With the beautiful brown brickwork you need paint colors in more earthy tones. Cool greys and blues may clash. If you are in a hot coastal climate and want to keep the white make sure it is a warm white. A good field color could be the tan in the walk way brick. Mossy greens and dull golds could also work. Test color schemes with good old Crayola sketches to see if you like dark trim and a light field color or vice versa. Consider a bright pop of color for the door if the rest is very neutral creams and tans. Add lattice and screen to the sides of the foundation to keep critters out. Add shrubs and flowers. You need a tree or two. The porch begs for a swing or rocker.

Location is everything, I do love my house though but I often think if it wasn't where it is would I still love it as much and find its flaws quirky..and the answer is no, but it is where it is and it is where I want to be..so love, love, love

Our house is similar, but we are empty nesters and down sized about 4 years ago, our needs would be a bit different to a growing family, we are currently in the throes of having two smaller rooms made into one area to further open up a previous renovation to give us a bigger open space..we also have an ensuite and a combined laundry / second laundry space. The good thing is that being a brick veneer house the reconfiguring is relatively easy with modern technology and big beams. As above try and have a big open space, we have been out of our home for a month now and still a way to go, add living away from home to your budget or stay with family. I will try and post the plan but here are a couple of journey pics ..the last photo was before trying to show how the two rooms decided the space making the living room very small and a bit dark...the aim of this project is to have space for a bigger gathering than about 4 people before overcrowded. Light is really important, nice big windows essential, the darkness of the living I thought I could live with, but it did get me down, I a, looking forward to having a much lighter space

Not sure how it would go in Brisbane but what about trying a conifer? They grow fast and very tall. You can shape them or leave them natural. They are plain and certainly not tropical. Maybe speak to a local nursery and find out if they would grow in the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane first, as they are usually in colder climates (Sydney and south). Leightons Green Conifer – Leyland Cypress http://www.evergreengrowers.com.au/shop/hedging-screening/leightons-green-conifer-leyland-cypress/ Your quite limited if there's not enough sun and you dont use bamboo or tropical plants. Many other screening plants or hedges wont get tall enough for that space and climate. I hope you find something.