having done the same thing many years ago i can make the following suggestions: ...have a good all weather drive and parking area for a crowd of house builders and visitors before the house is built, plan for a fenced off dam to attract wildlife that can be viewed from the house, if you have any slopes reseach "haha" for dividing areas, your local council or Agricultural dept should be able to advise plants native to the area, concentrate on trees and big shrubs (planted in groups and heavily mulched) before you worry about garden beds, invest in perfect planting holes with plastic tree guards and an irrigation system (even a plastic bottle of water upside down next to the new planting will help) invest in some basic fencing tools and start dividing the property into separate areas for specific purpose, starting with a house paddock small enough to mow with a domestic mower, keep the majority of trees and big shrubs outside the house paddock a good fire break away from the house (check out fire prevention for your area) don't build a house meant for the suburbs on your property, create shade near the house with extensive verandahs and pergolas to create shelter from sun and wind from every direction, build your garage or big shed away from the house with a covered walkway creating sheltered courtyards (like an English walled vege garden) plan for water tanks to save water off every roof (including the chook house)...our best idea was a big covered alfresco area carefully screened with shade cloth and a locking door...kept out flies and snakes, great safe space for little kids and dogs as well as room for a table seating 20 for Christmas. Illness forced our retirement from the property just as trees were reaching maturity so make sure your trees are planted first to give you the opportunity to enjoy them sooner and very best of of luck with your new life

It's tiny so lends itself to containment and simplicity. I'd shift your mango tree to be a few feet to the front right so it could shade you and hide the view of the boxes. They grow pretty big don't they? The Perth Bricklaying's idea of brick planter boxes is good and I'd surround the sides and front with them. You could have a lower growing hedge all round. Hopefully your neighbour would like a little backdrop to their bit instead of the slabs. By shading from the front you will create less sun and heat for anything growing inside the wall, like the groundcover, and some flowers in pots in the outer corners perhaps. which would be nice to look out on, and obviously watering is the key to their survival. :)

Gum trees are provide a stunning canopy to any garden, but as with any large tree close to your home, you need to be mindful of its health and possible future limb failure. Sudden limb failure in Eucalypts is the result of periods of dry weather, impacts on a tree's root zone and subsequent moisture stress. I recommend creating a beautiful native garden in this area with groundcovers and grasses that are suited to the sunlight available. Make sure the area is properly mulched (organic mulch is best) and that you water the area during periods of hot weather. It's also worthwhile having an arborist look at the tree every 12 months of so to make sure it is still healthy.

Hi, what a cute little nook in your home. Before you select a rug, mirror, and any other additional items or accessories for this room, be sure to measure the space up, so that each item you choose is proportionate to this space - this is particularly important in small spaces. A round rug is going to be the best option here, to give you softness under foot, without it dominating the little space. Armadillo & Co have some lovely Wool Blend round rugs in their Perennial Collection. I would remove the wine rack and replace it with a bar cart, sized to suit (not too large) and you could then hang a wall mirror above the bar cart - again, the wall mirror should be sized to suit the bar cart below, and a round wall mirror will provide continuity with the round floor below. You could even then consider wall sconces beside the mirror and remove the table lamp on the top of your bureau all together. I would replace it with a piece of photographic art directly above the bureau, and add a few simple accessories to style the top of the bureau - a short vase, small pile of books and some decor items. Have your footstool re-upholstered in a more uplifting, patterned fabric, and select a scatter cushion for your armchair to co-ordinate with the fabric on the footstool. Add a cozy throw to your armchair, so you have everything you need for a cool night in, at your fingertips. Enjoy your gorgeous new space.