Replace the front door and joining window with a set of double doors - either solid oak or just classic glossy black. They will add value to your home, personality and will make life easier when it comes to moving in or out large sized pieces of furniture that can be a headache if you tried to fit through a single door. The path to the front door can either be painted a colour of your own choice or even paved, while I would also add a border of either pebbles or flowers (e.g. Lavender, Geraniums, Agapanthus, what ever suits your fancy ) down the right hand side of the path to add colour and a visual aspect to your front yard. Make sure your whole front yard looks neat, clean and tidy. If possible, employ the services of a landscape artist. Though highly expensive, he or she may give some quality advice in how to capitalise on your existing garden.

I think the problem is actually not so much the shape of the room but the fact that at the "pitch of the roof" part you have a large full length window and fireplace. Essentially, because of all this there is no wall to put your back against or place furniture against. My rectangular room has similar issues with a corner window facing the fireplace. We just put the kids toys there on the floor and low kid size stuff like a toy box. You can't put any large pieces there. So, I say, start by completely ignore the top triangle of the room. Its essentially dead or unusable space, but will add to the feelings of space and light in the room. Arrange your large furniture pieces in the bottom square portion, around a large square rug perhaps that would define the space. It might feel better that way. Then arrange your other bits around that. I think if you try to work the square it will be way easier to organise the room. Emphasising a square layout will feel more comfortable. Plants in that light bright corner was a good suggestion, they soften the angles. Hope that helps!

this is a dish that I wouldn't contemplate making it's crepes that's made of rice flour..today wasn't so good..a bit disappointing usually the crepes are thinner..today's looked more like yum cha ones Chinese not Vietnamese ..our filling is usually spread evenly . traditionally they would steam them..over a fabric stretched on a steamer..that way they are very thin.. these days there's lots of recipe to do them on a non-stick frying pan..it doesn't turn out the same..you really need a steamer.. thus that's why I don't make them..it's one of those dishes that you would go out to eat..take away from Indochine..I wonder if they had a different chef today?

Hi Blake, What an exciting time of your life. I would agree that painting the fence charcoal will be a great start. I would create a few zones. You like the idea of a fire pit, so get one of those fabulous metal dishes that can be custom designed such as Yarrawonga Custom Plasma Cutting does. You could put this outside the alfresco area and pave the space around it. PO Box designs do some amazing lazer cut decorative screens and sculptures. You could break up the fence and add more height and privacy by placing a decorative screen on it which can even be backlit to give a lovely atmosphere at night. Just be aware that you shouldn't block the neighbour's light, especially that high window which they wouldn't be able to see you from but will be providing important light for their home. I suggest having an edible garden. You can plant oranges, lemons and limes which are all evergreen, grow to a good height, and have the bonus of divine smelling flowers and fruit that you can use, and under them plant herbs such as rosemary, sage, and thyme. A bay tree is very useful, but they can grow huge so keep it in a pot or prune hard to keep it to a workable shape. You can use the leaves fresh or dried so cut away and give the prunings to friends! In a shady spot that you are happy to have anything grow, you could plant mint. It will spread but I use it by the arm full in summer in my drinking water, in salads and in fact most summer dishes, and even as fresh mint tea. It will bring in the bees. If you don't want it to spread them plant it in a tub. I would also make some raised beds for some home grown vegies such as tomatoes and annual herbs like basil and parsley. Water is great to attract birds and bees so find a small birdbath and place it by a plant so that the birds can feel safe. I have a lovely one that is on a pedestal with little wrens around the edge but a wide shallow dish on a ground of pebbles looks lovely too. It is lovely to have fresh flowers inside so adding gardenias, daphne, lavender, native shrubs like grevilleas, banksias, correas, bulbs such as daffodils and jonnies, also iris and roses are all lovely. You can train climbers up the fence too such as jasmine, wisteria, and native hardenburgia. None of these plants are difficult to grow though the citrus will like some frost protection to start and I grew them all with great success in the bitter frosts, a number of floods and the scorching heat of the North East Victoria. As you can see, I like my garden to be a work horse not just a show pony. If I am investing my money and time then I want to be able to get perfume or produce from each plant.