Thanks so much everyone - this has been great. Sorry for the lack of response - been flat out!!!! It must be hard for you American guys to work on such old English designs.... The ideas have gradually culminated into what really would look good on the house. Ourfarmhouse - these are absolutely great ideas, and thanks Everything Beautiful for getting the jist and putting the ideas onto the house image - nothing like seeing an actual design on your own home. We've got an architech working on it, and he's keen on the iron-wrought idea... but we're not sure. Basically toss-up with this and Everything Beautiful's design (2 above). Going with a four-pannel door, but would like to incorporate some glass somewhere! Possibly a panel above with the house name engraved on it?? Victoria - absolutely right...! We don't need to sit outside with the weather.......... say no more! Just wanting something to cover yourself while you're unlocking the door. We've also done a tour of the local areas, and found a couple of porches - amazing what you find right on your doorstep! Will attach pics shortly...

maybe somthing like this? https://www.loveskirting.co.uk/skirting-architrave-c12/all-oak-products-c254/oak-modern-skirting-c255/solid-oak-pencil-round-skirting-3-metre-p2567

As previously mentioned, you will need to have a pair of doors with curved frame etc bespoke made, just find a company you trust and ask for a quote? They will also be able to include 'faux' leading to match your other fan light windows. You could plasterboard the inside of the porch to cover up the bricks but you won't gain anything thermally unless you dry line the walls and maybe add a radiator of some sort under the window by the inner front door? For me, I would leave the bricks as they are. Replace your current floor tile (as previously mentioned) with some lovely black and whites, though you may fine a nice surprise under the tiles you have, wood is a good solution but impractical for wear and tear plus getting wet will just end up ruining the wood unless you go for a hardwood parquet with a tough finish? Have you tried pressure washing your drive to breath new life into those weather soiled bricks? You will be amazed how good they will look when clean and save a lot of money and hassle too. I personally am not a fan of tarmac, it looks to impersonal and industrial. The garden area could be brought back to life by using slate chippings and it will allow you to plant anywhere you like without more construction work? With the money you save, you could treat your garage to a new electric door to match the colour of your new front door entrance?

Thanks for all the suggestion. Unfortunately, we do have to go and get planning permission. For some unknown reason, the council have revoked our permitted development rights so we have to get planning permission for everything and our planner has said they are very funny in what they let pass. We may have to do brick as render may not get passed. Have no idea why our permitted development rights have been removed as street is a mixture of 70’s houses like mine and some mock Tudor houses which were built in the early 90’s. What is SAP calculations?