Just a thought - Have you tested the existing cladding for asbestos prior to removing? Some of my coastal clients also feel the need to 'fill' the corrugations at the ends prior to capping or butting up to end frames: to dissuade small creatures from also moving in to a nice new home. Colorbond Surfmist will look great and horizontal will help to balance your homes height, however, it also gives ridges where dust and dirt sits and so needs to be hosed down more often - probably a good idea as it removes some of the salt as well. Good luck with the reno, the Architects image looks great.

The house is fairly small from the photo but elevated on a basement or garage plinth. If the base is brick, leave it as is. But whatever colour you chose, eliminate contrasts so if, say, a soft French grey, paint the walls, window and door joinery and roof flashing the same colour. A contract could be the new deck rail, but I would even consider painting it the same colour as the basement to link the 2 levels or just the same as the top. A bright glossy front door could break up the monotone.

apennameandthata i don't know... vertical is more shed like style, while we still have a colonial style base and veranda. Dust will be an issue here (although its not so bad in that particular spot on a river, good protection from trees) but pressure wash will be regular practice anyway. Thanks for all your suggestions and I will take all on board, especially sandstone ideas. I don't this I want this house to look pretentious, but how can I describe that, I am after some subtle "wow" factor or something a bit different, but it must look like we knew what we are doing and YES, I want it to look like high quality build and not a transportable house or kit home. The house rectangle is so simple that I worry it may have that boring factor in its looks and that is why I am looking for some ideas. My problem is a tendency to overthink but I hope I will find a balance at some point :) At this stage I think: galvanised tin everywhere (or that zincalum), rusty steel posts, aluminum windows with timber look, sandstone features around main door and sandstone chimney. We had a big flood last year and the spot never goes under water, its on high grounds even though it is only meters from the river.

This is the inside of the house. The bottom photo is the inside of that extension. The House is a Yellowy Creamy colour that is very dated and we want to change to a more neutral off white at a later date. I did think that a white or off white for the outside might look a bit too white and washed out with the white Brick. The Brick does have like charcoal flecks through it. So maybe that colour could be good to coordinate with.