I agree with Fiona about the Ficus - they have shocking root systems and should never be used near pools, houses etc. The width of your retaining wall from the photo looks really narrow, so you are going to have trouble growing most things in there; even the Pittosporums will eventually cause structural damage to the walls. The width of any garden bed should be ideally 1.5 metres at least for proper root establishment. This seems to be hard for most people to understand, but the bigger the plant, the wider the root system. So either widen the retaining wall or you will need to keep the plant lower. The pears mentioned also will never work. 5 years is the testing time of a good garden. When first planted they can look great, but they often break down as they grow. The Ficus and Pears' root systems will keep on expanding after the 5 year period with the Ficus having surface roots that cause massive damage to paving, concrete etc. Google it! And I have seen first hand the damage done by another Landscaper's work, based on inexperience. Get professional advice if in doubt - it is worth it if you get a good one. Alison

Although, I love soft, pale, barely there yellow, the canary (egg yolk as I call it) yellow is just too garish. I do like the mint green and I'm finding lots of sites that are showing myriad options in décor for it now. I imagine it's one of those "get it while it's hot" colors but it's a beautiful one to me. I've used the hot pink in much smaller doses for my daughter's room when she was little but I doubt I would use it in large quantities. I also deal with blue best in small doses.

Barnes.... I actually know of a product that cleans that off with ease!!! It's new has had testing and has been through the process of intellectual property and is now currently under production. If you are interested I can try source you some.

I'm looking at the picture , and I'm trying to work everything out . What stage are you at ? Which walls will be red brick ? Are any colourbond , or is that just the roof ? Just in that picture , I can't imagine the red brick suited anywhere there . The left of the garage door , and that splitter wall , would look okay in the brick , but I'm gathering it would be both cheaper and also better suited to do both of those in a fibrocement board , maybe rendered and painted ? The door is just plain boring -- Maybe , just maybe , that wall to the left in the brick would be okay , but it would be difficult to tie it in . Do the flashest door you can afford , but personally I'd like a wider doorway , with glass down 1 side or similar . Likewise , I'd do a matching garage door . The other thing though is around the window -- I'd do that in a shiplap board -- personally I prefer real painted timber rather than anything fake -- there's places you can save costs , but even a whole house is less than 420k different in price -- that bit around the window shouldn't be $1000 different ! Maybe that gets a discussion going . . . . . . .