I think you need to deal with the huge expanse of paling fence and landscaping first. Perhaps paint the fence a charcoal colour and put plants in front of it.

I was looking at painting all outside fences front and back a charcoal colour. That's why I'm also thinking of updating the top of the carport a charcoal colour to tie it in and freshen it up.

Can anyone recommend low maintenance plants? we live in Melbourne so the weather can get hot and cold. Some bits in the front towards the narrow end can become quite shaded.

Agapanthus grow well in Melbourne. Once you paint the fence charcoal, you might find that the houe needs s pop of colour. The red may look good against the charcoal fence.

I think it needs more than the fence done -- the overall picture painted is all over the place .

The carport is strange -- the front barge boards are way too 'heavy' , and the brick doesn't seem to match the house -- its sort of close enough , well close enough to be annoying ! And in a similar vein ,the barge board looks a maroony red , the house one a brown ? Just strange all the way round .

Can that heavy board be cut down , or hidden in some way -- paint it black or charcoal , but then do a 100-150mm tall board in front , and paint it and the house board both in bright red ( or orange ? )

Waterblast the fence , but I don't think I would do it in charcoal -- it would be more modern , but I don't think it suits the bricks . Brown may be a closer match , but thats boring . Cream would look smart -- for 6 months . Maybe a lighter brown , with a white 100mm x 50mm cap along the top ?

And then , theres the front fence -- its a darker brown , which again doesn't suit , so presumably a lighter brown ( yes , not easy ) and the white . Being all colour co-ordinated , with all the fences in a lighter brown with white highlights would be a huge improvement IMO .

Then definitely some gardens along the fences , with large leafy taller plants in greens and browns and reds and yellows to partially hide the fences and add interest .

Where is the front door?

The pathway goes along the left hand side -- I assume the entry door is along the side ?

Your carport is a strong architectural feature. I'd set it off with large, low maintenace architectural plantings in those useless patches of lawn. Something like giant agaves, cycads and grass trees. You have a hot brick and southwestern styled house, play that up.

But rather than go charoal or blue on the trim, which will only make the bricks look hotter and more dated, I would tone them down with a taupe or stone that ties into the landscaping. That way people are noticing the architecture and not the 70's bricks choice. See how well stone and terracotta go with this style of landscaping?

Something like this.....

@User I think the photo makes it look different. I believe its the same. I bought the house with the carport already there. wasn't my choice.

I don't think orange would be good or anything to bright. I am thinking of taking the board down as I agree it is "heavy".

the boards/panels on the front fence are the same from the ones down the very back on the picture. This was done before I purchased the house also. Unsure why they didn't do the whole thing but yea I get what you mean.

yes the front door is heading down the path on the right. something I'm hoping to change eventually. Just doing bit by bit. its in a weird position and we actually don't use it.

@Austere Hamlet thanks for the suggestions. not sure it's really a style I want to go with but I get what you mean. its definitely a bit of a different brick colour which I've found hard to work out what to do with colour wise for the rest of the exterior.

The photo angle makes the grass bit look more than it actually is, obviously being a real estate photo. I will try to take a photo tomorrow and update to show the area a bit better.

Yeah I get it. It wouldn't be a garden style I would want either since I'm a cottage garden kind of person. Another option could be to tile those pillars with a nice sandstone tile to turn it more towards midcentury and then accent it with cedar wood. That way you have more lee-way with the garden. Japanese maples and sprawling confers look fab on mid century homes.

It's a little more lush looking and fits into suburban Melbourne a little better.

If it was me and there was nothing structural to do with rest of the house I'd just get rid of the carport altogether and rip up driveway and startagain

@C P not something I'd want to do. No budget for that just thinking a face lift.

Also looking at possibly closing the carport in eventually depending on other things.

Some updated photos to show what it currently looks like and maybe a bit better angles. The bricks are from the pillars and the house. I haven't changed anything out the front since moving into the home.

Photos?

Unsure why they aren't

The colour of brick, In my opinion would be complimented by a taupe colour such as dulux sea elephant or toffee fingers. Or a blueish grey such as dulux grid. Example photos attached.

honestly can't work out why it isn't letting me post the photos.

Walk around your street, and see which plants are thriving. Take a picture and go to your local nursery with photos, so they can identify the plant.
Personally I would install a new carport on the unkept lawn, and make the current carport, a welcoming patio area. Then the front door may not seem as disconnected. But budget would be a factor.

@dreamer your carport idea is something I have thought of. Just want to close in the patio to extend the house and have the front door where the window, is rather than where it currently is which feels very hidden.

Just with the grassed area its not an ideal shape but probably something I could work with.

great idea for the plants in the area, something I will definitely do. Thank you

finally the photos have worked. Hope this helps with different angles etc

It’s a shame that the carport is such a focal point, what are those windows at the end of the carport.

Yes if the inside plan works, changing that window to a front door would be good.
The concrete needs pulling up as well. Very uneven.
I can see so much potential with your home. Money is always an issue. Just make a plan, list the correct stages for plan, and complete as you can afford it.

@Irene Morresey the window is to the lounge room.

@dreamer yea it is the lounge room so it could work.

yea the concrete is quite uneven nothing too bad though but definately something I am looking at. Yea budget always comes into it. That's why I posted here to get some ideas and I've been slowly renovating bits and pieces first was kitchen so that took quite a bit of money but was needed.

Like marked above, I’d be inclined to get rid of carport and put one to the side, it will be much better visually

The 2 brick photos still look slightly different to me , but thats not overly important .

Most of the fence is very basic , and not looked after . The front fence is 'sort of' artistic , but I don't think even that is well done . And then there are those panels 'stacked' 3 high further back , where they can't be seen .

Oh , and the letterbox is really basic . In fact , the whole place looks like what I call a 'rental' -- lacking a bit of love .

Do you know if those bricks ( either colour haha ) are readily available in your area ? Cause here's my suggestion -- if the budget stretches , and the neighbours agree , do the side fences with brick posts , and brick up to 500-600cm , maybe even a metre further back , with a single panel above .

The front fence -- brick posts , and panels similar to present , but you'd need 1 less panel wide as there would be 'those' brick poles in between each panel , and of course do a slightly taller 'post' with a letterbox ( probably using the same brick , with a stainless steel letter slot and numbers -- or maybe keep it low ? ) .

That would add a heap more reference to the house , the bricks , the carport , and the panels . Presumably its more $$$ than you intended , from your painting comments , but it would add a lot IMO .

Just a thought . . . . . . . . . . .

@User really? I think they are the same brick.

As I keep stating, the house from the front is all as I bought it. I came on here wanting some ideas on colours etc to make it more appealing however I feel your just bashing my house. I feel like everyone else is giving an opinion but not bashing it and doing it a negative way.

I get it isn't the best looking house and it needs work hence why I am wanting idea's. This is my first post and I thought it would be a nice start being the first thing you see.

The panels down the side of the house I feel the previous owner put there to distract from the fence coming so far it as the land is a weird shape. Obviously not everyones cup of tea but I think I'd rather see those than the fence at the moment. But depending on my decision on what to do, I may take them down or possibly paint or depending on cost get some new ones that all match. Same with the front fence.

The letterbox is very basic. Obviously not something I see as important yet since I haven't touched the front besides trying to get the grass to a decent state which has been difficult.

I'm actually getting someone to close in a window so hopefully that will give me the brick colour I need and then I will have a better idea of it.

Hi Chantelle, looking at your brick photos, on my computer the mortar looks very close to dulux paint, called toffee fingers.
Can I suggest that all the home trims get painted in that colour.
You could still paint the fencing in a bluefish grey such as dulux grid. Then the green of your garden will stand out against the darker fencing.

Fair enough . I won't comment on the bricks any more . I did a post further up about colours that I thought might suit , for the carport and house 'barge board' and the fence .

I think I either didn't explain about the panels , or you didn't understand what I was saying . I like the panels MORE than the wooden fence , but until I saw the 2nd batch of photo's , I didn't know you had any more quantity than the ones on the front fence . That is why I made my second suggestion of using the panels as part of your front and side fences , and I also suggested using the same bricks as your house to make posts , as part of that fence . This , of course , references the fence to the house , whereas a stained or painted wooden fence is simply a fence .

Anyway , it's your house , it's your decision , I was just offering some ideas . You are welcome to ignore them .

Chantelle it looks like you have a fabulous 80's house, the barge board on the double carport makes me think of Japan. You have a lot of work ahead of you in the garden, love all of those steel panels they really suit the house, a rough impression

reducing the large barge board and adding inserts between all brick pillars including at the sides

If you ever redo the driveway I would straighten it up in a straight line from the house. It looks like it is on an angle, but it could just be the photo. Perhaps Some large rectangular paving with grass between beside the driveway leading up to the front door?

Looking at the, as per the pictures, is the front door to the left? or the right? .... I'm confused, homeowner has said right, but there is a lot of concrete path to the left?

Also, when you mean a 'facelift' what sort of budget? Do you plan other improvements over time, so a broader scale plan that can be implemented it steps, or are are after a quick low cost 'facelift' one off? Makes a big difference to the ideas / options available IMHO