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!.

Changing flooring in open plan is always a difficult challenge and the light carpet is the bigger problem because of the contrast cutting up the pure Scandi vibe. Pure white kitchens are always cool looking I think you have 3 kids and your kitchen will warm up when you get the coffee machine, kettle, chopping boards wooden looking accessories in there and on the bench topwith a couple of green plants, fake or not. Take a trip to Ikea or browse their catalogue and website - their stylists are a great inspiration. You don't have to get your stuff from there but they are very clever at layering. When we go we always take a camera for those little touches which makes scandi look so clean and fresh. Invariably when I get home I have something similar I can repurpose. Dump the office vertical blinds I agree! they have to be the ugliest thing ever invented. If privacy is not an issue leave the window bare. And what's with the 1980s old fashioned security screen across the kitchen window? No Scandi ever had wiggly diamond flyscreens! Loose that too. Whoops that sounds a bit harsh :-) Funny thing about living somewhere is - after a few weeks you won't even notice, I have lived with the same damask wallpaper in the hallway for the last 30 years - its back in fashion again. I spend all of 10 seconds walking down that hallway, I think everything gets a bit precious when it comes to picking things all at once, better to let the space evolve as you live in it.

Thanks for all the suggestions - it's certainly given me some good ideas. julia herbert - I love the screen pergola - it's perfect! And maybe a water feature in the top left corner of pic might work and give a nice view from the bedroom and the garden. oklouise - there are three bedrooms with windows from the left (the master is on the far left overlooking the long strip of garden) and on the right is a living/dining area with glass sliding door. scottevie - I don't need to have a washing line in this area. As far as garden, the lemon tree and roses are my only must haves. That pathway in the photo looks great, however the pathway area is only 1.5m from house to fence so I'm not sure it's wide enough to become functional. Thanks for the searching suggestion - I'll look for some more inspiration in the narrow gardens! Would love any other suggestions anyone might have.

With grey and white to go with, you're right on trend (well, in NZ anyway). Keep those colours. With the furniture, cut the newell posts off the bed and square up the headboard and baseboard (or get rid of the baseboard altogether if you can. I did my headboard with a piece of MDF and covered it with a sheet. I'd do the same with the dresser - cut the newell posts off. Those things really date the furniture. Paint all the furniture either gloss white or black and change the handles to silver or brushed chrome. Just make sure that some where else in the room is the same silver/ brushed chrome. Maybe a photo frame of a couple of lamps? I think white.High gloss. Black or grey plain (no pattern) drapes as close as you can get to the wall colour. That way they disappear and don't become a feature (unless you got for very expensive and make them a show piece). I'd put the drapes behind some shimmer voile sheers that drape across the floor a little. Now you only have to choose accents and you'll have a different look any time. Pinks, blues, purples -whatever takes your fancy. Don't forget to add in a few different textures to soften things up a bit, ad see if you can pick up a 2nd hand cheap chandelier.I think I spent about $300 total from a nasty blue flocked wallpaper and apricot curtains, and a couple of other bits and pieces. Would love to see the finished product!!