We have an old house with bagged walls over brick. The walls were already bagged when we purchased house. It looks good to me. I have no idea what colour bricks were originally, the only old pics we can find out the house it is painted, built late 50s. When we bought half the house was painted a rather confronting orange terracotta and half was cream, the house was a failed renovation project. We have painted it blue and white. I really am happy with it, it is certainly not smooth like rendering which I think would have not looked right for this house.

The plan looks a nightmare - bedrooms facing the street, a tiny internal bathroom with no window to the outside (is that legal?) and a "lounge" that looks like it was meant to be a third bedroom. If the internal walls are stud and don't support the roof you're in with a chance, but I'd say to do a proper job the cheap option is NOT going to work. I'd put two bedrooms where the current family room and lounge are and extend the bathroom into the boot room to give window access, or scrap the current bathroom altogether and use some of the space in what is now the kitchen for a new one. Keeping the WC separate is a good move. If you make the street side the social side of the house you can open it right out and create a big front porch that's a social spill-over from the kitchen/dining area, creating indoor-outdoor flow. Planting (two or three shade trees and some stands of tall perennials rather than a "green fence" hedge) keeps your front garden private yet inviting and stops your front porch becoming a stage set for the street. Good luck! I think you'll turn this very ordinary house into a much nicer place to live!

The stained glass windows seem to be at odds with the exposed brick, but probably match the original part of the house. If the stained glass windows are giving privacy from an overlooking neighbour I would keep them, and work to make the brickwork more like the original part of the house, so it seems less incongruous. This could be done using a traditional wet plaster or solid plaster technique, which you would need to complete befor your gas insert fireplace is positioned. I would finish it of with a traditional timber fireplace surround and mantle piece, which would be the focal point of a more contemporary room, but link in with the original architecture. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Is your home double brick. If double brick, then the external walls are double brick. In Perth we have the red internal utility brick, then the chosen colour of face brick on the outside. If it is not, it may be because building on the boundary, you will require a double brick parapet wall. This is for fire safety and strength. what your seeing maybe the internal walls being built on the boundary. Then the external wall will be built in your chosen brick. If not sure, consult with your builder liaison officer. It's great to get educated on how your home will be built.