Lovely area! You have done a great job! Just a thought i would have put decking to one side and only had one side with stone and plants as putting the decking in the middle looks like a runway. Just my opinion. Black stone would look great instead of white. And painting the back bricks would have been better with a darker colour to make timber "pop" like the colour of your fence or black like the posts. Loving your ideas and transformation is fantastic!

Hi arcmaz Great house - fantastic 60's modern look - Harry Sidler (Modernist Architect 1923-2006 exponent of the Bauhaus style in Australia, mainly Sydney) would have loved the interpretation, its a good style, don't change it will pay dividends in the long run. It would be good if there was a plan of the house,and a plan of the block this would allow some relatively accurate planning proposals. If you had the real-state plan with the block plan it would help a lot. In terms of making the place bigger and retaining the style I would suggest that the extension (maybe one room and an en suite depending on a budget) be a block in the today's current style, but linked to the existing house via a "link" (Link =small walkway). This would allow you to retain the style, but not be dominated by a past period, I have done this a few times and it has worked fairly well. If you are looking for three bedrooms it might be best to add a master bedroom with a bathroom, and then maybe living areas with back yard access. There may be other approaches depending on the current layout that could be considered, but I would retain as much as the original as possible, and only make small cosmetic changes until you are ready for a worthy development. I hope this is of some help, I would be happy to comment further or work on this project. Regards - Michael Manias Manias Associates Building designers - mm407p@gmail.com

There's some great ideas there . The first thing that stands out is that pipe handrail downstairs -- I hate them with a vengence . Remove it , extend the step to fill the space , with 1 or maybe 2 small full-width steps . Just me , I'd do in charcol or black non-glossy 400 x 400 tiles . Most of the windows are black framed , and look okay in my opinion . Paint the upstairs balistrade in black or charcoal -- will tie it in and even though the style is dated , I don't think it would matter -- it would then look like part of the overall concept . I like the English White of the front door , but here's where I'd get colourful -- do the door jamb and the diamonds in the brightest citrus orange you can , and then carry it to the garage door ! The garage door surround ( including the 3 window surrounds above it ) I would paint in charcoal or black . And here's probably the most controversial part -- leave the awnings , but also paint them in Citrus Orange , with the ridges on them in a beige , maybe veering towards an apricot ! This will really lift everything visually IMO , the orange brick will tie in and bland in without looking overdone , the Bright Orange and mainly charcoal or black is modern but not too modern , with the English White door breaking everything while still having Bright Ornage to tie it all in . There looks to be a Butterscotch Orange gate to the left of the house -- obviously , you would repaint that in the brighter orange too , to look cohesive , but you already see how it looks more exciting than the Burgundy Red existing colours . Which leaves 1 thing I don't like the colour of -- the top fascia board or gutter . I suspect Vitamin C Orange would be too much , so probably play it safe , and go either charcoal , or a lighter greeny/grey to match the roof tiles . Probably not what everyone would do -- but that's what I would do with that pallette !

If trying to keep the 60's vintage(such a hot topic currently), pink brick and shingle second floor, I agree with other comment , to give the brick a good pressure wash first. Especially the low brick wall at front right side. Clean the curved window till it sparkles. Are the frames metal? or painted? I'd use steel wool to really detail them (if metal). After the scrubbing, perk it up by: 1) Brighter contrast colour for soffit/facia boards at roofline, suggest a chalk white or pearl gray to compliment the dark gray on the shingle siding. The current "Tan" washes out the brick tone. You need more contrast. 2) Add wide picture framing style architrave around all rectangular windows (simple, flat boards, not frilly guilded type of framing, think contemporary!!), not stupid shutters which aren't the style of that age! Keep it modern and clean! Use the same chalk white or pearl gray paint . If windows leak or look bad, maybe consider replacing with new, keeping just single glass pane rather than little multiple panes for the smaller downstairs ones to the right. 3) Bring the shingle colour on the dark gray second floor to the support wall left of your front door. Also Paint the low brick wall at front of home and the raised bed to the left of front door, the same dark gray satin paint colour as upper floor (get advice on painting over brickwork). Paint the wooden door trim and architraves at front door the same dark gray but use a Gloss paint. 4) Have your Front Door professionally sprayed a gloss lacquer in a lipstick salmon pink or bright terracotta. You will need to match the tone to enhance the pinkness of your brick, make the Front Door brighter and happier, a place you want to enter, and easy to see! Remove the glass storm door too. If your door leaks cold, get new door mouldings and floor weatherstripping. Otherwise, maybe the whole door unit needs to be upgraded..... 5) Last thing, if walkway to front door is plain concrete, consider overlaying it with slate. Plant easy to grow perinneals in one or two places, or groundcovers that bloom several times a year. It is a great looking classic, and a little paint and touches will kick it's curb appeal up without spending much at all, especially if you are handy with a paintbrush! (BTW, I am in New Zealand and always seem to be renovating my home, no matter what country we live in!). Cheers, Martha