I think the design of the exterior has real 70s integrity. A bit of paint is all you need. Replace the garage doors with floor to ceiling windows matching the aesthetic the current windows already have. You should check out Cocontest.com for architecture work, or you could try and find an interior architect (there are degree courses in interior architecture these days) I've seen loads of one plan's posts and it would definitely be worth having a chat with them. I also think that you'll get more out of the project if you can educate yourself a little on design. I do my best to do this over on www.houseplanshelper.com

This might sound a bit like being on the fence given the advice you've had already... How about a mid to dark grey ( less contrast than black), RAL 7022 is a favourite of mine (warmer grey), or look at a green grey, as something that will have the colour of the olive, with a good amount of contrast against the white render, (you won't have the warm rich colours of the brickwork as in the photos above (which the olive looks good against)). If you are painting the timber windows you would do well to look at microporous opaque stains to reduce your on-going maintenance. A benefit of aluclad composite windows is colour outside can be factory supplied different to the interior finish. Hope this might help. Regards, Nick

We have had a wood floor in our kitchen for 13 yrs now, and we love it. Ours was finished on site, (more durable than engineered) with 3 coats of water based poly on it. It is just now that I am getting ready to recoat it. I have had both engineered and site finished hardwood,. The engineered didn't hold up as well, and we stripped off the finish and applied a new finish. It's more durable now. Finishing on site is more disruptive to your family and home, but it is worth it, because of the durability that comes with it. You won't be sorry at all about the hardwood. It is warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. In the kitchen especially, you have to clean up water, ice cubes, etc asap, and you have to be sure that you have a good dishwasher that doesn't leak (you don't have to put it under the entire dishwasher, just a few boards under the front and in the back). If there's a little water that you don't find immediately, and do later...ice maker leak,etc, in all likelihood, the grain will be raised, but in most cases, it will go down, and be okay. We love our hardwood floors, and hope that you will too. We have it all the way through our first floor, even in our powder room. It's terrific. I would never have tile in my common areas, it's cold and hard on your joints. We only have tile in our upstairs bathrooms. It's great there.

Cork is just coming back into fashion. So much so, that architects are letting it shine on walls in its own right, uncovered. Yes, the 1970s are back!