Personally , I like the bricks , and wouldn't render . The blue is 'dated' , and I can't see the front door you talked about , but I'd go either charcoal or orange on everything that is currently blue .

The roof peak , the garage doors , the gutters , the front door -- all charcoal , or all orange ( bright orange or a more 'bright apricotty' ) -- and the windows in charcoal with either option ( as Dr Retro says , paint initially , maybe replace later ? ) . The fence in charcoal , and the UFO communication device ( or maybe its part of the air-con ? ) on the roof , also charcoal .

Window sills -- leave as they are . Or sell the house haha . Anything else would be too much $$$ for any benefit , and so would rendering IMO . It has character , a rendered new-build has character , but I suspect yours wouldn't look any more than a rendered brick house if that makes sense ?

A much lowers cost to gain a more contemporary modern look would be replace the garage doors with panel sectional doors in a dark grey charcoal tone that ties into your window colour (not necessarily the same but tonal), remove the decorative strips of timber on the top of the house and replace front door. Also remove the old mesh screen door.
I wouldn’t render or do anything to the windows and then replace when you are read.
I think I could see lace curtains and they possibly date the outside too, perhaps they could be blinds or plain sheers.

Also meant to say perhaps paint the driveway dark charcoal

My house is bagged and painted which still gives the slight texture of brick. It was done before we bought the house 20years ago and I still love it, even better since we change it from cream to a darker colour.
You could remove the brick sills if you really hate them and replace them with something else. I personally think they are fine and unobtrusive , at least they’re not the mission brown add ons. They are the same as mine
Yes paint the window frames, they will only scratch along the track and this will only be visible up close on a personal inspection. It may help you get a few more years out of the windows.
So start by painting all metalwork and door and doing your garage conversion. Then step back and decide on the brickwork. It is a personal choice so go with your gut not ours.
Good luck and be brave.

With windows , I wonder if that stick-on wrap would last ?

I 'two-toned' my race car trailer several years ago , using a metallic charcoal wrap around the lower half ( the entire trailer was sprayed metallic silvery grey several years before that , and even with shiny alloy wheels it looked plain IMO ) . It has sat outside , and been towed probably 40,000kms since -- the wrap is fine , washes clean two or three times a year ! The thin orange stickon pinstripe around the middle join has lifted in places , as have some sponsors stickers , but the wrap is still great .

Under eves , out of some of the worst of the sun , I'd suspect it would last even better ?

Thanks for all the ideas so far! It has certainly given us a lot of food for thought. As for the net curtains, they were thrown out the first day we moved in 4 years ago!

Yeah I'd focus on getting rid of garage doors and maybe get roof sprayed if its in good condition. I'd then consider changing windows.
I think rendering to cover up cream brick is seen as a tad passe these days, not that there isn't a place for it. I'd paint the brick before rendering it as it's cheaper and looks better. But I would leave paint until after fixing the other issues as that colour brick looks pretty smart against black windows and monument trims

I have friends who have had windows professionally recoated/ painted to a new colour. Both are very close to the coast and several years later they are still very happy with them.