My husband loves the ceiling only suggestions and also keeping the timber below the dado. I'm not as attached to all the wood and after a total revamp .... I had thought white ceilings and lime washing walls, but realised I'm after a brighter interior. I will have a look at different painted wall panelling. Definitely don't want to go from a wood overload to a white overload! MB you are so right choosing a white is the hardest part! I'll be in touch Milray Park. Thanks for the input and advice everyone!!

Daniel Lindahl - I didn't say to get rid of it - I just said to change it for something else - I have a 70's home owner built - cavity brick - Daniel sometimes it is working with what you have in order to keep costs down - paintings - if you have several - can be changed around your home for a interesting look - as our homes are our homes - the paintings - can always be shared in various rooms/walls to suit ones mood.

You should also consider thermal efficiency and your views. Even double-glazed windows transmit heat. Your house doesn't seem to have many eaves. If you have the taller windows on your side facing walls will it mean you just get a better view of the neighbours roof and your side fence? Will they get a better view into your side facing windows? Don't just consider how it looks from the inside, but think about the whole house from the outside as well - including views, privacy, and extra heat gain in summer, and heat loss in winter, plus all of those extra window furnishings. If you are getting custom made window furnishings then there will be extra cost in materials and labour. If you are buying standard off the-shelf window coverings then there is much less range available at 2700mm heights for full length windows. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Hi Anne, Your home is beautiful with so much potential. There have been some clever ideas presented but I think its important to have an overall plan that you're working towards. This way you avoid needing to re-do certain areas. With the overall plan you would decide which materials you like and what needs to change and then you can stick to that plan as you roll out the changes. For instance, I think the brick on fireplace wall is a lovely feature of the home but the brick in the kitchen area is competing with it. With the timber panelling, it was certainly a feature of the home originally but these days we tend to paint out the panelling to make spaces feel lighter and more open. We often use Dulux China White when working with robust materials like brick and timber as it has a warm stone like tone. In one of the pictures, I can see that there is a full feature brick wall in another room which should creates a lovely flow and consistency. This is a home in Fairhaven Victoria that looked just like yours (but without the brick) and was painted in the China White. Cheers, Vikki. Your bathroom will also looks great with a touch of paint and a new vanity.