Okay many moons ago in my first apartment at college, I had a BF that graduated and moved, and accused me of never writing. He was coming back to visit and I got a sheet of 'space shuttle stamps' (21c fyi) and framed them and hung them where you could see them as you entered my little hole in the wall apartment. He got the clue. Homework was killing me. Yes I did know what a stamp was. Only other time I decorated with stamps was my first food stamp card and one stamp/sheet from my last allotment of them. They used to be coupons that you got in a book; and the store would make 'change' with other coupons, in that you could not get more than 99c cash change back; so my book would be bound in with what I was given for allotment, with $20, 10, 5, and 1 coupons. Having loose ones were okay but you better have the cover for a book and your card to spend them. I think I still have both somewhere. Someone asked me about the foodstamp one and I said it was a reminder about not being too proud to eat, and where I had been and I was now more successful than that (got off dole and assistance)

Thanks for all your entries. And those are some marvellous photos of your own spaces being changed. Our congratulations to @how2girl who was randomly selected as the winner of Darren Palmer's book! We will be in contact and send this book out to you very soon. Stay tuned for more contests in the near future. HouzzAU Team

given the luxury of generous available space i like outdoor rooms to be bigger than inside.. especially if they'll be used for entertaining more people than would normally fit into the same space inside and some outdoor furniture looks so cramped without lots of space to walk around

Thanks Tilly, yes I think it'll be a really good exercise to think about how we live every day and what will support that. For example we had a BBQ on the weekend and the weather was quite cool, so my husband said how about a covered entertaining area to the rear of the house (north facing), but I'd rather have it open so the sun comes into the house every other day of the year! So we're investigating these fabric folding awnings... I might get us both to sit down and virtually go through our day to work out our ideal items. Thanks! Holly, thanks for sharing, some great ideas there. Yes I don't want a huge footprint, and survived for 10 years in a small Victorian terrace with a 'Euro' laundry behind fold-back cupboards in the bathroom and it never bothered me, so you've reminded me that I'd much rather that space devoted to more enjoyable areas! And keen on the versatility of a multi-purpose room, sounds like such a great approach, I work part-time from home plus my family is interstate so doubling as a guest bedroom would be perfect for us. Love the window bench with storage idea and yes I want an island bench that's clear of sinks etc. Wow those loft beds are amazing! Might pencil that in as an idea. Wonderful, thanks!