Hi Jimmy South facing can be challenging, not only in getting natural light into interiors, but also because any additions you add will put your garden in more shade. Some work can be done to ensure that the interior is well lit naturally - as has been suggested. Be aware that the garden space will need to be designed also to deal with being shady and cool. I'm not sure where abouts in Australia you are, and if cold and damp winters are an issue. For example, this home faces south, and I designed an extension that popped up over the existing house with a clerestory window to bring northern light into a double height void within the new space. We got great light internally, but the garden was always in shade - so grass and plant selection was made accordingly. I know you're not planning something this significant, but think about strategies you can use to bring northern light - or even eastern light - down into your new extension. Perhaps you can extend lengthwise into the garden and pull it back from your eastern boundary, to get some morning light onto an internal concrete floor and provide some natural warmth in winter through thermal mass. I also recommend if you're planning lots of glazing (even skylights), that you look for ways you'll prevent heat loss in winter, and heat gain in summer. Skylights such as Velux sky windows are great for top lighting (you could again look at arranging your roof so that you can face the skylights east), and you can get them double glazed, with blinds in them for shade when required. Best wishes for planning your extension. These brick homes can be modernised so well, it's a lot of fun to see their transformation. You can see a late 1960s home that was my own renovation project here - we had a lot of fun and the transformation can be quite dramatic when finished. Regards Amelia Lee Undercover Architect www.undercoverarchitect.com.au amelia@undercoverarchitect.com.au

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

I would spend the bare minimum, and I would spend it on making the absolute best of what is already there. It looks to be in good clean condition, but I would make it pristine. This would then appeal to a wide variety of buyers .....those who have no money to renovate, investors, and equally to those who wish to renovate to their own style, as not too much money has been spent. I would make sure all grouting is spotless, maybe by regrouting, or I have used basic house paint to brighten things up. The vanity looks a bit water damaged at the base.....maybe replace this, only a few hundred dollars for a basic one. And clear glass on the shower. Maybe lose the net curtains and make sure all other curtains are the correct length and neat looking. IKEA and Spotlight have cheap replacements if necessary. Same for light fittings if they are marked or rusty. Something a bit more trendy will help. The outdoor living space should be made attractive by neat edging, some potted color, even styled up with a table and chairs. There IS a place for fake grass.....where there is gravel, dirt or old concrete. Any stained concrete can also be painted with grey paving paint. The outdoor living area is just as important as the inside, and as its been a rental, I'm guessing it could do with some prettying up. Sugar soap or paint touch up, or repaint if and where you think it's required. Good luck.

Hi there, I love the look of your 50's kitchen: takes me back to my childhood home but our kitchen was about 4 cupboards and 3 overheads!! By todays std it was like one of the pantries people are putting in!! I was impressed with the "see what you need to store first": that is the best place to start, then thought glass display cupboards were all the go but you have those! Unless you could copy them for the corners? Then I thought open shelving with micro on one: NEVER on the bench. Timber shelves could have bright multi coloured glass or china which was all the rage! Please tho do not go for the lounge curtains with red, orange and every other colour large squares: nothing subtle or quiet about them and nothing nice about them either!! Cheers Margot