Sorry , the last photo didnt attach

Thank you, they are really good ideas. The BBQ bricks are very loose in places too so that shouldnt be hard.

what a find..would love to see some photos inside. hope it's just as inspiring as the outside..i agree with Melinda, move the bar b q out of the prime position, seed the bare patches and feed and trim the lawn, tidy the shrubs and maybe a few pots of white flowering annuals will brighten it all up while you wait for inspiration but it's already gorgeous

Thanks for all your advice. Has motivated me to keep busy

Yes, RIP the bbq - I think the owner was last to build in the street and didnt want to smoke out either neighbour :) You could brickpave over most of that concrete.

You could stand up inside your roof for sure, has that been taken advantage of? attic etc.

I do agree about the BBQ, but if it's not really the easiest option to remove it, here's a way to work with that would look great - build the corner taller, render the whole thing, paint in a neutral colour & hang some wall art on it. It can act like a little outdoor 'wall divider'

A weekend project that would make a huge difference would be to build an oversized footpath. Timber sleeper with gravel/fill will look amazing. Here's a quick pic to show you what I mean

If you like this path idea, ere's an article how to do it https://www.lawsons.co.uk/view/article/blogs/landscaping/18.aspx

Im loving all your ideas thank you, and will definitely be starting on several of them as soon as its not so hot. Will be changing back path, and removing BBQ should give me a bit of exercise, and will do some more planting. feeling very positive about the garden area now

The buildings at the back are all ours. A few sheds. Will have to stay for present as have home gym etc etc but one day it will be nice to remove the smaller ones.- along with a couple of the trees

Ive gotten rid of most of the bark chip areas and planted grass which is growing surprisingly quickly . The very back fence accidentally came down when the neighbour started to build so a messy temporary fence is there at present to stop our dog escaping, Hopefully they will be ready to put up a new fence soonish. Ive just fenced off a small area at the back so when we have guests in the granny flat they have a small private sitting area. See the photo below. I have bought one of those cantilever sun umbrellas for this area. Starting with the easy bits first. It was all weeds and bark chips.

We have a large front lawn which looks a bit patchy and sad - maybe due to the large gum trees on the verge. I hoping to get a fence put up in about 6 weeks. Just sent off the official fence form 1 to one neighbour. Then i think i will look at getting professional advice about the front in particular, but also at the back so I have a long term plan.

The house is 2 storey. Although it doesnt look like it in the photo the roof is very high and steep. No windows on this side as it make it even hotter upstairs I think.

granny flat garden area

Does anyone have any suggestions for the very back of the house??

For the back of the house, if you like to pick and/or bottle your own fruit you could plant some fruit trees to fit within a cricket net type enclosure (to keep out the birds) with some lugs welded to the posts for ladder or plank safety. You'll need to go quite high with the posts and get familiar with pruning techniques or get someone in to prune in late summer and winter. Make sure there is no easement beneath and assess how it will influence your neighbour's amenity. You could also house some chickens toward the rear but check Council requirements prior. If you don't want to spend much money now it would be best to call in a designer to help you with all the pertinent details on how you want to enjoy the garden. Hypothetically, a band of deciduous shade trees for example on the northern side may be beneficial after discussion and which could be planted now giving you a head start when you complete the design later. You may be thankful that you've made bare bones investments like this including shifting and modernizing the barbeque once you've identified a cohesive purpose. Any work you do in the meantime has value!

The quickest, easiest (and cheapest) option is to cut back all grass edging to present neat edges - whether against the paths or overhanging the wall. add weedkiller to any and all weeds coming thru the brick paving. You may or may not wish to add well defined edging to the paths - perhaps white pavers? keep the lawns trimmed - it all adds up to neat and tidy. light pruning back to bushes to keep them compact and denser on the exposed exterior once some regrowth has occurred also helps.

I. know you would be wanting ideas to avoid calling in a designer. This was me 20 years ago. A garden designer came to our country town to speak at a fund raiser and said he was happy to come and consult. I think it cost me $400 and is the best money I have ever spent. Trust me, it will save you thousands in wrong plants, waiting years for something to grow and find it was the wrong decision. Biggest lesson I have learned in gardening is to be more ruthless and that BBQ could do with that right now. Invest in your garden!

PS the reason I say get a designer in is that I think the home and garden is a gem!!!

John Henson said: "Drop the pencil pine and cocos palm for a start". Amen to that. Neither plant fits in that gorgeous setting. Enjoy your new home, it's lovely. Perfect for a large dog too!

A thought to fill and green up the space where the bbq is: do you want to grow veges? I've upcycled some old fridges and freezer to become wicking beds, although you don't have to the wicking thing. We hid the fact they're white boxes by simply screwing some old wooden floor boards to the sides. You can grow great veges out of the way of the dog and they can be easily moved at a later date to fit in with your design plans.

If you are keeping the BBQ (I wouldn't) then tidy up the paths and plant some standard roses either side that lead to the back garden and the granny flat. You could plant some ground cover roses under. Later, when you want a professional make over you can move the roses as they do well in your climate.

Hi, I am late but I am living in a similar setup. (The biggest difference you could make would be to double/triple the width of the stairs leading to the grassed area.) We are creating garden rooms to break up the length and separate the flat from the house. Closest is the back verandah area which will have a plant/lattice fence so as to create a gateway leading to the far back which will be vege garden. This in turn leads to a small mexican themed courtyard for the granny flat. The entrance to each area will not be in a direct line to give a feeling of space and make it more interesting. A bit like this .

Live for a year or close to it if possible. Inspect the yards of locals for best plant types and shading western side solutions. Adelaide has severe summer western heat so protect entertaining area as much as possible

I think your house is charming, lucky you. Agree with widening steps and also like the idea of garden rooms. Wait until you can afford to do things once and have a garden design plan made out, will save money in the long run. Good luck for now just clean up, prune, mow and mulch that will make a difference.

So many great suggestions here for you! What a fabulous house to work with.

I would extend the pergola out to where the BBQ is, but scrap it. I also suggest replacing the brick paved area with large creamish pavers & use the bricks to pave the path in a bit if a curve. Utilize the curved area for seating widening the steps as suggested. A couple of large pots with citrus either side. These could be planted later as the garden progresses. Also a grape vine or wisteria planted to grow over the pergola would give summer shade & let light into the house in winter.

I would screen the granny flat with either a few hardy bushes or a lattice type screen & grow a passion-fruit, kiwi fruit or climbing rose. If you don't like the climbing thing something structural like yucca's or cordylines, both low maintenance - talk to your local nursery, they are the experts. They may offer garden design too. Also have a look at http://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/ Just put in your postcode & you get a list of plants with pictures, descriptions etc.

Enjoy your garden room. Good luck.

I really appreciate all the wonderful ideas. will post some photos when i have made some changes