Are you set on keeping the dirt area for your puppy or are would you consider container gardening? Does the area get a lot of sun? My first thought is there is alot of brick already between the facade of the building and that two story portion shown. But the herringbone paver layout is great. If it were my home I would probably take that Trex decking and extend it over in to the dirt area at an angle and then use pots to make my garden. Really great pots that you can move around and change by adding colorful plants when the season permits and then I would invest in really nice outdoor furniture to make the space. I see you have a small teak table and with a good powerwash it can be made to look new. Then add some outdoor chairs and hang a piece of outdoor art on the brick and that would be a great start but definitely start by just getting rid of all those odd plantings. It will be a lovely retreat. Good luck.

I didn’t think this would be possible, but I searched “white wash slate” on Pinterest and there were a few posts 🤔. Would be interested to see how it turns out. Good luck. https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/251779435401045832/

We would recommend two choices - matching your wall colour with a tone of the slate and your roof or you could have the slate removed as well a plasterer to fix and repair the patches then you are not limited by colour selection to match in the slate. A possible use for the slate if you choose to leave it there would be a floating seat (painted black like your roof) just below the slate - use the slate as a seat back or continue the slate up and create an outdoor BBQ area with the slate as a splash back for the BBQ. You could also install a floating bench (but check the weight bearing possiblities of the wall). A great landscape designer &/or builder could help you with a concept plan - good luck! The yard looks like a great space - BBD

Hi Nick The vinyl is a no go unfortunately as it needs a nice flat surface. Otherwise you will soon see the underlying pattern through. You have a couple of options though with the slate as others have suggested. Firstly I would check out the adhesion of the slate to the floor ie check if there are any loose pieces. Tap on the floor lightly with your knuckles over the whole floor or VERY lightly with a hammer or other metal object. You will soon hear hollow areas. If there is a lot hollow, I would break out the jack hammer and pop it all off. It's a bit of a job, but you can strip a large area in a day easily then grab a floor grinder to remove the adhesive. Again another day and messy but then you have a fresh start, or you can get a floor stripping company in to do it with little fuss. Options then become standard ie vinyl, other tiles or epoxy coatings. If you want to go over the existing floor, you can have a flooring specialist out that does self leveling epoxys or flowcrete to either create a marble style or polished concrete finish, a clear mirror level finish in which the slate looks like a pattern within the mirror floor or create a level surface from which you can then add your vinyl etc. Cathy are thinking of Laminam? It comes in a 3m x 1m sheet which I have seen used on floors but you can also get the 1m x 1m for floors and it is 3mm thick plus the backing. Cheers