate

If you have a boat , you can launch it in bigreaders 'arbour hahaha . Wood toned , or real wood window frames would add to it IMO -- that 3rd house that you like ( so do I ) , you see how the timber gate is so simple , but takes it from being a 'white box' to being a beach theme . And like you , i would be mildly worried that the right side will look a bit plain , especially as it will be very similar to the garage side -- that was why I suggested actual bricks . The windows , even if in white or black , are quite 'interesting' in shape , but being symetrical and flat that wall may look a bit 'meh' . To do one side white , the other in say a surfmist ( a slight blue tinge ) may look too try-hard too , but maybe do that 'righthand' side in weatherboards ? Keep it simple , paint it exactly the same as the rendered walls , but it will not look the same ? Also , weatherboards where what seaside cottages were traditionally constructed of , so there's that tie-in there too . Just throwing ideas around . And on a complete side note , I can't understand the logic of no brick walls -- I assume it is all new-builds , and brick adds variety and interest , its generally warm and IMO attractive -- just my preference , but I prefer some brick as opposed to an all render look .