White Windows would be great - would give definition and break up brickwork For garage, black against brown brick is a bit harsh - just built thought black Windows but went white with brown brick and ironstone garage door and red front door!! But manor red and ironstone colours match flecks of colours in my bricks

Just like birth, death and taxes, renovation surprises are guaranteed. I think Micheal Bell's suggestion to add a contingency is a good one. Also finalising your design before looking for your builder will save on mid project variations. For those interested in estimating the cost of their renovation before going too far into their plans, try this renovation and extension cost calculator. Good luck. richard@makeovergroup (Melbourne)

If you were selling , are you sure you will recoup the extra $$$$ ? Get it wrong , and a potential buyer will walk and/or offer $50k less , whereas if you leave it as it is , they will know it needs replacing , offer $10k less , but you have gotten an offer ! Just me , but what I would do is rip up the fake tile lino in the foyer ( I assume it is lino -- it doesn't look to be 'proper' tiled ? ) , and do that in a darkish timber laminate -- slightly lighter than the front door , slightly darker than the stairs . Or go really dark -- almost a dark weathered grey or a similar dark brown to the drawer unit in the lounge -- the rest of the colourings will lighten it a bit , but it will all tie in . OR actually tile it , maybe a black or charcoal gloss marble or marble effect with lighter streaks through it ? The house and colourings look an older style , this continues that theme , but I feel white or beige tiles would look too bland . $2k max instead of $10k -- marble tiles may be more than $2k , but up to you .

Probably 15 years ago I did a shop front in what I think was called Engineered Stone , and I think it was made in China . Dreamers reference seems to be actual stone , the stuff I used seemed to be essentially stone ground up with filler and cement , and poured into moulds . Basically , the panels were 100cm x 50cm , and the pattern repeated every panel , and then there were internal and external corners available too , as well as sills . The stuff I used ( its still in place ! ) looked pretty authentic , but tap it and it has an almost hollow sound to it . Does yours 'feel' real ?