Plants or shelving are both great however an idea not mentioned yet very suitable could be a coat hanging area with a small table for house keys etc if you do not currently have that sort of area? This creates a foyer and is a good place for a quick chat with people you do not want to invite further into the house. Shelving would almost close the space and make the area smaller (visually) and plants may not be something you like. Good luck

There are lots of paint manufacturers apart from Dulux, and hundreds of whites that it could be. Unfortunately the natural light in the photo, the type of camera, any photo editing, and the adjustments on your computer screen make it impossible for anybody to say with any accuracy what the colour may be. The only way to find the right white is to get samples and make your own judgement on site. I always think that Perth light seems stonger and brighter than Sydney light - possibly due to Sydney's airborne pollution in the inner city? There are lots of online resources by various paint manufacturers about choosing the right white, but don't make selections from an online digital image as it won't be accurate. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

siriuskey, Yes, the courtyard is open to the sky (no roof over it), I assume this is what you mean by double story. Ref. below photos, I would love to get this look, especially the first and last photo, where you can see family living space from the first floor. I can't achieve this in my plan as it eats a lot of floor space upstairs. The referred plan (photos) has a very big void combining staircase, hallway and dining area. I know it is not easy with cooling and heating when you have such a big void. So, I explored a few ideas (with my limited knowledge on this topic) before achieving the current floorplan. I have also thought about, in my current plan, extending the void on the staircase to the dining area (it is more like L shape) but i wasn't sure if that makes any difference. keen to hear your thoughts.

If you are maintaining the same exterior render colour then you will need to find a paver colour that will work with it. Paver colours vary a little bit across the country so I would check with your local supplier for some soft, light greys. http://www.adbrimasonry.com.au/homeowners/paving/see-all-paving Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls