Hi I like the idea of a deck that is a common level with the house, but it would be expensive and maybe a waste of materials if the bricks are still level and whole. Consider pressure cleaning the bricks to remove grime and weeds. Imagine a pergola over the existing brick area. Have large pots at the foot of some of the posts with vines growing up the posts to eventually form a cover for seasonal shade. (Don't plant the vines directly into the ground, as they will eventually spoil the brickwork with their roots.) Or maybe the pergola could be covered with a suitable material of your choice which suits your climatic area - shade cloth, timber slats, canvas shades etc. Would you enjoy a fountain or water pool of ssome kind? Perhaps a Moroccan-style raised pool with tiled walls. Add some lovely seating - teak? or cane/rattan? and lots of potted greenery. Have fun with your new look.

Oooooh lovely to see such great work in my neck of the woods. Pity City of Bayswater doesn't do heritage awards you guys deserve one.

Just a thought, have you checked your lovely flooring will persist under new cabinets or more importantly the gap created by the island bench. Possibly put a simple narrow breakfast bar (with power point of course) across a couple of the window sections, lovely to sit and look out of the window and preserve the look and the light. Then you would save some depth into the living space, as the current breakfast bar is quite large and deep.

I'm quite happy for my home to have 'wow' factor if it's me thinking 'wow, I love that!'. If 'wow factor' is wanting others to be 'wowed' when they walk through your door then you're probably getting caught up in the wrong factor. What we go 'wow' about in our own homes is likely to vary from person to person - for me, its about the beautiful natural light in my home, for someone else it might be the pebble shower recess they laid by hand, or their garden in spring. There are probably also home features which tend to generate approval across the board, things like soaring ceilings or bespoke features, a beautiful fireplace or amazing view come to mind here.