How about whitewashing the bricks in this entrance alcove? If this idea appeals build on this aesthetic. When the shade cloth goes and you have repainted the pergola, how about a beautiful coloured flowering vine (pink, mauve, white)? The potted cordyline only serves to restrict your available light so pop it elsewhere in the garden. For a pop of colour how about picking up that lovely fuschia colour or a colour in that hue from the bromeliads that are in the forefront of your entrance photo. The two horizotnal lintels above the door and window would be candidates for this pop of colour. It doesn't have to be fuschia but I think it has to complement whitewashed bricks. Your outdoor ight fittings age your home and there are plenty of good designed ones out there that don't cost the earth. The door and window I'll have to think about but if I was you I would google the whitewashed bricks idea and build on from there. Your security door make your whole entrance look very unwelcoming and uninviting but I realise it is there for a reason. If you have a bit of money to play with I would look at getting rid of your present door, the half window and the small vertical one beside the door. Open it right up with a wall of glass, but this is a costlier option. Your paved foyer would fit in with white washed bricks also. Regarding your deck. Too much of the brown going on. It doesn't have to match your house. Tie the house to the outdoor environment and paint your railings in a shade of green and choose a pop colour for the top handrail. Repeat his colour in the lintel above the sliding door. I would leave the deck floor the brown colour. It is what it is and it's very serviceable.

Thanks. So, you could have access to a external tap garden near by? You could put some small irrigated vertical gardens in this space and plant out some grasses or low growing or cascading plants. This option will require some thought to the wall structure and allow the water to drain away and keep the wall space relatively dry. The other could be (the photo is not good to see) run horizontal wires internally in a set spacing you desire on the timber cladded wall. Then, plant outside in that corner (in ground or in a large pot) and grow a climbing plant (star jasmine or similar) and train it to grow on the wires you set inside that space. This will tone down some of the hard materials and add some softness... Just a thought!

Just with regards your decking in the pool area, you might be interested in this article on our website and also the links... http://vuetrade.com/blog/timber-decking-around-your-pool-are-you-planning-a-saltwater-pool/  Also here is a picture of where standard galvanised fittings have been used in a pool area... https://www.facebook.com/vuetrade/posts/1763307470617062

Hi Cat, We have a subframe product you could lay directly over your pavers. You wouldn't need to pull them up. Deckcell is available in 30mm or 50mm, depending on what height you have to work with. - https://nexgendecking.com.au/products/diy-deck-cell Our composite decking is maintenance free, made in the USA by Fiberon Composites and is backed with a 50 year warranty against staining and fading -https://nexgendecking.com.au/products/select-capped-composite-decking Get in touch if you would like us to send you some samples.