Treasure it for the gem of a 1940s/50s home it is, complete with glorious wrought iron work. Suggestions have been made as to how to boost the height to meet current building codes. You will regret updating the exterior for what is likely to be a one that will date quickly and be higher maintenance . It is only a matter of time until such homes are as treasured as Victorian terraces or Californian bungalows. It is an icon of its time. Accept it for what t is. Why make your house look like a fashion victim of 2019, when it stands in almost the full glory of its original period? It will also save you a fortune too! But yes, minimise the concrete! and add a garden that refects the period the house was built. Roses if you like them, with maybe a magnolia or crepe myrtle feature tree but for lower maintenance try some architectural and ground covering succulents. You could also go with edibles like feature citrus and olives for a Mediterranean feel.

Wow love some of those pics Siriuskey! Thank you for the ideas. I struggle with whether to keep walkways 'clear' in this house - for example the two doors either side of kitchen and the deck door all create these weird walkways. (See arrows on drawings) Is it a smart move to 'block' them with say a couch, or an island bench, or the dining table? (See random furniture placement in pictures showing these options) I have uploaded a drawing with the current walls that we propose removing in green highlighter and showing where the current front door is. As you can see it's a wasted space and strange detour past laundry toilet and storage! I have sketched what I think you mean by entry next to bed 3- would you leave a small office room to one side and create a hallway or leave open and place miners lounge against west wall. Am I interpreting it all as you imagined?!

first repair the leak and repaint the trim then remove the plants beside the steps and consider adding wider steps and a new floor in the porch with decking, pressure wash footpath and consider painting the path to complement the existing colour scheme (deeper peach colour?) which will help emphasise the great looking white door which is more than enough decoration with the small table and some fresh new plants away from the steps..it's already a good looking house without the extra frills

Dear Creatively Challenged , I can recommend Dulux Colour Consultants, I gave up after about 5 sample pots . At the time it cost me $150 and if I used dulux paints I could claim a full refund . That was 12 years ago . I didn’t realise at the time just how good they were , the colours are still in fashion but it’s ready for another paint job for sure. It was such a relief to have someone in who is trained and fully understands colours and fashion and what goes with what . I finally stopped stressing about it and got the job done ✅