The next time I decorate by a colour of the year will be the first time. Don't hold your breath. I have nothing against this particular colour but it doesn't work with all the things I've collected over the years, and I am not about to discard carpets bought after hard bargaining with dubious merchants in Istanbul or Islamabad because they don't "go" with a paint colour that someone voted "colour of the year." In its place, I think the colour would be quite nice (better than this years choices, certainly). It's just that my place isn't the right place for it.

Yes the eastern states have been copping it. Snow etc, I am not a fan of cold. In the west has not been as bad, just a bit of a whinger when I think how cold you guys have had it, even Brisbane. I am waiting for those new solar panels with battery storage capacity (tesla) to come down in price in the next few years, before we retire I would like to have them in and paid for.

We had a house with a timber ceiling - it is a tricky decision. If it is a cheap display home build perhaps cover it, but if the quality is good it is a much harder decision. I think it looks good now and could be made very interesting. Also that look is "back". Make sure your lighting is very good and the heaviness will dissappear somewhat. The floor is lovely.

I agree with olidroo about the hedge. When I read your post Shelley, I assumed you wanted something low that would grow in front of the existing hedge, but that you'd still be able to see the hedge. Murrayas would work for a hedge of 2m or more, though I'm unfamiliar with the dwarf variety. The low-growing gardenia would be lovely, but I think they like some afternoon shade. Oldiroo also has a good point about consulting your local nursery as to what would grow in your situation - white agapanthus are very tough where I live in SE Qld. N83 suggested Myoporum parvifolium. This comes in different forms. I'd avoid the broad leaf form. We had some in our garden and it grew quickly and well and we thought - what a great groundcover. Then we realised that it was like it was sucking all the goodness from the soil, leaving nothing for the nearby plants, so we dug it all out. I've also got 2 fine-leafed forms. I like the pink one better as it's a neater plant, but quite low-growing which you may not want.