It is the ceiling and garden that are letting this picture down. The ceiling needs to be a colour that works with the colour of the bricks - currently it doesn't. The suggestion of the house numbers on the column is good - keep them big or you are wasting your time. But the garden is all wrong. The retaining wall is past its use-by-date and looks as tho it could be removed without the need to replace it. A garden of green would work without the need for any other colour as green against the colours in your home would work beautifully.

That's great advice re the colours Design Organisation, I've been trying to work out how to choose the right greys to create the same effect as the one in your photo (still looking for a door like it!) Unfortunately budget doesn't extend to replacing the gutters which are that very 80s primrose. I've spoken to builder re your suggestion about the width of the poles and we might now replace them with timber posts, you've been really helpful!

Hi Nick, I think you should retain the existing door and paint it in the colour that is used for the existing highlight colour, this will tie in nicely with the existing windows and the screen door. I think the door you have selected is a very nice door, but it won't be seen behind the screen anyway. You could also swap your pots on the verandah over to a gloss black and put in a plant with a nice bright flower (red or white bloom) for a splash of colour. Otherwise, I think you have it looking great. I hope this helps. You might like to pop over to our website (www.the3peas.com.au) to have a look at other ideas from our past projects. All the best. Jo Powell, 3 Pea's Property Styling

I have just painted lower level of my brick house monument also gutters. I love it & less maintenance also & you don't see the cobwebs or mould. I used it on the eaves of another home in a tropical location where mould was a problem & paint additives didn't work. I would do window frames & all timber surrounds white & Gge & front doors a soft taupe. For internal walls in rental situations for the last 20 years I have used ' foxtail 1/2 strength' it is a warm grey & with white timber work it looks very modern & crisp. Before & after pics of exterior