Hi Jenny, I'd suggest popping into your local nursery (not big box store). Often they will offer a consultation service where they can come out and help suggest plants that suit your aspect, climate and situation. The other option is to have a consultation with a local landscape designer or horticulturalist who specialises in planting. Check your local landscape association or AILDM for listings in your area. An outlay now could save you $$$'s in the longer term, as well as making sure that what you do spend your money on is going to give you the most bang for your buck. They'll also have local knowledge as to what can potentially become weeds. Just remember you can't plant anything against the fence that can be considered climbable - this can include hedges. Have a look at the link I included above as to what the definition of climbable is. Look for lush and green to link in with the background. Some pops of colour; maybe foliage (eg alternanthera) or flower (bougainvillea or mandevilla) will also help to lift it and make the green more green. Small growing varieties of lomandra may be better than the large one you have there - this could easily be moved, divided and used elsewhere.

Hmmm I know what you mean about not wanting too many colours going on - but if you could count the roof as a neutral (that kind of ties in with the white), and then do a pale grey as the cement balcony, they may still tie together as one visually. I agree it'd be nice to add some colour and interest, but you've got such great bones to work with, I think it's just about adding to bring out it's style, rather than masking to make it feel like a house built today -it never works very well. So I would: - refresh white paint on the white balustrades & windows - even consider spraying. I've just done my front gate that was 1/50th of that size and THAT took a while. Though if you do decide to paint by brush, I found my son's Ikea kids craft brush (it's real bristle) was so much better than any of the proper paintbrushes I had! http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90193320/ - remove the air con unit and even the satellite dish to other locations if you can. - paint the concrete patio and steps a lighter grey such as Studio Backdrop by Berger (remember that colours come out lighter outside) - Plant some bright & lush plants like sweet viburnum (providing it's not too shaded, or if so, some hydrangea) where the dark brown bricks currently are, as well as lots of other plants in the front garden - a pretty maple or crepe myrtle feature or some background plants like small cypress etc will actually add more visually and mean the house doesn't have to shoulder all the prettiness! Or go more Palm Springs style (though it looks cool where you are?) and add succulents, pots of Chalksticks, Crassula Bluebird etc. And all still in keeping with the era. - Then have fun with styling the exterior. Maybe look at some fabulous Slim Aarons photos for inspo! I can see a cool acapulco style chair and (yellow & white!) stripe cushion on the balcony, some succulents in grouped pots - bring back it's heyday when the owners might have had people over for drinks on the balcony! I love this era, the homes can be so light, bright and elegant, but people often try to update (rendering etc!) and lose their original style. Even paint your front door in a matte rich gold yellow or tomato red! - And a small thing, but the curtains inside being blue and green make it look quite busy too (in reference to your concern around too many colours) as well as looking dark. If you wanted to , it would be great to add white sheers - these are in keeping with the era, will make the house look brighter from the outside too, will make the white windows look even better, and are surprisingly good for privacy (coupled with roller blinds for night). - I forgot to mention earlier that I would definitely leave the dark lower brick and introduce some plants along there, then you wouldn't even notice the difference. Brick is a pain to paint, you then will have to clean it, it may well peel, bricks are porous and breathe, I definitely would only paint them if you have to, and I really don't think you do - it's another original element and is inoffensive. - Here's a variety of links/photos for inspiration, but I really think smartening up the house and then adding an interesting garden (there's a few looks you could go for, depending on your climate & taste!) will make it look amazing. http://thedesignfiles.net/2013/02/melbourne-home-ada-leon-kagan/  http://thedesignfiles.net/2016/02/louise-and-graeme-bell/  http://thedesignfiles.net/2015/02/tim-ross-and-michelle-glew-ross/

Could you swap the fridge with the wall oven, going by your photo both fridge and Wall Oven would fit side by side. I would definately have the fridge on the cook top wall and not on the other side of the kitchen. I see by the photo that the timber beam could be in the way, I would speak to your plumber who should have a simple solution on ducting the range hood. A simple one built into a special cabinet above the cooktop can recirculate or be ducted outside by either exposed stainless tube for your industrial/country look or have the ducting boxed in, the ducting can be flexable so no problem avoiding beams.

It originally comes in the white i remebr when we purchased it, there was a white one like an antique white but I’m not ur normal person and always go for the darks lol, only cause my dining chairs are black cafe style too with wooden table. But I definitely um looking into it. Scared though cause once we touch it we can’t go back lol. I wouldn’t know where to start. I would definitely go for the Matt look. I don’t know I want the streaks on wood underneath aswell comeing through parts of the white too lol. I’ll upload a pic of the white table at the store for you to get an idea