I think it looks great now. I might cut the really tall shrub so it's not so tall.

Well nasmijati has much to offer. For my mind i would like to get an understanding of who you are before thinking too much ahead friendlykim. If we leave climate change, fire zones, function, ergonomics and sustainability to one side we might consider your childhood experiences, your passions, sufferings, do you like literature/ Japanese poetry? - will you have mist in the winter months? what music do you like? imagination as play in defining space, choreographing shade and light, will you have children to consider, would you consider a more elemental use of water for swimming and other opportunities in place of a lap pool? we could talk about art, what artists you love, insight beyond reason which comes through our relationship that your garden may feed your mind on a daily basis. Have you travelled? Does the north African civilization have anything to teach you for garden application? - what is your latitude? Has contemplation placed it's hand on your shoulder by this stage of your life? I should stop - for me it's not really about design, it's about the life of the mind and arousing latent, hidden aspects of who you are - your life narrative. This is how I would start making a garden for you and preferably over lunch - it is primarily about love in the end!

As a mother of three older kids I can't stress highly enough the benefit of having a second living space, preferably one that can be closed off when necessary. When they are young it means you don't have to pack away all their toys every night and as they get older its great for them to have a space where they can listen to loud music or play computer games etc with friends without you having to listen to it! If the in-laws are really on "extended" stay it might be good to have another dedicated second living space. There does seem to be quite a lot of wasted space that could be utilised for this with some rejigging. Maybe the storage cupboards between bed 2 and the living space could become a walk-through study (could be closed off with full height sliding doors if necessary) and the study could become a second living space (pinching the additional space of the two robes and relocating the robe in the MPR to the opposite wall). I would also change the door to the WIR to a sliding, pocket door and use the space behind for shallow shelving to store handbags and shoes. Look forward to seeing how it all turns out.

What a great space and big opportunity. Firstly, it looks as though your soil is fairly sandy and possibly hydrophobic soil - before you decide on actual plans start working at improving your soil so that you're setting yourself up for success (think about a good dose of organic matter, worm compost tea, organic aids like Natramin (a personal favourite of mine) that will help get your soil working with biodiversity, structure and creating a nutritional environment for plans and micro-organisms) and then think about going with natives as they're a bit hardier than cottage/tropical garden plants. Depending on your budget, you could pull out the fence all together or paint it a lighter colour. You could add a fence opening for pedestrian access further towards the middle and wind your path with steppers and gain a bit of privacy with arbours covered in climbing vines,. Don't hold back in putting in low growing plants in front of your fence either if you like (afterall your council ensure that you're responsible for it's maintenance). You could also soften the edge of the driveway using curving edging - taking away the harshness of the straight lines. I'd also look at doing something tall along the fence to balance the pencil pines on the driveway edge. Good luck!