One thing about white walls is that you can easily put a naturally transparent colour (like yellow without whit in it) over the top if it starts to feel too clinical...really hate all white, large 'antiseptic' spaces...feels a bit soul-less, makes me wonder as to the state of mind of the inhabitants...= no personality, or just being trendy or...not wanting to 'show one's colours'. Don't trust 'empty-feeling spaces'. Love your riotous colour ideas! My walls are natural timber and I would not dare paint them,,it would be almost a sin! Am inspired by mahogany stained faux panelling here and there for a more luxurious look. When I'm bored or my head is too full I watch a soapie in which the house and the office are very grand places...strangely most of the walls are stained panelling and dark timbers..so bohemian style with a touch of multimillionaire residence! YOUR BED You say you cannot find what you are looking for...do you have a picture in your mind of the bed you want or don't you know? Could be a good idea to either do a sketch or several and see where the pencil leads you or maybe draw a definite pic of your dream bed. Alternatively, write it down..:"I want a bed that has......etc", This often helps to focus your thoughts...and...I've found that putting it out there either in a sketch you keep on a wall or writing it where you will come across it often seems to "call" the desired thing to you and all of a sudden...viola' there it is when you are least expecting it. Have fun!.

Cleaning the bathroom is a breeze, I have a nylon scrubber that I buy from Coles or Woolies and the cheapest shampoo I can find, after my shower I put a couple of squirts of the shampoo on the scrubber, run it from top to bottom all round my shower ( I have a large double head shower ) and over the floor then spray clean warm water from the top of the wall and let it run down the walls and glass area till the soap has gone, the shower in our 2nd bathroom doesn't have a spray so I use an empty Peters 2 litre icecream container keep filling it up with warm water and run this down the walls, hop out of the shower walk away and let it dry by itself -- once it is dry I have a perfectly streak free shower, for the bath and the vanity basins I use the same method, wipe them over with the scrubber and shampoo, flush with the warm water and leave, wipe the vanity tops, the area around the bath and window area with a damp cloth and hey presto a beautiful clean bathroom, this all takes only a few minutes and I always have a clean bathroom.

chookchook2 - we have linoleum in our kitchen. 10 years on, still looks great, easy to clean, forgiving underfoot and dropped items don't always break :) Love it so much, we will be using it throughout our new beach house (except bathrooms). Try searching Forbo Marmoleum - the colours alone are eye candy, and you may find a link to a state rep.

On the surface this subject raises quaint images of flowering vine-adorned little granny flats and harmonious extended families 'taking tea' together on the patio surrounded by grandchildren and laughter, visiting care-givers helping the elderly live at home with family, receiving visits from Caregiver services...everyone smiling...but wait, there's more. At a certain stage along the planning process a percentage of us fall foul of the expectations, hopes and idealistic scenarios and maybe, for some, that is because of religious upbringings..."honour they father and thy mother" etc. adding guilt to the already difficult decisions. Housing our elderlies is not an easy topic to bring up for discussion in public because there is no "one way" to address and resolve this issue. I felt that HOUZZ, was a good place to have a discussion about an otherwise difficult and emotional subject that many would be reluctant to approach. On deciding to tell a bit of my own experience I felt that it would open up an opportunity for others battling with the complexities of this problem. So, congrats to all the Houzzers who've had a go at telling their stories here and making the rest of us feel that we are not alone having to deal with this life-situation. Taking care of our elderlies is about much more than building them a comfy granny flat or putting on extentions to our own homes and its not about applying a "One size fits most" solution...( Would that it were all that easy!) I found that my religious upbringing, coupled with unhappy experiences had with my parent made my final decision ever so much more difficult despite that certain 'rules' no longer applied in my own life....or I thought they did not! I discovered that the religious expectations put on me in my childhood coupled with those of friends and family members had reared their heads from the distant past to make my decisions more difficult. I discovered the power of guilt! Mum did not practise her faith but the rules about children and parents were convenient, those indisputable, fearsome rules to enforce compliance and obedience...or else.... I will never forget the day she quoted her favourite "honour thy father and thy mother" at me just once too often after she'd exacted very severe discipline: : I'd found my indignation at being treated unfairly and, through my bloodied handkerchief I screamed : -"What if thy father and thy mother are not honourable ?" There was no answer to that question, no hour long lecture to reinforce the point. Again I paid dearly for my retort. This example to illustrate that domineering parents can be very cruel when they call to bear witness to their demnds any rationale that they have inculcated in their children from a religious perspective and a socio/ cultural perspective So - pondering on wheher we would house our elderlies ( probably meant to call for accomodation suggestions and financial solutions here on HOUZZ) for me, and maybe for others. brought out a dilemma I did not know was there...Obligation irrespectively and Guilt.....they are your parents no matter what. Maybe today I would have guarded more jealously the life I'd won for myself.