The front of your home is lovely. Don't make any drastic changes like painting brick or rendering the entire facade. Instead, look at the front gardens of other homes in your area and study books on domestic landscaping for ideas. The picket fence, although very sweet, is not contemporary. If you want fencing, consider more sophisticated styles. Alternatively, planting a hedge in box or copper beech would give a sharp edge to the property and you can soften the frontage by growing an evergreen climber like clematis or honeysuckle. Additional box balls and pyramids in a partarre bed with herbaceous planting inside gives year round greenery and colour in the summer. Discuss the drive with your neighbour and consider a drive of pavers that will allow water to seep between instead of running off into the road. If your budget extends that far, replace the windows with the original 1930's style https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/94/c6/22/94c622f1fca67bef3b6c2a187cd57aca.jpg

Personally the darkest I would go would be a mid grey tone - definately not black. You could also consider some lovely pastel tones as well? Lovely house btw!

Looking at the floor plan - there is lots you can do but I personally would wait until you know about the loft conversion or extension. Extending across the kitchen to make a more useful kitchen diner or kitchen with family room and doors into the garden at the back with the dining area kept where it is would be good. The current back family room and front lounge could be altered to anything really ie downstairs shower room between a bedroom. Office, second lounge etc etc. It’s upstairs for you that seems to be the issue so I would get someone in ASAP to check out the loft and see if it’s possible and get some costings. The stairs could possibly go with the current shower room is so you don’t lose a bedroom

Jonathan, AMB, thank you ever so much for your advice and designs! We had been toying with the idea of pulling the garage forward. Back in the early 2000s, planning permission was rejected for a double garage in the opposite corner of the driveway but a sensible solution would be to come forward next to the neighbouring property, no light issues and should not upset the 'street scene'. I've always been keen on moving the stairs but associated costs have dampened my spirits a little. That saying, in there current guise they are incredibly steep and dangerous for the young and elderly. A new configuration may well improve the landing space/flow on the first floor. I completely agree about the driveway, my initial thought was grasscrete but we'll never have more than two cars... if that. With us eventually getting some gates up, that could be quite an inviting space. I've been watching a lot of house shows and they always mention about being able to see the garden from the front entrance which you have captured in that floor plan. Phases of work is a strong debate and you are not wrong AMB. I guess once we have a final plan, the phase of the works should fall into place. The fireplace was a family heirloom of the previous owner, took it out his grandad's property apparently! In terms of decor, we want to embrace the character of the property with an added modern twist. We are very keen to incorporate a hallway for the very reasons you mentioned. Thanks again for your comments and suggestions, all very useful.