It's not so much ugly as boring . Parts of any house have to be boring , so I'd keep the bricks , put 'jus' up the rest . That light grey frame around the front door is the most glaring thing , and where I'd start . Do the entire thing in a schist type rough stone , with a light on each upright .

Do the gutters in monument or charcoal -- puts a definite line around the house .

Change the wire mesh gates to wooden , stained the same as the fences OR in charcoal -- I like the reddish wooden tones that are there , but charcoal is more modern , and ties in slightly better with the brick , BUT there is a proviso .

Because I would do the garage doors in natural timber , sectional or tilt , and that would be too much in charcoal , so basically we are back to the reddish stained doors , gates and fences . You said the front fence has to be post and rail , so presumably that is also in those tones .

So in a nutshell -- creamish bricks , a classy schist veranda frame , reddish toned wooden doors and fences , and a charcoal gutter to soften the grey coloursteel roof size .

Maybe add wood cladding, in the same colour wood as your fencing. installed around the front door area. The small windows look out of proportion. Clad that area in either vertical or horizontal timber. Take the focus off those windows. I think the rest of the facade is fine.

The roof is a huge part of the facade. This cannot be changed, no matter what colour it is. If shading at the front is required, install a wooden verandah/pergola across the front of home, from front door to the right of picture. It might help in softening the look of the front. With a flowering creeper to grow naturally over it.

I’d brighten up the grey. And replace the garage doors with something that includes some windows. Some flowering shrubs would add some colour. Can you post a current photo

I would engage a design professional who knows and understands working in three dimensions, who appreciates good proportions and appropriate landscaping to come up with a designed solution. I would not go with render. A poorly proportioned brick house that has been rendered is still a poorly proportioned brick house.

This is a project that I am currently working on for a similar wide frontage, that has been designed and modelled in 3D for a client who wanted a mid-century modern vibe. It is easy to make suggestions of materials and colours, the hard part is to design a well-resolved solution. The designer of your home failed.

If you would like a professionally resolved elevation design in 3D please contact me. I don't know if I can promise the 'prettiest house in the street' - it all depends on what you want to spend so that you don't hate the look of your home every time that you turn into your driveway.

Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visits

I think you have a beautiful house, I would up grade the landscaping, remove conifers as they are dating the look, remove plants along driveway, needs a stylish garden for your stylish house, add trees, mass plant, add a water feature, you said garden looks different now are you able to post new photos.

While it wouldn't be a whole fix , nor cheap , I wonder about re-staining ( re-surfacing ) the driveway , probably charcoal but a lighter red may also work if there are similar tones in your neighbourhood .

Part of the problem is there is sooooo much grey .

Love the forest

Could you timber batten that whole utility wall taking battens full height to hide the Windows. That would transform that space.

Thank you all for suggestions. There is actually no grey on the house at all. The roof, gutters etc qtr actually taupe. We intend to do more to the front yard so may just do that first and see how it looks. Have already planted some more trees and shrubs

We have also installed solar panels so can’t put big trees in front of the house as they will block sun

I agree with suggestions regarding windows - I think they are one of the problems

First - fix the proportions. remove the square hedge and possibly second hedge in front of the window. The fence on the right should be moved back in line with edge of house as it is making things look out of proportion.

Colours - You need more contrast - keep the bricks, paint the garage darker, maybe charcoal.

The arch - The arch around the entry is a bit off putting - I think it is because it is blocking view of the door. Could it be removed? If not, might first idea is to add some malibu wood paneling near the door or make a little wooden entry deck in the malibu. Second idea is to grow some vines or greenery on it. and remove the three little scrubs. Or instead of vines add two big potted plants on each side of the arch to make it more welcoming.

Hope that helps

Best of luck

Example of battened windows

Hi Elizabeth,

Have you thought about adding a green wall somewhere? Maybe on a fence? Or you could try growing a flowering vine about around the entrance beams? It would add a beautiful feature to the exterior if done correctly.

If you want some advice on green walls we would love to hear from you

https://vistaconcepts.com.au

Good luck!