Hi Leah, I'd think very carefully about what you put in and your conditions. Being in the mallee is a bit more extreme than most inland areas in Australia. Best advice I can give you is speak to your local nursery (not big box store) as they will know what will work best in your area. Unless you're prepared to be watering all the time, it's best to choose plants that suit your climate and soil. Also be aware that your water will probably be quite hard, and a lot of plants may not like that. Have a walk around your area, and see what other people are growing, and what is doing well. That will give you some ideas for planting. I'd steer clear of maples - any of them, as the hot drying winds will dry out the foliage, and they just won't be happy in an exposed spot. Same can be said of the deciduous Magnolias - I doubt you'll find may neighbours with those growing. Look for things like some of the smaller growing Brachychiton cultivars. There are also some great flowering gums, such as Eucalyptus torquata and Corymbia 'Wildfire' which would do well where you are. Crepe Myrtles are a great choice, as they seem to be tolerant of drier conditions. Not sure how crab apple would go, but it would be worth a shot. Also Melia azaderach is another great tree for inland areas, though it can be a bit messy. Good luck!

Hello Lousie, Thank you for your support. We are always uploading articles covering so many aspects of the garden, the designing of and much much more. Do follow us via our Facebook and Instagram pages as well as HOUZZ. You may find some ideas that inspire you. Once again thanks Chris Slaughter - Lead Designer www.scenicbluedesign.com.au

As you guessed , I just express my opinion . Some agree , some don't . Some houses which I have sold 20 years ago are still in the same decor , other people may not have purchased . I prefer a planned colour pallette and something that has a Wow , and I definitely won't have the same colour walls and ceilings all through a property . Some fast food restaurants do have the same colour all the way through , but even they tend to have white ceilings or similar . I do have a ( small ) stainless deep fryer that does great chips though ! As far as texture goes , I 100% guarantee I would have more texture than this house , to use the obvious comparison . That is why , if you go back up to my original post , I suggested a feature wall of wallpaper , and a painting -- texture and colour . I don't like grey or beige as primary colours , and in fact don't consider them pastels either , but thats pointless arguing semantics . I wouldn't have that combo , the OP would -- good on her . If houzz only had people that agree , it may be very boring .

Okay that's a pretty good spot then because you have afternoon shade, hot afternoon run is what kills most things in Brisbane. Given 5hrs of sun a day you could plant ixora which is a common and popular hedging plant in Brisbane. It's very pretty and low maintenance. They are like the azalea of the tropics. You also have the option for fruiting shrubs such as feijoa, grumichama and coffee trees (which are really a shrub as they don't exceed 2mts in most cases). All three are very ornamental shrubs with pretty flowers, coffee is jasmine scented and produce edibles. All three are low maintenance although you will have to truck a fair amount of soil in because the exposed soil there doesn't look very good. Don't worry that's cheap from a landscaper and they usually offer a premium garden mix that you can just dump and plant right into. You will also get away with crotons which are a popular garden specimen in brisbane as long as you plant it in the most shadey spots. Crotons are slow growing (no pruning necessary for years) colourful and easy care. Birdsnest ferns are another option. Despite being a fern they are very hardy, can survive droughts and irregular watering, can take the sun and also grow to about 1.5m wide. They are non-toxic to dogs also. Could look spectacular under your lily pilys for a native rainforest look. You can get an indoor sized one for around $20 but they are good investment as they are long lived and easy care and create a stunning garden. Many different varieties are available from curly leaved to wide leaf.