If your block is facing North or West (within Australia) maintenance will be required to ensure movement is minimized. Timber doors are beautiful they just tend to be susceptible to sun damage. FYI Cutek is a great timber protector if you want to keep the natural look however you will need to keep applying year after year.

Hi there, I would be thinking to go for white cabinets and walls,with white appliances that you plan on Keeping or can change to stainless, your choice of benchtop. as this picture shows the timber door frames etc will then fit, White cream and timber should blend in with the floor tiles, maybe even the blinds will look ok, photos help

I too would avoid render. Render is expensive and if you can afford it you can afford to look at other options like quality landscaping. What you spend on render could be transferred to landscape and this would relocate your focus. At the moment it seems theres nothing else amazing to view so we look straight to the brickwork and think thats the problem area. You already have some retro cool chairs and the agave is great but takes too much effort to see... then bam the brick draws you in. New front fence and pathway, a cool new retro letter box, paint the front door a wicked orange or yellow... Way too many people have modernised old houses in the past and have ruined them. Federation houses had stained glass timber windows and doors replaced with aluminium, fretwork removed, fire placed knocked down, etc.. no one does that now, it gets re-instated at significant cost. These later homes are now copping modernising and yet again to the trained eye it rarely works out well. Post a picture of whats out the back or even just a plan, if construction has not yet kicked off. We can perhaps even save you money and improve your home, win win.

You will need to look at how blinds will clear the door handle if recessed in the frame. There may not be enlightened space. Also wi5 the big door you will need to break it into two or maybe three blinds due to weight of a long span. It’s much easier to pull up a smaller blind which outweighs the negative, no pun intended. I’d look at white, But a pale green or blue may also work particularly if you can echo the colour in cushions, rug or artwork. Get the blind company to bring you samples.