Thanks Fiona. We'd love to landscape the far side but sadly that is our neighbour's property and the river rock lined area right beside the pool fence is an easement that runs like a creek when we get rain so can't plant in there :). I do plan to sneak in a few more of the Golden Cane palms onto the neighbouring paddock as some have self seeded anyway- hopefully create a nice screen. I have my eye on some nice pots and two lovely wooden loungers with cream cushions, all in budget. But I'll only get them once I decide what to do with the paving area to better blend with the pool surround. I've just had the area pressure washed about 2 weeks ago so my thinking is to go with the repaint in the medium grey and hope we get 5 years out of it.

It would be good to use Dulux fine Texture Outdoor paint with a texture/spaghetti roller in a sandy (pale yellow) light to mid colour range on the all brickwork, including fence. Horizontal powder coated steel inserts to fence to finish it off in a the same blue as roof, guttering, etc. Leave the garage door colour as is (blue). I'd take out the tree you have planted in front yard as it just doesn't look right and will give you financial pain as it's roots damage your drains, and home. Just have one or two blue large round (you already have lots of straight lines) planters near or on the entrance to doorway. Large succulents like Agave in the pot would look striking and need little watering. Plant dwarf or regular Lilli Pillies on the council strip on both sides of corner in a line about 1.5 metres apart. They are a very fast growing native, that don't drop very many leaves and only need watering in the initial stages. They also are more tall than wide. This will give you more of a private, lush feel without the problems of planting trees in your extremely close front yard. Don't go with any suggestions of hedges....they are fickle and the work involved to keep them looking sharp would be horrendous. You just want to enjoy your home, not be a slave to it! Good luck:)

Hi Jane, I didn't think the Study was a bedroom that's why I suggested changing it to the laundry. He would have a bigger bedroom using Bed 4 The deck at the front was a great idea another place to sit.as the house is already quite pretty The garage is as you say ridiculously narrow and I consider having a driveway with a garage at the end a waste of space anyway. The one good thing is that it is on the boundary, I think so gives you maximum space. are you able to bring a carport forward towards the street, just add that to your plan. Your neighbors aren't likely to complain about anything there as it's also on their blind side. Is the garage under the same roof as the old extension? Who uses the other 3 bedrooms as there's only 3 kids, would you agree to move the bathroom back into bedroom 4 and keep the powder room and linen cupboard where I lastly placed the family bath? Sorry but I'am trying get rid of "The toilet block" across the end of the courtyard. Or would you consider adding the laundry into the garage along with your WIR and possible study.

this is the classic issue with rendering - it needs to be strategically used.....it's a fine line between going too far and then having to put back aspects of what has been lost, which in this case is texture and the horizontal element of brickwork that helps to keeps the facade proportions of these era residences (more) balanced.......now you have to add aspects back in to get that balance back.......it probably would have been better to have taken the brickwork out from above the windows and finished with the dark element insert like the detail you have over the entry further back - then you would have had some architectural consistency and expression of the form.......there's art to understanding what to do and what not to do in these situations which is why we bang on about the importance of seeking professional assistance with these decisions, because it's always cheaper to talk about it all beforehand, rather than try and fix problems that could have been avoided or arguably managed differently/better...... I'd agree that potentially a pergola structure would help bring in some lighter/softer/textural aspect to the frontage, and paint it dark to match the trim/barges - or even some external venetian awnings to the windows - we've sometimes introduces sections of batten cladding or screenings to counter & balance expanses of blandness......one way or the other there's not a cheap way out so perhaps think about what will provide some practical benefit as well so you're getting bang for buck/2 for 1 & not just tarting up to fix aesthetic issues Good Luck! PD :)