Hi, interestingly I have been grappling with this issue recently! For a contemporary design I have firmly decided that dark bronze or black frames suit much better as they are visually recessive and give the optical illusion of larger glazing and help create an indoor-outdoor connection. White frames tend to focus your eyes on the frames/window rather than the space and form, however you can get these to work if you use very slender frames (which are more expensive) or if you are purposefully using traditional design cues. I know this doesn't help as you already have the DA, so if you can go with the silver pearl that is a good option, and perhaps use the words "dark beige" to darken the render!

Hi Erika, First up I will proclaim my disdain for render. This is not because it is inherently bad finish, but there is some much poor render and render look products that crack and an look so cheap it has now colour my view of it as a finish. Make it brick if you want masonry or make it weatherboards if you want it to feel lighter. Depending of the form a mix of both can work well also, but be careful how this is done. Masonry to the external skin is inherently wrong in a hot climate (that is most australian how get it wrong with brick veneer). By place the masonry to the external skin, means it heats up all day and the can keep the building warm all night. Handy for a cold cold climate, but you will need insulation on the internal side to avoid heat loss, thus never really benefiting in a big way from this anyway. Try placing the brick skin to the internal face and you will get the true value from the masonry for its thermal qualities and cladding this with a lightweight material to the external face, shading it from the heat. You will also need to insulate between the cladding and the masonry to avoid heat loss as masonry is not a good insulator. Not even a double brick wall with that has the internal face exposed will meet the minimum BASIX requirements for heat loss in NSW, not with out additional insulation in the cavity. OK, stepping of the soap box for a moment to actually answer your question more directly. Weatherboards - Can look great, you will need insulation in the walls anyway. If not put it there anyway, It's a cheap product and make allot of difference to the comfort of the home in hot and cool climates. There will be maintenance that comes with weatherboards, paint them properly with a quality paint system and you will not have to do much for a long time, skimp on this and you will be back regularly. Render - also can look good, if you spend the dollars and get it done well. This will cost more. You will still need insulation and the masonry will warm you home through the night in the summer. It will also require a level of maintenance, but depending on the finish this can be very minimal. Weatherboard will be cheaper, unless you a building a project home and the scale of economies they get can skew things big time, particularly if you are only looking at a bagged brick rather than full render finish.

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 .

It is 'of a certain era' , and without spending big $$$ , that's always going to be the base , and why not ? I'd take the cue from the lower brickwork , and do the windowsills and gutters in a tone thats more charcoal than brown , but with a slight brown aftertaste . Likewise , I'd redo the upper level in weatherboard , whether its painted , coated , synthetic , but personally I wouldn't mix styles -- scyon or render done in that orange tone will look like an obvious add-on ( yes , I know , the well-worn boards do that too , but look at how the concrete railing has come up with a paint ) . Basically , keep it looking like up-dated period IMO . Basically , get rid of all the green , and the awnings , and work with the orange , the 'interesting' aspect of the brown , the roof , and the small bit of white .