I would love to see you paint both the gutters and trim boards under the gutters, the eaves and the underside of the porch roof in all the same color. The white looks nice on your home. You could add color by painting your front door a deep blue (not as dark as navy) or a deep emerald green. Then add big flower pots in the same colors or even a pair of colorful chairs on the porch. Your pretty house just needs some pops of color here and there and flowering plants can also do the job.

(Assuming the exterior cladding is a weatherboard/timber cladding of some description.) Taking it a step further, if you like the timber look but don't want too much maintenance, I'd recommend a timber batten soffit lining similar to the image attached. Although i cant find my preferred image at the moment the detail is definitely a point of difference if painted in a dark grey/charcoal on a white house. It really emphasises the depth of the eave and creates another texture without completing with what you have. Regards, Peita De Trizio

two steps I see here 1. suggest you go back to council (either yourself or view builder if they are getting the permit) and question their particular interpretation of the reg 85, use the image posted previously and ask why "if a habitable room window is compliant when facing an open verandah so long as it's 1/3 open" an eave, which is 100% open and less overhang is considered to be non-compliant. If you have 1.4m offset from the boundary, and your eave is only 400mm, then arguably this window WILL be facing a light court with min 1m clearance to the sky (measured from the eave to the boundary) 2. If above is not accepted, then apply for the council "report & consent" process to vary reg 85. Best to discuss this directly with the relevant building surveyor so you can be confident it will be supported. Ask the surveyor specifically what that would likely need to see, such as do they want to see a bigger window of size Xmm x Ymm. You will likely need to submit updated drawings if the window currently drawn is on the min 10% of the floor area of the bedroom. It sounds like you may be out of your depth, and typically these report and consents involve response to Ministers Guidelines which can be tedious and you have to understand the technicalities and lingo, so perhaps it will be best to go back to whoever helped design/documented the building and get them to help you prepare the submission. It's now so close to Christmas/end of year and probably best this is handled after the flurry of the festive season has passed and people/admin/surveyors etc have some fresh energy and renewed patience.. Councils typically work on skeleton staff throughout this period so unlikely you'll get much of a difference in outcome timeframe wise whether you submit now or early new year. All it will do is be put in an admin pile and be addressed in due course Best of luck PD

The most common outdoor light fittings are floodlights, up/down wall brackets, garden spike lights, and bollards. When selecting lighting for residential outdoor areas, it is important to select fittings which will provide security and will withstand weather conditions. You need to use lights which have an IP rating, meaning they will resist weather elements in outdoor settings. For luminaires which will be used under the eaves of a roof, a minimum of IP44 or higher is recommended. For pergolas, a fitting with IP54 or IP65 is needed. For fittings that are fully exposed to the elements, an IP65 rating is highly recommended. To ensure that your light fittings do not rust or corrode over time, opt for high quality brass fittings with a powder-coated finish, or a marine-grade stainless steel. In garden lighting, low voltage 12V fittings are recommended in order to prevent electrical hazards. For this, a transformer is required to convert the 240V mains supply to a low voltage for exterior garden lights. Wall brackets can be used to highlight brick or stone textures on the wall. Garden spikes can be used to up-shine key features like trees, fountains, or statues. To find out more, visithttps://elekzon.com.au/blogs/news/your-design-guide-outdoor-lighting