Hi Marissa, I agree a colour consultant could be the way to go, also to consider the kind of look you prefer (traditional; more contemporary with clean lines etc). How are you intending to furnish it, modern, eclectic, very Art Deco? All of these will figure into your decision-making. In my Art Deco apartment all walls, skirting boards, cornices, picture rails were painted white. I think this served to highlight the floors and wall height (ceilings 3m), and certainly made a small apartment feel clean and bright. Meant I also had a blank canvas for decorating, and I have been able to mix traditional with modern decor. Would love to see what you end up choosing, do post pics!

Hi Anna, with your lovely bushland setting my preference is stained finishes that allow the character of the substrate to show through, not paint which will obscure the substrate material. Stained finishes on outdoor timber will be easier to maintain over time too, as you can wash down and re-coat rather than having to sand back. In terms of prep, use an oxalic acid based wood cleaner (following the safety guidelines of course) and give it a good scrub. Don't use sand paper or a pressure cleaner. After the cleaner has restored the wood surface you can apply a penetrating oil finish - at least 2 coats - to enhance the natural colours. If adding a tint, I would look for something that will reflect the bushland tones, probably greys. A strong orange look will not complement the bush tones. For your slab area, I would just give it a good pressure clean then apply a clear sealer, maybe add some grey oxide if the concrete is too light. The aim is to retain some patina and avoid solid blocks of colour like pavement paint would achieve. Sealer will age more gracefully than paint too. All this is subjective of course, but to me working with the colours and textures of the bush is the way to go. Looking forward to seeing your "after" photos when it is done!

Hi all, I recently had my pool resurfaced with Pebble Crete and a few weeks after I got ugly dark stains all over the pool. Some stains are round and some stains are strokes like pencil strokes. The way the builder applies the pebble mix with a trowel. Any ideas?

If you’re considered about especially damp conditions, then it makes sense to look for a privacy fence , pvc picket fence, pvc fencing stain that offers additional protection against moisture damage. Seal Once Marine Premium Wood Sealer uses nanoparticle technology to penetrate the wood and protect it from within, rather than forming a top-layer barrier that may eventually crack and split from moisture evaporation.