I would recommend a higher bed whether ensemble or any style of base with top mattress or pillow top. I have had serious spinal injuries since 25 (I'm now 40) I would advise any bed reaching around 70cm in height regardless off style. There are a few things that I would advise, overall height around 70cm or a little more, most important to consider is comfort. Do not worry about aesthetics when choosing bed as your sleep is more important to your overall health. So if you can afford the more comfortable bed go for it. As for putting on sheets etc, the weight off mattresses is not really a big deal as it is your sleep comfort that is important. With pillow top mattress with a fitted sheet needing a 45cm fitted sheet are easy to find and purchase from same place bed is purchased. In Australia all bed sheet supplies are available for pillow top with 45cm drop fitted. Percale last longer and are around $100 per set and 1000 thread count. Spotlight have great sales and choices as well as Pillow Talk. I have found Adair's to be quite expensive in comparison but that is up to you to decide. I hope you have many a restful nights sleep. But do not worry about weight of mattress as you need your sleep to live healthy and it is an investment for around ten years so how it looks and weight of mattress should be last on list. Designers may disagree, but our bedrooms are normally our sanctuaries and it is rather easy to make any bed style work for you and decorate to your style.

R M - I thought that you were looking for a low budget makeover? I would guess that from your photos that the substrate behind the splashback would be plasterboard, and that the splashback tiles have been adhered to the plasterboard. It will be tricky to remove the tiles without damaging the plasterboard. You need a smooth flat finish for the new splashback, but you can't easily put in new plasterboard as you have left the base and overhead cabinets there, with the original plasterboard behind each cupboard. An expert plasterer might attempt it, but it is going to be another new trade doing a time consuming and fiddly job, with a good chance of a dodgy joint between the new plasterboard and the old plasterboard. Glass splashbacks look great but they are custom made for the space - so the hole for your microwave powerpoint has to be measured precisely and cast when the glass is made - it can't be cut out later. For the amount of measuring and labour involved custom made glass splashbacks aren't a cost-effective splashback material for a low-budget kitchen makeover, which is why I didn't suggest it. There are acrylic options which are cheaper, but can melt when adjacent to a gas flame - and it still needs a flush, flat finish underneath, not plasterboard that has been half destroyed by removing old splashback tiles. At the end of the day it comes down to balancing between what you would like, and how many big dollars you are prepared to pay. For a kitchen that old I would be keeping my expenses conservative and be saving for a new kitchen (with a glass splashback, island bench, microwave shelf and new flooring) to be installed in ten years time. Best of luck with your research, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Hi Addy W, We put weed mat under the pebbles which will help to suppress weeds. I take your point about the olive tree littler though they make good feature trees for our climate. Yes a leaf blower is handy for blowing the leaves. Thanks for taking an interest in my work.

I'm going to take a wild guess this was built in the 80's , and originally had carpet ( probably the same cream as the stairs ) in the lounge and probably the dining area . It seems like 2 or 3 people have had goes at doing 'stuff' , and it's now just a mix and clash of designs . The wall colours are 'old' ; the tiles are okay but colder than carpet ; the wood look whatever on the floor is just weird ; the carpet worked on the stairs so presumably was just left there ; the low wall IMO is a great feature , but that blue is dated . The wood on top is nice and warm . There are creams , there are beiges , there are yellows ; there are grey vertical blinds ; there are wooden horizontal blinds ; there are black round railings ; there are wooden railings ; there are thinner curved rails on the front door screen ; the fire is brown ; wooden railings a different brown ; sideboard different again ; coffee table a different brown ; the front door is a darker grey , the windows beside it lighter grey . SO . Paint every wall in one colour . NOT grey . It isn't a grey area haha . Maybe a warm English Cream . MAYBE white walls but only if you promise to add 2 or 3 large really colourful abstract pictures . The floor -- I'd opt for wood slats . Faux if you want , as long as they don't look plastic and shiny . Leave the stairs in the cream carpet , rip up the floor and foyer and dining tiles , do all the floors in the wood . Or re-carpet them again . But don't do polished concrete or engineered concrete or faux concrete or concrete effects . And tiles should only be in kitchens , wash-house and bathroom IMO . Stain everything wood a really rich brown brown . About the same shade as the wooden venetians . Possibly keep the venetians , change the grey blinds to wood , or at least dark brown cloth . I think the door surround is aluminium ? I'd actually be tempted to change it to actual stained brown wood , but possibly 'just' get it re-powdercoated a deeper brown . Paint or powder-coat the 'arch' front screen a rich dark brown too . Add the large abstract art , the TV wall mounted -- a lot warmer , a lot richer . Which leaves the front door -- replace with a nice solid wooden natural timber one ? Paint the existing one ? Charcoal paint , or bright red , bright yellow , bright orange , apricot may suit , purple probably not . Save it for last , see what you think as far as colour goes .