Here are the samples, although the camera doesn't really show the colour in it's true form. First up, Ball & Twine. And this is Warm Bisque. It was nice, but too cool for me. And this is Sisal, the wrong colour I bought by accident. I love the colour though, just not here. I am a little concerned that the Ball & Twine was throwing some green (although I love green), but I really love it in the rest of the house. We have those late 1990’s terracotta coloured tiles in the back room to consider as well. that room will have a terracotta, stone, charcoal look, I think, when we are done. Anyway, comments on the samples?

I am afraid I have to disagree with Kelli Ford about using white on this exterior as it will be too contrasting. The paneling above the windows would have been stained to show the timber grain, but clear staining never weathers well, so you may want to consider painting it. I would actually go darker and get a sample pot of a Dulux colour called "Luck" which could be described as a warm black/charcoal, with a subtle dark brown undertone, being a perfect complement to your beautiful bricks. By the way I think your house has a more 1970's feel than a 1980's feel. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

I reckon that going dark will make it slightly more modern , but lets talk about the elephants -- the roof will still be brown so that is always going to show what era it is ; the garage door is always going to be bland unless you go red , yellow or orange , but then that will reinforce the era of the bricks and roof , and I don't want to be too insensitive , but what is that front appartatus ? It may be for a wheelchair , but it doesn't look like it drops ; it looks to be a different era again and similar to say steel stockyards . Painted the same as your trim etc will soften and tie in the look , but if it isn't neccessary , I'd look at removing it , or somehow 'hide' it . And I guess I'd also add that the red oxide coloursteel fence doesn't help either , its a bit less of a worry but still an issue IMO . Personally , I'd go lighter -- all the trim in surfmist or similar ( an offwhite with a blue tinge ) , and if leaving that front apparatus , paint it the same and plant some 1 metre or taller evergreens around it . BUT so that it isn't 'just' brown and white , I'd ideally change the garage door and entrance door to maybe a red cedar ( both with surfmist 'surrounds' ) , or paint the two doors in charcoal or similar ( monument etc ) , again with the lighter surrounds , if budget is tight . And the fence -- ideally , change it , but even painted monument will help quite a bit . IF you do go dark , then what about a bluey/black Japanese black -- just paint everything , including the 'cattleyard' ? The entrance door looks to be wood , so if going dark , you could paint/stain it ( and the sidelight windows etc ) the Japanese Black -- the garage door personally I'd change to wood or even a fake woodgrain panelled door , again in Japanese Black . With that , I guess the fence you'd go a mid charoal -- sort of greyer lighter tones than monument , but you don't want lighter fences for several reasons , both looks and practicality wide . The other option I guess , if you are brave , would be to not only embrace the era , but even go back a bit , and do everything but the brick in apricot or even mint -- personally I wouldn't do buttery yellow or blues or even sherwood green , but basically add a pastel fun tone that will work with the brick and roof , but doesn't look like a bumble bee haha .

I'd look at it slightly diferently . Lets start with what it looks like you already have -- some of these I may be wrong on , but it looks like -- -- the side and presumably rear section are already fenced ? -- the section seems to slope quite a bit to that left hand side . -- there seems to be a reasonable garden and trees on that left hand side . -- the house itself seems to lack a Wow factor . So my thoughts would be why not do a trampoline or slide or whatever in the existing fenced off area -- if you have a pool , I assume that is already seperately fenced ? The suggested fences looks too much like the house IMO . The kids may be hard to see / supervise / look out for falls and hazards on that left side . So how about a lower brick fence , maybe 300-400mm tall , with stained wooden rails -- 2 or 3 , even 4 , 100 x 100 or similar , maybe on black powdercoated aluminium uprights / posts ( I think 'your' brick , done as posts , would look too heavy ) . But encourage the children to use the side/rear , although the front is also fenced , so sort of an each way bet ? The letterbox looks boring , so obviously the first thought is to change it -- but imagine it in a bright orange or yellow , with the chairs on the upstairs terrace painted or changed to ones of the same colour , maybe a 35 cm pot in the same colour upstairs and 2 around 50 or even 80cm downstairs ? Then add your street number in big brass 'modern' numbers on the front door -- I think its double doors , but they are that nondescript its hard to tell -- if they are , maybe do the nunbers on whichever side opens first , so they look 'offset' and add a bit of interest , as well as showing where the door is ? I'm not a fan of the garage door or entrance door colour , or the guttering , but add the bright pots ( with suitable plants ) , chairs and letterbox , and it won't look as plain IMO . Make sense ?