Read this publication from the Scottish Government, it should tell you everything you need to know. http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2002/03/15098/8732

Gosh, I've returned after a week travelling for work to loads more suggestions - thanks all! To respond specifically: - the house faces south so gets the lovely morning (and in the uk, sometimes the only) sun. - the husband has avoided putting plants in the planters due to maintenance and they're generally twee so comments here have confirmed to me that they will be coming out - love the idea of wooden boxes with the spiky plants and grasses - also like the concept of taking out the grass/bed/tree in front completely out and replacing with slabs - yes to lightening the windows - to the Barn company, I honestly don't mind the advice and I'd never seen sloping garage roofs. - nicking ideas from landscaping of new builds....great idea! - finally, Helen Scholes, I'm embarrassed about the spelling of kerb. Had no idea! Thanks again all.

Hi, I think that you could give this house a smart contemporary look with the grey windows that you suggested. I would break each window up into two or three panels though, this would give each panel a more elegant vertical emphasis. A timber front door is always nice though, the image above shows one of our houses with a similar hip-roofed style and grey frames (the windows here are openable too). It is good to match the window frame colour to the gutters and/or eaves fascia & soffit. In this house we had an iroko timber door and eaves which brings a warm high quality feel to the house. Best of luck!

We are adding a timber cladded utility to the back of out 1980's bungalow and I was hoping for inspiration and ideas