I like the look of theTravertine paver colour 'Tuscany' as it will compliment both the house and the gambion wall. For plants, as suggested by Neryl Hollingsworth, camillias are evergreen and the flowers will add beautiful colour to the garden.

Thanks everyone for your further comments. No problem about it being an old post, always nice to communicate with people about design solutions/problems. Jilly, I posted some photos on 1st January 2016, they appear further up in the post. Garden Beet Pty Ltd, and Morel Construction Ltd, both of your solutions look great, but our problem still remains the western Queensland sun which is pretty vicious on anything that will either wilt, fade or break down. It was quite a difficult challenge to come up with something that was affordable, workable and durable. I would love to have had plants because I believe they soften large "hard" exterior areas, but we have decided that we will do that with pots around the pool area. Still have that to do, even after all this time. :) Thanks everyone for re-igniting this chat. Jilly, hope you find something that works for you.

It’s a little confusing. What are the decked pads for along the fence line. I assume the retaining wall and garden bed behind it is in your property. It looks kilometres you have concrete beside the house with a step in it. I would have had a ramped track along the side of house to move things to back yard like bikes and garden supplies. What do you need in the way of regular access along side of house? What is the front yard. I would continue that treatment and maybe some stepping stones, these could be treated pine sleepers it depends on your look for the front.

As soon as I see greys and off-whites as main colours , without something to add that Wow , I sort of wonder Why , but thats just me . No-one is offended at Charcoal , it ties in with most colours , its safe , but it adds to most overall schemes . My only real worry with charcoal is that it may get to be what Mission Brown or Forest Green became -- so overdone and tacky that everyone hates it ! A violetty blue , or bright red , or sunshine yellow is more polarising , and natural timber or stacked stone are outside some peoples budgets , but I always like to add something that is just a bit upmarket or bright or unexpected . Your place is sounding like 80% of new builds , whereas a bit of thought and $5k more could give it that extra attention IMO .