Cassansrabrill - This problem intrigues me quite a bit. Would you have the name and brand of that navy please? And thanks in advance! I am sufficiently intrigued with the idea of navy walls to obtain a sample pot and have a 'play'. Its been my life's work studying colour and perfecting a colour-mixing teaching text for artists that is irrefutable... so I am always interested in anything that challenges it. Living spaces are places where we need to feel 'at home' so not so much about what trends and styles dictate, personal preference always prevails. I hope you resolve your problem. I have a dark little house, all natural timber with arctic glass in all the original windows. Whilst it makes for privacy, when the light and sunlight 'bounces' of the disparity in the glass surface, its amazing how the light from a certain angle totally changes the otherwise dark walls of the room. Mydesign0401 would have experience with this too. Try the window film, there's a design for every style and preference, the cost would be minimal if not to your liking....and that's the operative word...LIKEing! I've just had an idea from something Mdesign0401 said...'vertical space'... Are you going to anything more with the ceiling? We are fortunate to have so many products today that you should not have any drama finding some sort of paint or application for the ceiling that will reflect the light downwards. A brand called RESENE manufactures "shimmer" colours.Some very interesting effects can be achieved with this product. If you likethe idea of navy walls you may wish to consider sampling the RESENE Digital Blue ()Astronaut)...that's the base colour... M40-046-279 The base colour is applied first then a transparent coat of what they call "Pearl Shimmer",.another is "Pixie Dust", both are waterbourne pearlescent glazes..=overcoats..(.not meaning shiny like varnishes). but nevertheless ideal for creating shimmering and softly sparkled finishes over colour. Alternatively, although I have not experimented with this myself (yet!)...from what I can acertain from the manufacturers...the "shimmer overcoats"...and there are several different types, I suspect may be applicable over...'ordinary-other brand' colours.....Just an idea...something I would try myself over either acrylic or enamel paint. Houzz is such an inspirational site!...from the above I've recalled that there's a clear metallic for application over timber... exciting! I'm like a kid in a candy shop whenever new paint products appear! RESENE's staff (not the retails stockists in hardware shops) are highly trained in properties of their product. Should you want any firther information I suggest you go directly to the manufacturer. 1800 758 383 QLD Gold Coast. Happy Houzzing!

The carport -- remove , OR try and source the same support poles as your terrace , and redo it in those . I guess you could paint it all light grey and hope everyone misses it , but what about the shadows when the sun shines -- that may freak some people out ! I do have another idea , but you'll have to get to the bottom to see that ! The sliding door that has replaced the garage door , presumably to make another room , could possibly have the door replaced with a window and maybe an infill panel , say in a cedar stain ? But here's my cunning plan -- get a heap of 40mm x 40mm battens , and staain them in a cedar or even a charcoal . Do 25 or 30 or whatever vertically mounted across that sliding door . Then do about 6 each side of that very right hand window , the same length as the height of that window . And then do 30 or 40 more along the carport -- maybe just the left hand side so you can still open car doors ? You will need to get 2 or 3 long horizontal bars welded horizontally , and presumably painted white , BUT what it does is bring in the timber tones to several spots , it ties in with the lighter brick , but probably most importantly , it detracts and also lets the light through .

General need around a 1/3 of window width to pull back pleated lined curtains clear of window. If you want full blockout may need a pelmet box above window and mount curtain or blind with enough depth and height off window to allow window to tilt open at top. Suggest you get a curtain company in to quote and explain options.

Externally , the front fence and gate is now black . Visually , thats about it . That sounds pretty slack , and it sort of is . We have 3 orange market umbrellas for upstairs , but even right now they are inside -- tey were outside until the rain came ! Inside we have a second yellow hoist up and running and certified , lots of workbenchs , lots of axle stands -- in fact lots of cars , and more than a dozen guys and girls working there . Oh , and 4 'old' ( decommissioned ) 40ft containers -- 2 of them are painted yellow , the other 2 will be soon . A 3rd hoist is in parts and at the powdercoaters . Slowly but surely its being transformed -- by this summer , we'll have around 18 working in this premises . Over summer , we will get the sailcloth done 'upstairs' , and I'm keen to do a vertical garden , and those Corten panels out the front , and the big orange pots . Our main shop ( and our logo etc ) has gotten more orange furniture and accessories , and this front area has some desks and chairs and orange accessories , but theres no fulltime office or reception people here . Like a lot of people with good intentions , I'll revert to that well-known saying -- good things take time haha !