I'm not a professional landscaper but as a parent I actually disagree... Gardens for kids need to be somewhere to stimulate the imagination and dream and play. Don't kids always have a ball exploring their grandparents gardens? I would go for large leaf plants that create secret hidey cubby spots under the foliage, fragrant herbs that can be brushed up against. Ornamental grasses with big seedy stalks, Bright cheerful flowers that can be picked for all sorts of potions. I would recommend NOT making your backyard like a playground, because that takes the joy away from trips to the park. All the different levels are great for adventures and imagination. Don't make it too safe... those rocks are EXACTLY where your kids will want to walk along and perfect their motor skills and balancing and risk assessment skills. They won't get into too much danger in your backyard. You could terrace the slope and plant into it with herbs and some kid friendly plants like herbs, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, strawberries. Then down the track have more grownup choices. Also plants that will attract birds, lizards and other wildlife for the kids to enjoy. Large bushes like grevillea and bottle brushes -you can get groundcover rambling ones on these also- they will attract beautiful birds like rosellas which the kids can enjoy. I would go for a garden that can be discovered and explored and let kids imagination take over. You want a garden that can be a castle, a pirate ship, a rocket, the moon, a fairy forest, whatever! As far as actual play things, Use logs or stepping stones through the garden beds to protect the plants from being trampled. Don't make paths through, but space them randomly so the kids can go any direction. A few areas with river pebbles... nice round smooth ones in different colours, that can be stacked and played with will be endlessly entertaining. Don't underestimate the fun and joy of sticks and stones! Logs in alternating heights through the garden bed will create a great rambling obstacle course to balance on. If you want to go there, maybe add a slide down the slope of the hill next to the step. Or a secret pipe for sending cars or messages down. There is a great toy called sticklets that can be used to connect larger sticks and branches to make forts and cubbies. But its not really necessary. A lot of those play equipment sorts of things are just too rigid in the way the kids can use them. Kids need a little space, and lots and lots of wild and green! This website has some awesome ideas! http://www.letthechildrenplay.net

The last home we had was a very small workers cottage so I kept the walls a light off white, table and to unit tops were gloss white to bounce the light around. My dining chairs and bar stools were clear acrylic so that I could see through them, the ends of my island bench/brekky bar were mirrored and my curtains were textured white sheers so that they also didn't take up too much visual room. All of my furniture was on legs so that I could see under it and the lounge room rug was pulled away from the lounge just a teeny bit so that I could see a little bit of timber flooring all the way round it, that all made the floor size look just a bit bigger. Bedrooms had mirrored wardrobe doors and bathroom was almost completely white (except for dark floor) and had frameless shower screen and oversized vanity mirror to reflect as much light as possible. Friends and visitors would comment that the house was bigger than they had imagined from the outside.......it wasn't, it was just styled inside to make it look larger.

Just love that rabbit perhaps his hutch would be good to the left on the top terrace The sandstone rock and stairs to the left of your house could be worked on to look really special again, a Zen like The fern that was moved off the rocks is likened to a weed and best removed, I quite like the rock as a feature. As for any pavers any of the square or rectangle concrete ones would look great and are cheaper than most, please don't paint them you can get them from Bunnings. We also play Bocci on our grass that over looks water. great fun.

Yes to much larger rug and accent cushions in var,hinge colours, sizes & textures. Love the white sheers, striking floor lamp and large plants in raised pot stands. I also would be inclined to swap out the existing coffee table and side tables for glass-topped ones, a large circular & gold for coffee table, and either round or square side tables. I'm guessing the furniture is angled to take advantage of the view? It isn't welcoming as is so I would experiment with different arrangements. Where does that small pocket door lead? What is the room right behind the living room (where large door opening is)?