What an incredible space! You seem to have an unusual mix of design elements here. I see a mix of contemporary and Spanish styles fighting for dominance. You could easily go either way and the house would be stunning. It depends on you style taste. My choice would be to go with the Spanish influences to soften the facade. Here are some ideas I had: (see photos at end) The harshest feature are the windows. To ease the strong lines I'd opt for placing dark hand hewn wooden beams over the 3X window bay and the 4X window bays, along with the widow way at the top over the porch area. Under these windows I would add fabricated mouldings that are in the pictures below. For the entry way you need to draw more attention in that location. To do this the door needs some attention. Try either stipping the present door and staining it a stain with orange tones (see photo) or paint the present door in this color tone. In addition, placing wrought iron grills in the door windows would work to soften the entry as well. (you can find faux inserts or use wrought iron) To call more attention to the front door, and softening the harsh line above the porch I'd put in place a pergola extending outward to the front of the 4window bay that matches the wooden beams over the windows. Now the eye travels to one location instead of drifting back and forth. I see you have wonderful downspouts. I would bring attention to those as well and paint them an aged copper tone. To give the house a "Top" I suggest painting the moulding along the roofline a brown color to match the wooden beams. This way the house won't float. It will be grounded. To keep the garage area from looking like an after thought encorporate it by changing out the doors with wooden doors that have a line of square windows in the top frames only. Try matching the beams to the garage. I too would suggest changing out the light fixtures to better fit the size and style of the home. I have a photo of a Spansh style home attached that has a nice choice. (The long lights) Finally, I would use planting to soften the house a bit. Perhaps removing the popsicle bushes and placing in some Italian cypress. I see them placed one on either side of the 3window bay and one of the far right of the 4 window bay.

Hi Rob , You are entering an exciting time with a new home, good luck with it all . Just a couple of suggestions : (1) Any reason you are note considering an architect to be involved ? When chosen carefully they can be very cost effective , plus they will create the unique custom one off that you are after. Their design concepts will go far beyond just what the exterior looks like Rob, they will also consider ( for example) how a skillion roofline has other functional benefits like incorporating high line ( clerestory) windows that will bring fabulous light into the centre of your new home etc. They will also advise on orientation and wind etc etc and lots more . (2) Regardless of whether an architect is involved, I would suggest that you seriously consider getting someone to create a 3D walkthrough of your new home so that you can walk through and around it before you spend your money on construction. It really does let you see the visual effects, plus because the 3D is to scale , it will help you sort out any potential issues with design and /or construction in advance( i.e. saves you time and money during construction ) . The 3D's can be created once you have your plans and elevations completed. You can get the 3D's created fairly cheaply ( a few hundred $'s ) on www.freelancer.com where professionals from around the globe compete for your project . It is money well spent , and you can see the colours and textures in lifelike scenarios , so it takes away the mystery and what if's . Good luck with your project , and sorry, I don't like the dark blue at all :-) . Cheers Glenn

Agree on the cedar , and I'm not sure what condition the roof is , but if you do need to paint , keep it similar and light . The areas I would focus on are the door and the gutter . The brown gutter does nothing to help , but keeping in the 'organic' spectrum , I'd go a mid to military green for the gutter . The door and the window frames around it I'd go a mid yellow -- say a mild buttercup or similar , so it stands out but still looks organic . The small deck and wires I'd demolish , go wider so it stretches from below 1 window across the door to the other side , so around 3 metres long , but with uprights and a pergola style roof -- all done in monument or similar OR if you can source the sizes , maybe cedar . Possibly have a bench seat one or both sides , even marine plywood cupboards under them . They are still liable to get wet , but use for garden tools , hoses , spray items , or sitting on or decoration -- sort of get that rustic thing going . It just needs a boost around there , but anything too shiny or modern or tacky will distract .

The Portico is nice , but the rest needs a lift IMO . Would your council let you change one of the cladding areas to stone ? Ideally , I'd take most of Kates darker tones , but do a 'panel' that is a darker 'stacked' rough finished stone ( a dark schist or similar ) , but the other option is that if you do the darker trims , you'd even get away with an off-white limestone or similar stone -- even square natural tiles would work and get a more structured look ( personally , i'd like something more random , but just adding another material and texture but in a similar tone , would be okay ) . The other slight thing -- are you allowed to do a bright red door ? Personally , I quite like the light render , darker trim and then a Wow door -- if your council won't allow that , then how boring are they ?