@fianou, Thank you for your kind words, I agree it's coming along, although not everyone knows that we've been building this home for 8 years now, using only our own money as humble farmers!!! We live in a tiny but comfortable7 square, (roughly) relocatable home and I personally can't wait to get into my new home with all the room and room to put everything in it's place!!! Right now all my posessions are boxed or wraped and in storage in various locations here on the property like our woolshed and an old caravan, as well as things stored in my mother's home a few kms away and with the home having just been sold, means I will have to move this furniture here and add to the mountain of things already in storage!! I'm sorry to say and hope I don't offend, that I don't have an affinity with hanging pots and plants and hubby would literally "cringe" at the thought of growing a vine up our new posts ha-ha I have got a pair of large pots either side of the front door , visible in the photo, housing Wisteria's that I hope to be able to keep tamed and they shoud look lovely when in flower. I originally planned to have about 20 standard roses along the front of the home but they are too much work I've decided and more often than not look quite shabby at certain times, especially when they are dormant, so instead, I have decided to plant several standard grevilleas in a nice stone mulch with a brick border as is the rest of my garden for easy mowing. I actually have quite a large garden but mulch is definitely the way to go and I have used a few different types of stone mulch, as well as tree mulch and woodchips and this reduces my weeding workload, the bain of all gardeners. I'm almost 60 and want to enjoy my home and garden but do not want it to become a burden but should I ever consider a hanging basket, perhaps indoors, I will be reminded of you!!! ha-ha Cheers, Barbara

Congratulations Mark! I really like the drawings that you did up with the new door and deck at the front. It makes a huge difference to the house. I think the all grass look at the front is a bit much. It would benefit from some sort of pathway to the deck, but I don't have the imagination of the other Houzzers, but I love what you have done so far.

To Nicole K..OOOOOOH That sounds really classy! Why didn't anybody come up with that earlier on? I don't drink...but just for the decorator touch, if I had that fridge and that space, I'd get the calssiest alcohol shelving and fill it with the most elegant bottles available......suppose the real thing would cost a mint...so I'd hunt for the bottles and fill them with the appropriately coloured liquid...food colouring dye and water ought to do it. Maybe just one real bottle....my brandy for the upset tum. What a good idea!

I appreciate that you have used furniture that you like/have, is comfortable and within budget - you have created 2 separate functional areas in such a small space. Well done. I would try not to be offended by other comments because, if your brave enough to post photos and ask advice - you should be brave enough to take those comments with a pinch of salt... nothing in it. My honest opinion is... working with what you already have I would be inclined to bring the armchair forward a smidgen and squeeze a really tall artificial or real plant behind it. (Whatever your lighting allows for) Move the desk hard up against the right wall and position the lamp in the right corner (not middle of desk). I like the photo wall however would be concerned that 'seeing the frames' on both sides would make the room look smaller so I wouldn't position mirror on left side. Mirrors are great for that feeling of more space but not if the reflection is too busy in such a small space? I agree that you need height and in particular on that end wall. I think accentuating the end wall would be more beneficial space creating wise, than a mirror? Maybe even consider painting the desk / chair wall in a warm or cool colour depending on your taste! I think a small round jute rug would fit nicely sitting just under the foot stool? Have fun with it ...