It's way too cluttered in there. The first thing I would do is get rid of that small 1/2 wall with the 2 seats, I can;t see how it would be useful at all. If there is a counter in front of that wall get rid of that also then at least the space will open up between the kitchen and I guess thats a little eating area in front of the sliding doors I then would rearrange the living room. Right now it looks like you have a couch that is almost acting like a wall between the living room and eating area. That couch is breaking up the flow pattern and also making the place feel cramped. I would move the TV where that wall that separates the kitchen is (The L shaped stagger wall) Move the large couch where the TV is now and the smaller one opposite where it is now. So now when someone walks in they walk into an open area and it has a nice flow to all three areas. Also get rid of that Pallet table, go with something with a glass top, so while it is functional it's not overwhelming like that way too large pallet table

Thanks for responding. We're in Auckland, New Zealand and close to the sea. Outdoor living is quite important but it does get chilly in winter so it's a balance. There are three adults and two young children in the household (one of the adults is an Au Pair who likes to spend time in her own room in the evenings). The kids will watch their cartoons generally in the morning and a bit before dinner. Then in the evening my husband and I will relax and watch TV. Right now the kids' toys are in the family room downstairs. We are foodies and like cooking. Generally when guests come over we all hang out in our small kitchen at the moment. The dining table we use for every meal time. We also like the idea of being able to get to the deck from the kitchen, rather than having to carry food in summer through the lounge/dining. The entry way is that big in order to reduce on the structural work but also in order to ensure that the door to the staircase is not in the lounge.

With any post war house built in the 50's the connection from in to out is non existent. Depending on where living rooms are located i would take some of the fantastic windows out and replace them with French doors, or bi folding doors and connect the house to the site. The colour scheme from Karen is perfect to lift the kerb appeal and give it a modern twist. With land costing more than houses these days and the fact that you seem to have quite a big block, after looking at paint colours, opening up the living dining kitchen areas to the outside with a roofed area. Even combining a flat roofed carport which will widen the house to the street making it seem a bigger house, can carry the new look with say an enclosed section for garden equipment, to the opposite side to the house, and if you are lucky enough to have that near the living area it can be used as both car cover and outdoor living. I always think a good landscape architect is worth their weight in gold, to give you a landscape plan, to suit the soil type, your skills level and your preference in planting. Divide up the exterior space to provide outdoor rooms under a tree, paths that lead to some special spot for kids, maybe even a veggie patch with a chock run, and make sure that you use the entire yard, front and back by enclosing part of the front yard in fencing which suits the style of the house, while providing some planting to the street. If allowed a gate structure to blend in with the house, a dedicated pathway with planting each side to the front door, fantastic fencing and consider natural materials like a hand laid stone fence with timber or powder-coated aluminium inserts, to give this house an entry, not sure where the front door is now, so that is not a good look. Gardens always enhance a house, they are never a wasted effort, and if you are not gardeners, make sure the landscape architect knows that and he will be able to select low maintenance plants. All the paint in the world will not give the desired effort that the garden will do to that paint work.

When I first looked , I thought there were blue tones in the room , and I gave up haha . But looking again , I think the main tones are grey and charcoal ? I hope so . . . . . So paint ( or wallpaper ) that whole wall . Personally , I'd go burnt orange in a paint ( which , of course , isn't all that orange ) , or something in a bright or rich red base , if wallpapered -- imagine a rich red with thin beige and mid gold vertical lines if you want a classic look for example . Then matching modern standard lamps -- 1 each end . Wall mount the TV , or go for a bigger tele ( yes , I know , a lot of people don't want that as the feature , but it is a big wall ! ) BUT add 1 or 2 prints or paintings on that wall too -- again , my personal choice would be one bigger than your TV , with bright red base tones ( against a rich red wallpaper ) , and splashes of orange and yellow and beige and blue and -- you get the idea ! An abstract landscape or racehorse or torso or whatever floats your boat -- I don't like the swirly or straight line types of art , but obviously some people do . Still look sparse ? A large colourful glazed pot or two , with suitable indoor leafy plants/cactii/similar . A big shaggy rug in a warm red or orange or orangy red . Adds life , colour , warmth -- all around a common theme . And thats why I shuddered at the initial thought of blue -- 7 different blue tones will never look as warm , and red and orange never looks as good against a blue , so you are stuck with the colder look IMO .