Hey there dolly7, we think it depends on the kind of feel you're going for, but we would suggest trying some block out roller blinds or light-filtering roller blinds like the ones below: Roller blinds are a great solution to create a modern look without covering the beautiful windows and doors it sounds like you have. The blinds above are from our range of roller and venetian blinds, which are designed for affordability and simple self-install. Some of our blinds can be purchased at Bunnings, but let us know if you have any problems searching for a solution. Hope this helps - let us know if you need anymore information.

Hi diviabhi Here are a few links to companies which supply the roman blinds you are after (blockout & sheer). I would suggest looking at a few, getting an idea of the type of blinds you are after, doing a cost comparison between them all. You might want to request an obligation free quote. Of course, depending on your location, some may be more suitable than others. Fabric/Material, Exposed/Hidden Tracks, Motorised/Manual, Cordless/Corded and COST are all things to take into consideration. http://www.kresta.com.au http://www.victory.com.au http://www.luxaflex.com.au http://www.sunway.com.au http://invisageinverloch.com.au Take your time and good luck with your decision.

Just to confirm I have taken the great ideas presented here as advice only and have no intention to do some dodgy diy reno's. With the exception of a couple of quirky exposed timbers as you can see in my pictures there are no other exposed beams. As you can also see from the pictures there is a large roof space on the right (east) side of the house but the ceilings themselves are flat with a slight dip on the north wall. Based on my own personal experiences I would have to agree with Two's Company that there is a tendency towards rendered brick in WA (although there are still many exposed brick houses in my suburb) while double enclosed double garages are also highly desirable. I would also agree that toilets within the main bathroom and non traditional laundries may be considered unusual by many (but not all). Ensuites with toilets however are still very common. Also due to the nature of our work we would prefer the laundry separated from food/kitchen area. For a 4x2 house it is only around 155m2 excluding carport/alfresco which makes the rooms feel quite cramped, hence the desire to open up the family room. However, as Two's Company suggests we will need to first get a builder/eng in to check load bearing walls etc as this will undoubtedly affect what we can achieve within our budget. Having said that I still excited by many of your ideas and with luck hopefully can work some of them into the budget. Cheers all :)

Most people buy a house with the longer term in mind, not just the next six months. By the time you have your house on the market, the marketing campaign complete, and settlement finalised all of the dirty, messy renovation stuff that is happening next door now will be well and truly over. If I was a savvy buyer I would think about the positives rather than negatives. It means that somebody else is prepared to sink big bucks into a renovation, so they must be sure of the potential of the area. They are likely to be long-term neighbours if they are going through a renovation. Potential buyers could see potential ideas for your house. And no developer is going to knock over a newly renovated home for townhouses. Even so, I would try and co-ordinate your open for inspections for when there aren't tradesmen working next door. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls