Hey Paul, check out a place called ecooutdoors.com.au for inspiration. I'm not sure if they're up your way but I'm sure you could get materials shipped. They have such a beautiful store with brilliant ideas. I'd be considering a stone that is cool under foot on hot Brisbane days and at least 30mm thick. You have an oval-ish shaped pool so you might consider a small coping stone to replace the brick then move on to a larger stone instead of the dated pebble, maybe a 'cush' limestone or go a bit glam and do a herringbone pattern with the right stone. Good Luck.

@Lynne: thank you for your thoughts and comments. This house was built with some feng shui in mind, thus these roof lines - and roof orientation. We are aware that those columns are in the way. At a first glance, the one in front of that two panel door is not load bearing, this could be removed (seriously-who on earth places a pillar in front of a sliding door?!?!?!). The other one on must remain while both on the balcony are required; although we're planning on redesigning the balcony, thus can remove/ change the location on those columns/pillars can be reinforced and then moved. We're using a 3D software (sketch up or Revit) to play with potential designs to get a feel for the look (as we don't want to waste the time of a drafts person) before commissioning someone. Although I believe we will require a designer/ assistance of where items such as the BBQ could be build (kitchen faces the SE side of the house) to ensure a good flow inside out of the house... Thanks again! Much appreciated ;-)

Hi eleanorgreen1 Love the house, as others have stated above "great little hat" on the house, Good slope on the roof and great veranda for breezes and sleeping outside. I would be delighted if someone asked me to design a house in NT and I came up with that design. There is a few things that I can suggest and I hope they are of some use. 1. If possible I would dig a trench next to the perimeter of the slab of about 600 wide and 300 deep and fill it with pebble and gravel stones. This is to remove any excess water that may come of the roof (connect it to your drainage system - or lowest point of your block) and also to reduce the possibility of termites and other small critters coming through into your house. Termites do not like ground that might move as they build a tunnel in front of themselves as they proceed forward and any "gravel" or water of any kind they tend to avoid. (Love the termite mounds by the way - fantastic landscape design - at no cost). The CSIRO has fantastic information on termites - I don't think the trench would keep snakes away - hate the little critters! - Taipans - those horrors follow you home. 2. Providing a topping to your slab externally might improve the look especially on the exposed veranda - but the topping should have some form of "non slip" surface - maybe with some carborundum in the mix so that it might not get very slippery when wet. However I think plain concrete if finished with 'hard topping" is an excellent solution. 3. Love the idea of "Screens" but they will have to be securely fixed as they become missile in high winds. 4. I can not see any water tanks or solar energy equipment on the photos - I just wonder if this could be an advantage in your situation. As you have some very large verandas I wonder if large garden pots, something to the size of 800 round and 800 in height, these could still be moved but may break up some of the straight strong line of the house. Even two or three would do he trick. I would paint these with a strong colour to give a focal point and arranged strategically around the veranda. 6. Defining the entry to the house might also provide interest. I think it can be done with the large pots and also with a maybe a little bit of tilework and some form of path leading to the entry. 7. Painting the elevation that contains the entry a different colour might also brighten the place up a bit. I would not paint the whole of the elevation if its the long longitudinal side - just the central part up to a defining area like the first two windows. 8. Some nice landscaping at some distance from the house to be enjoyed from the veranda view might also help (Keep the termite mounds - they look great) There is no plan and no north point so its a bit hard to comment further especially in relation to orientation and internal plan layout. I think you have a great house and some subtle design improvements will make it even better. I would be happy to comment further on this project. Best for the future Regards Michael Manias - mm407p@gmail.com - web: newhomedesign.com.au

Hi Julie - thanks so much for your suggestions. The water features look gorgeous and trust my luck to fancy the more bespoke labour intensive options! That said, I think your last post about the screens are a winner! I actually think this is what i will go for against the fence. I had originally considered this about two years ago and was keen to get a fabulous custom screen done (with foliage of Western australian flowers), however it just got all too hard and I didn't know how to source the right custom supplier. I'm going to investigate this option in the first instance. I can also probably back light it as well as I have some outside lights in the garden that i haven't positioned very well previously that I can probably run behind this to give a different effect at night. Thank you for reminding me and sourcing these gorgeous pictures. They look perfect. The rusted look gives colour and texture that I think will look great against green foliage, and if I can back light it - I hope it will look awesome. Have a great weekend.