Well nasmijati has much to offer. For my mind i would like to get an understanding of who you are before thinking too much ahead friendlykim. If we leave climate change, fire zones, function, ergonomics and sustainability to one side we might consider your childhood experiences, your passions, sufferings, do you like literature/ Japanese poetry? - will you have mist in the winter months? what music do you like? imagination as play in defining space, choreographing shade and light, will you have children to consider, would you consider a more elemental use of water for swimming and other opportunities in place of a lap pool? we could talk about art, what artists you love, insight beyond reason which comes through our relationship that your garden may feed your mind on a daily basis. Have you travelled? Does the north African civilization have anything to teach you for garden application? - what is your latitude? Has contemplation placed it's hand on your shoulder by this stage of your life? I should stop - for me it's not really about design, it's about the life of the mind and arousing latent, hidden aspects of who you are - your life narrative. This is how I would start making a garden for you and preferably over lunch - it is primarily about love in the end!

I love anything with a citrus and/or sandalwood (Dusk do some brilliant scents) - I avoid the sweeter flowery scent (rose, geranium are all avoided) and find most candles with vanilla are a bit too sweet for me. I prefer good quality essential oil scented soy candles from either artisan candle makers or Dusk. Did you know that aerosol room sprays - the kind a lot of people stash in bathrooms for "those times when needed" - have some pretty nasty chemicals in them - some are carcenogenic while others can provoke allergies and asthma and cause headaches and Eczema.

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.

Seeking opinions. Just had a brand new concrete pool completed one week ago. The first thing we noted within a couple of hours of pool filling was our pebble has a large number of stones which are leaching out leaving brown areas. Some are large and obvious like the one pictured but there are hundreds of others that are less obvious but nontheless definitely leaching. My concern is that if these pebbles break down I will be left with a rougher pebble surface. Where these stones once were will be little holes... Anyone know anything about this? Second thing is far more of a concern to me because we see efflorescent areas on the external shell of the pool with water leaking from them. The pool shell itself was/is very rough which we pointed out to builder during curing, it has cracks, holes and bits where the concrete is crumbly. This is the first pool we have ever built so it is quite possible I am overreacting. Also our builder is awesome and has assured me everything will be dealt with. I guess I am just wanting to gather as much info as possible so when we are discussing it with our builder we are a bit savvy and know what to ask for/bring up with him!! Thanks!