Thanks, Louise and Brandi. Louise, can't do much to the front of the house as we use it to manoeuvre the cars that come in and out of the garage. This is the downside of being in the rear of the property in a battle axe location. But I like the idea of creating "a sense of arrival" and perhaps, Brandi's suggestions, too, of larger pots. I thought my pots are large enough, but maybe I can make up with some more Yukka and agave plants, which I have a few of inside the small patio there. Brandi, I will get those copper house numbers as soon as I find suitable ones. Then perhaps we will have less pizzas delivered to my doorstep if they see the house number straightaway. Thank you.

Hi Donna - Look for a company that offer a 10-year warranty and a product that complies with Australian Standards. There are some companies that provide a 'kit' for your builder to install to make it a little bit cheaper again. There are also products that have a 'rack and pinion' design which minimises maintenance and eliminates the need for a motor pit - just do a google search for "dumbwaiter rack and pinion' . Good Luck!

As someone who bought a brick house recently, a major reason for the decision was the low maintenance of unpainted brick. So, no, don't paint the brick! The facade above the brick looks heavy and dominating because it is so bright white and all one colour. Why not go for a more retro look, break up the solidity of the overhanging facade by painting the vertical trims a different colour? Pick a colour that compliments the brick and keep in mind that colours were more adventurous in the 70s. Embrace the fun of the beach and the retro look without going overboard. Leave the brick as is, paint window trims to contrast and catch the light., maybe add shutters in the same colour to make windows look bigger and add more to catch the eye under the eaves. And paint the front door a fun, bright colour. Citrus colours catch the light and pop, but check they don't clash with the colour of the brick. You need contrast and brightness. Our blonde brick house was built in 1960. We painted the front door, the awning over our sliding doors and our garage door all the same colour: bright citrus orange (the garage door has 2 horizontal white stripes). The result was an instant uplift. We then had the roof restored and painted a terracotta colour (concrete tiles) and cleaned the eaves. The house looks fresh as a daisy and so much more attractive. The paint cost about $100, and the roof cost $6000. Money well spent! Then we worked on the gardens. We took out tall plants close to the house and replanted the gardens with more attractive flowering plants, going for colour. It all looks much more inviting now.

Is that a photoshopped pic of your place , or just a similar place ? There are too many styles trying to happen there IMO , not only the windows , and like oklouise says , somethings don't quite look right . I'd do bars ( frames ) about 200mm from the top of the two upstairs sets of windows , to match the downstairs style . Unlike ok lou , I don't like louvres -- they are drafty and don't really achieve much IMO -- a kid can put their hand and/or toys and/or your valuables out there , my personal preference is top-hinged with a folding stay at the sides , so they open 150-200mm but no further -- no-one can climb or fall in or out , can stay open overnight if warm , etc . I don't particularly like the upstairs balcony and gable , but I'm not keen on the entrance door treatment either , and without knowing what it looks like now , I may be tempted to replicate the 'double square' look of upstairs , downstairs too -- make it all the same theme . I'd keep the garage in the off-white , because if you look at the right side , both downstairs and upstairs look a bit boring IMO , with that flat dark finish -- the garage door done the same would add to the slab look . And while I'm being picky -- I personally think the black or extremely dark grey is too dark -- toned back just a bit would be better IMO -- you don't want it to look obviously grey , but a nice charcoal IMO . And finally -- the column bases look 'dirty' -- imagine how they would look in a gloss black tile on the top and also the 'skirtings' ( or a gloss black paint at a pinch ) ; with white gloss tiles where you have a light grey ( or , again , maybe the same paint as your other trim , but $5k of tiling would really add to those ) -- I think that would work with your black , or even a charcoal , 'main' colour . Anyway , just suggestions , and purely my viewpoint -- it's quite a nice but still simple design , just a couple of small things that would bug me if it was my place .