A Craig - your roof is what is known as a Mansard style. Search 'Mansard Style roofs' on Houzz for a lot of examples that may give you some answers (see one below). Obviously this home was built pre aluminium guttering that does not rust so to replace the existing guttering with seamless aluminium should solve your problems. It would be worthwhile replacing the downpipes with aluminium too. A bigger problem you could probably have is matching the existing tiles, but from photos on Houzz it does appear you would be able to get away with a different tile or even use a slate were you to change the flat area to a slightly pitched roof. Your existing tiles can be resprayed a different colour too. Call in the experts, the more people you speak to the more ideas you will get. Afraid whatever you do will be expensive, but consider it money well spent to alleviate any future water problems - water does so much damage that will negate all other renovation work you do in the house. [houzz=]

@ Ba Beltramo, I think this dilemma might be better solved if we we had pictures, as suggested by rahnch but if that is too difficult to provide, it would help if you supplied more information about exactly where this pool sits as opposed to the home and what size and shape it is including the lay of the land, pool fencing etc... I'm a little concerned about some of the suggestions that even talk of possibly destroying the pool although I have nothing personally against the suggestion providing you are well informed and take into account what will best suit you personally. After reading you dilemma heading again, "Re-design the space AFTER pool" I'm now assuming that the pool may already be gone and you have a huge hole where it once sat?? If that's the case, then it could be as simple as filling the hole in as you suggested yourself. If the pool is still in place and you are considering filling it in, then I would be concerned about your thoughts to effectively destroy it when I personally know just how costly is it to have a pool in the first place with many people who could only dream of having one!! At the end of the day, your property must work for you but I would hope you give it allot of thought before you do anything.

780mm is too deep for easy access from the kitchen so can the extra space be accessed from another room but 435mm is still wide enough for a single tall door enclosing some useful drawers for extra cutlery, plastic wrap, tea towels, odd kitchen tools, and shelves for all your big appliances, spare containers, drink or wine bottles and glasses, punch? bowls etc...take a tape measure around your supplies and equipment and there'll be plenty of uses for the space and i suggest that the toaster will be much more convenient in a more open area and stored out of site on one of the new shelves when not being used...

Hi Rick, I am presuming you are in Queensland because of the pebble crete driveway. If so i would suggest you get rid of the whole dated bed and go back to lawn. Save what you can from the bed, the palms and conifers would look great in pots. They could also be put in long planter box under the front window symmetrically with an agave in the middle. Your house has straight geometric lines so would suit formal style garden with Murraya hedging, grow to mid thigh height across the front from letterbox , leaving open for entry path, and both sides could be higher. For height I would plant advanced Bangalow palms or candle stick Cyprus pines either side of your entry, and put a stepping stone pathway in the lawn, from your front boundary near letterbox to the front door to save visitors from squeezing past cars. The other path which comes off the driveway would be just for your own use. I would under plant these with 3 Cycads or Zanadu for each, fill in and edge with Rhoeo making a small bed. This will make your entry stand out. Improve soil with compost or cow manure be for planting and mulch well with dark cottage mulch. On the right hand side between the end of the window and the new hedge I would plant a shady evergreen specimen tree in the front corner of thelawn. The trees over the road in the pictures look good. Tuckeroo tree? Under plant to soften with star jasmine ground cover. Clip to keep neat. your lawn needs feeding then it will lush up and be more protected from the heat. Keep blade high, don't scalp! Simple and clean lines look modern and stylish. Good luck! Josie