Hi AnAhitA Nazari, I totally agree. I actually don't intend to keep the couch on that wall, it just happens to be there due to the renos we are doing at the moment. I thought one of the red chairs under that print on an angle would be better and maybe a little table with a lamp on it? I can't change the colour of the walls as we have just finished painting it so I'm stuck with it. The room is part of a big room which has a partition 5ft wall separating it from the dining room. I'm thinking of putting the sofa on that wall and the other chair on its right hand side. As for the furniture in that room I do realise it's not a great choice but they have lots of memories to me so once again I'm stuck with them lol

Cats indoors with the back verandah built in for them (snake mesh). I believe cats should be contained for their safety and that of wildlife. I am on acreage with nearest road/neighbour 1 km away - so for my cats it is really about the safety of wildlife. 2 small indoor dogs - mini dachshund and chihuahua. Indoors for their safety and they are a part of the family. 1 outdoor dog protecting livestock. I have always had dogs inside. I used to have larger dogs and they would be wherever I was, and outdoors when I wasn't home. I have had a lot of dogs... chosen and rescues/highway pickups. I have always heard the argument that it is not hygienic having them indoors.... and now I have had kids I can confidently say kids are far worse than dogs. My house used to always be clean and clutter free. Now I am constantly cleaning and tidying and telling kids to pick up stuff - and I might get 5 minutes a day where it looks like what it always looked like when I just had dogs!

Biggest Thank you to everyone who has commented and given me such good practical advice for updating my little front patio/porch area. Before I depart again and forget to update? This is how it looks, I am probably at a later stage going to work out how to add a wider sill as suggested, however it does look so much better than before. Such timely advice has given me the motivation to get it done. I have left the roller shades on one side just to allow a bit of privacy from the neighbours and wind/sun. And one day will swap the large couch for something more suited.

hi Belinda, thats what I said to my hubby too, haha!!! Have a look at Peter Fudge gardens, just beautiful, he said he uses them in his designs, it is a medium tree (can grow to 10 mts in maturity) responds to a light prune to keep it to the size required, I prune our pears every 3-4 years and they look fab, he uses it in residential gardens , pleaches and underplants to give that beautiful elegance, look up his website for inspiration and he has great advice and his gardens are divine, can't wait to see what you do.