Analysis first, then plan, as Tookoo recommends. Use native plants, as neotoma recommends. Get specific plant recommendations locally, as Terri & sgelade recommend. Here is my two cents worth, for the shortterm. a. Remove and stockpile the lawn edging and most of the mulch back against the fences. b. Take a can of spray paint, or a bundle of surveyor's flag, and mark the largest circular or curved form that will fit within the fenced areas, no matter where the trees stand (inside or outside of the line) to form the temporary edge of your lawn area. See if the entire family agrees on the alignment or just do what looks best to you as the Senior Gardener. c. Add the wood edging to the new edge, or, it will look a lot better if the edge is not visible, using a steel edge whose top edge is down just above the grass roots and no longer visible, and not an impediment to the lawn mower. (when you form the plant beds, you will dig down a couple inches at the edge, where it meets the steel, and then slope the bed up from there, and the mulch will be contained at the level of the lawn, beyond) My recommendation, after you call in your landscape advisor, is to fill the beds totally with ground cover, beneath the shrubs, so no mulch will be seen after the two years of plant growth, using only a finer textured mulch which will become part of the soil bed. (Maybe the bark mulch will smell good in your new fire pit, along with the wood edging.) d. Plant the entire area with grass seed or sod and enjoy the beauty. The curved edge will make the space appear and feel larger and will decrease the maintenance of the smaller bed areas. On the subject of tree placement: analyse first, then plan. Look at all the views beyond your fenceline from all windows of the house, the living/ dining areas, all the bedrooms, to enhance the good views and to block the big, the bad, and the ugly. The large trees on your list will block views from the upper windows, The small horizontally branched trees will be a piece of sculpture in your downstairs view throughout the year, while their flowering and fragrance yet another reason to be alive. For instance, if you have an attractive small tree that has attractive flowers and foliage, PLUS has attractive bark color and has a sculptural quality in the off-season, you won't have to visit the museum quite as often, with a sculpture garden right out your window.

Hi there, Having a table custom-made around your stone top is a great idea - and it sounds like it will be a beautifully unique finish, as it is not common to see blue stone tops. Where would you thinking of applying it in your bathroom? You can certainly use it as your vanity top, although you would, of course, have to remove your existing vanity top and replace it with the Stone. Achieving this will be dependant on your splash back (tiles?) and being able to remove one and insert the other without damage as a result. Contacting a qualified Cabinetmaker to discuss your options would be very beneficial before going down this path. If you have more than one bathroom, consider using the stone in each to ensure continuity throughout your home. Good luck.

As a parent, this story touched my heart. What a beautiful way to remember his soul and to start healing. Gardens breathe life into the home. I wish that the family finds their peace.

The back looks more inviting than the front at present , but anything can be worked with . Is it a permanent home , or a beach place , only used occassionally ? The design and needs will vary a lot . Also , you said there is a carport to the right , that you are adding a door to , but the image seems to show that on the left ? Likewise , is that an addition to the right , or is that the carport closed in ? Anyway , assuming the windows are staying , and assuming its a holiday home ( the only reasoning is that 2 x 9kg gas bottles wouldn't be what most people would fit to a permanent home . I wouldn't do a footpath along a wall , I'd be a metre out -- allows for a garden , but also in case you need to get to plumbing , power , etc . Roof in a light grey ( yes , I know , but it is tropical , so don't go dark anything ) with charcoal ( or orange if you dare ! ) gutters and white eves , and slightly off-white walls , with 2 timber doors . Boring eh ? But then I'd have black steel frames around the windows ( not the window frames ) with security bars across , BUT with stained 80mm x 80mm timber rails screwed over the crossbars , so that is all you can see . The combo of white and a reasonably deeper toned stained timber exterior will look classy , clean , modern and be secure . The additions much the same , some rock or bark gardens , tropical plants , ferns , palms , knock yourself out !