Well after a very (very very very) long time my Living Room is all but complete. There is some work to do behind the new steps and some trim to be put on the bookshelves. A light is to be put between the couches (that the electrical cable hanging down) and the wall lights are going to be removed. So just a quick rundown on what has been achieved; Two sky windows - Velux - roofing guy Sheeted under the beams - plasterer New carpet – Bunnings – carpet layer Closed off the old bar and put in a door – builder and plasterer Installed ceiling fans – Hunter, remote control, reversible – electrician Installed downlights - electrician Painted the endwalls – Solver Paint but Dulux Chine White colour - me Painted the ceiling – 2 x coats Solver Ceiling White over 2 x coats plaster board sealer - me New blinds (venetians) and curtains - from Spotlight - me Installed a gas bayonet heater (until I can afford a gas ‘wood’ fire for the fireplace – cripes they are expensive) – secondhand from Garage Sale - me Installed bookshelves – 2 x 202mm high + 2 x 106mm high Billy Bookshelf and 2 x Brimnes Cabinet - me Built and installed new steps and bench top on bookshelf – laminated Beech bench top, cut to size and routed, stained and oiled - me Sofas – Ikea Ektorp - me So some things I would have done differently. The downlights would be warm white not welding mask white. In fact I would re-think the whole light thing and possibly use lights with reflectors that were dark so that light was only reflected down. They would ‘lower’ the ceiling and make the room cosier I think. I kinda like the ceiling fans but had seen some which were awesome but really expensive. Then I saw ones very similar to the awesome ones but much cheaper but by then it was too late. I should have put bi-fold doors where the old bar was instead of a swinging door. I suspect that it will be unlikely now that I can use the room for its intended purpose. In fact with hindsight I coulda shoulda done the job myself rather than getting a builder in. It’s not as good as it should be and that has disappointed me. The bookshelves have come a up a treat – need to finish them off though with some trim. All from ‘Ikea’ except for the timber bench top. The bench top was a light bulb moment and breaks up the all-white appearance of the shelves. Also the white of the shelves and the white of the cabinet were slightly different and the bench has helped disguise that. The bench top and the steps were laminated beech panels from ‘Bunnings’ that I had cut to size. I stained them, put a router over the edge to round it off and then coated with Tung Oil. The bookshelves look bigger in real life than they do in the photos too. So now to sit and enjoy my handy work.

Thanks TTT. Good article, Always best to read lots before deciding. Thx also for bump. Oklouise has done a number of drafts and needs me to get her some measurements before we finalise something. Am looking forward to posting our final collaboration here. In the mean time. Ideas for laundry feel. And maybe a bigger drop zone.

Hi Nathan - I suggest you use what you have already. if the soil is poor, plant something that likes poor soil like nasturtiums. The leaves and flowers are edible and peppery. Ferns are good in damp areas too. These would have a deep water effect around the deck. Desert plants are lovely with coloured gravel - no spiky ones if you haven't much room. Maybe put down fake lawn so no mowing. Nail up a large mirror to enlarge the view of plants and flowers etc Strong mesh to hold up two vines - clematis, passion flower, mexican glory vine, pandera or a prize-winning table grape trained up the washing line. I did this with an old rotary line so we could sit underneath in the shade and eat grapes :) I would wash the fences very evenly with white or coral lime wash. Cheapish to make. i would experiment with beetroot juice and curry powder (the strongest stain-makers) to get the shade of coral. Cheers Hooley D

I seem to focus on different things to everyone else , so I'll give my take . The red tiles suit -- they are period , and basically expected . It would be difficult to spray them a lighter shade ( Surfmist , silvery grey , silvery blue etc ) so I'd discard those as options . So you are left with charcoal , blue or brown -- the second 2 aren't an improvement IMO , and all 3 will add to the heat . Clean the existing tiles , assuming they are in good condition , and add a similar mid/dark red on the extension . White walls , black windows ( actually , I'd go a charcoal , looks similar but just toned down enough IMO ) , and the red roof is pleasant , if a little boring and predictable . Now the 'detail' parts that grate with me . The existing roof has overhangs , no overhangs , gutters , no gutters , barge boards , no barge boards -- it's no consistent . So here's you chance to make it flow better . AND the other thing -- the 'skirting' timber has warped enough to be annoying . I don't like it being white -- it makes it too bulky . Maybe , just maybe , doing this base in a charcoal or even silvery charcoal would make the gaps less obvious , and maybe I'm OCD , but I'd probably rip most or all of the 'lower' wood off , and replace , but $200-300 of paint may help hide it , so that may be worth a go . Assuming you are sticking with the roof colour too , I'd actually do the one 'top' rail ( around 600mm from the ground in the front ) in a similar colour to the roof -- maybe a bit brighter red . If I was really picky , I'd also suggest going for a darker colour grey on the steps too -- the existing one is fine , but it's dated , plus if you do the bottom 'skirt' in charcoal , this will look too light and too obvious .