My other bush of Rhodys, taken today, I'm on top of the steps, it's about 6 ft. I've cut them back each year, they were huge when I moved in. Not good to have huge bushes near the house if there's a bushfire. The first bush has finished flowering. It's a hotter pink.

I would avoid grey tsunami too and I love the colour of the red bricks which I would focus on highlighting instead. I would take out the dull dark green bushes in front of the wall and plant a 'Starburst' Honey Locust which has brighter, lacey, yellow-green leaves. This variety is very user friendly as it grows quickly, leaves decompose quickly and it is very 'dry' tolerant once established. Or have a look at the houzz article 'Dutch Houzz: A Run-Down Nursery Estate is back in full bloom (photo 2) [https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/dutch-houzz-a-run-down-nursery-estate-is-back-in-full-bloom-stsetivw-vs~60914085?utm_source=Houzz[(https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/dutch-houzz-a-run-down-nursery-estate-is-back-in-full-bloom-stsetivw-vs~60914085?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u2489&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery10) for how to complement red brick with colour. Your brickwork looks like an orange-based red rather than a blue-based one while the garage door and guttering looks blue-based which is why the clash from the street perhaps. I would paint those and the wood fence instead of the brick.

Hmmm I know what you mean about not wanting too many colours going on - but if you could count the roof as a neutral (that kind of ties in with the white), and then do a pale grey as the cement balcony, they may still tie together as one visually. I agree it'd be nice to add some colour and interest, but you've got such great bones to work with, I think it's just about adding to bring out it's style, rather than masking to make it feel like a house built today -it never works very well. So I would: - refresh white paint on the white balustrades & windows - even consider spraying. I've just done my front gate that was 1/50th of that size and THAT took a while. Though if you do decide to paint by brush, I found my son's Ikea kids craft brush (it's real bristle) was so much better than any of the proper paintbrushes I had! http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90193320/ - remove the air con unit and even the satellite dish to other locations if you can. - paint the concrete patio and steps a lighter grey such as Studio Backdrop by Berger (remember that colours come out lighter outside) - Plant some bright & lush plants like sweet viburnum (providing it's not too shaded, or if so, some hydrangea) where the dark brown bricks currently are, as well as lots of other plants in the front garden - a pretty maple or crepe myrtle feature or some background plants like small cypress etc will actually add more visually and mean the house doesn't have to shoulder all the prettiness! Or go more Palm Springs style (though it looks cool where you are?) and add succulents, pots of Chalksticks, Crassula Bluebird etc. And all still in keeping with the era. - Then have fun with styling the exterior. Maybe look at some fabulous Slim Aarons photos for inspo! I can see a cool acapulco style chair and (yellow & white!) stripe cushion on the balcony, some succulents in grouped pots - bring back it's heyday when the owners might have had people over for drinks on the balcony! I love this era, the homes can be so light, bright and elegant, but people often try to update (rendering etc!) and lose their original style. Even paint your front door in a matte rich gold yellow or tomato red! - And a small thing, but the curtains inside being blue and green make it look quite busy too (in reference to your concern around too many colours) as well as looking dark. If you wanted to , it would be great to add white sheers - these are in keeping with the era, will make the house look brighter from the outside too, will make the white windows look even better, and are surprisingly good for privacy (coupled with roller blinds for night). - I forgot to mention earlier that I would definitely leave the dark lower brick and introduce some plants along there, then you wouldn't even notice the difference. Brick is a pain to paint, you then will have to clean it, it may well peel, bricks are porous and breathe, I definitely would only paint them if you have to, and I really don't think you do - it's another original element and is inoffensive. - Here's a variety of links/photos for inspiration, but I really think smartening up the house and then adding an interesting garden (there's a few looks you could go for, depending on your climate & taste!) will make it look amazing. http://thedesignfiles.net/2013/02/melbourne-home-ada-leon-kagan/  http://thedesignfiles.net/2016/02/louise-and-graeme-bell/  http://thedesignfiles.net/2015/02/tim-ross-and-michelle-glew-ross/

I love Irene's photos and the suggestion to build a wall inside the boundary to square off the front angle, with plantings in front of it. This would be a brave move (I would probably get a landscape designer in for this if you go this way). Otherwise (I haven't read the previous comments, apologies in case I repeat or contradict), I would plant a fuller medium sized tree in the front right side (the deepest part), though centred, not in the point itself! Something like a full Manchurian Pear (though be committed to pruning it to keep it from growing too large, they don't grow too fast, it should be manageable - otherwise try a pretty Snow Pear (my favourite!) or a Bradford for a more compact but pretty shape - you can even pleach (ie take off the lower branches to keep the first metre of trunk nice and bare for a more sculptural look), or if you want something that will keep more compact without too much trouble, a beautiful crepe myrtle (Ilove the white Natchez variety) makes a lovely sculptural feature tree. You can underplant this with a square garden bed with star jasmine (just keep it trimmed to shape) and they look amazing with some under lighting at night (easy DIY kits available these days). Then along the right fence line I would add plantings to keep it private and looking lovely, again I would go Chanticleer ornamental pear (or Capital are even more narrow but I don't love them, though they're very popular). Again you can underplant with hardy, quick growing and low maintenance star jasmine. Then along the driveway on the right side, plant something lower and along the left side (if you have soil here), plant Sweet Viburnum (I love this, we've planted the Dense Fence variety), again, quick growing, beautiful foliage and low maintenance.