We bought the bamboo in 20cm pots. Fargesia "Fortune" I think about $30 a pot . They grew over a metre in the first year (we live in Bright in N.E Victoria - a cool climate). This year we expect a 1 and a half metre growth for those in dappled sun - less in full sun. Some say they grow 90cm wide while others say 2m. If you put down a border you can restrict their width. Ours are also very bushy at the base. "A superb architectural plant. Fargesia bamboo are clump forming and non-invasive, they are regarded as one the hardiest forms of bamboo, they can be grown in containers or planted as a screen. If so a root barrier will help the keep a narrow shape. Very adaptable to most conditions, thrive best in part shade with dappled sunlight but will cope with full sun, although the foliage may curl a little if exposed to this heat for long periods. Fargesia bamboo love plenty of water and organic fertiliser. . Growing to 3-4mt tall and 70-90cm wide." (description from an online nursery) I also agree with Pittosporum. My late father was a very keen gardener and used these as privacy fencing with great effect.

Hi Deb, If this place were mine I would be going for a timeless Australian look to blend with your native and European plant choices that's durable for our climate. I would start with a portico built over the entry in hardwood with a colour bond pitched lined roof trim all the wood in white. Clad the walls with Hardies weather boards or flat planks, building a wide timber trim around the downstairs window to create a feature. I'd go with charcoal walls to compliment the white trim classic colours that will endure time. I'd clad the retaining walls all with a stacker stone tile that resembles old English mortar less stone walls. Some outdoor lights by Barnlighting Autralia are classics. If you want a cheap alternative creeper over the bricks, be aware that all vines will erode the mortar and attract spiders, yet my favourite creeper for this application would be "ficus pemula" it sits really flat and can be trained as a solid wall. Perfect for privacy. You could pave the entry path with "Millboards" wharf style boards so it looks like a beach path, they will never rot or need maintenance, otherwise you can use concrete moulded timber look planks. Some flax grasses to add to the coastal look. As for this upstairs Windows, what was the building designer thinking?.. There's a couple of choices, you can create one way visibility with white shutters inside or out, line the glass with sunblock film or have some exterior screens fitted outside with laser cuts screens, timber etc or replace the windows and create a more balanced frontal feature with higher rectangular windows. This cladding can take to a contemporary look, coastal look, bush style etc. the best feature of this cladding is the additional insulation and uniformity. Have fun

I had a client with a similar low pergola, that was in quite good condition, but didn't have adequate slope for drainage, and felt quite oppresive as it was so low. As part of a much larger renovation I designed a soaring, butterfly roof structure to sit on top of the existing pergola with a generous box gutter down the centre. One "wing" of the butterfly overlaps the original tiled roof, but is about 600mm above the tiles. This makes it possible to clean the original gutter fairly easily. This overlap is enough to keep most of the rain out, apart from when it gets really windy and rainy at the same time. Photo below is original pergola structure: Photos taken during construction, before polycarbonate roofing installed: The final result has a lovely, light and airy feeling, and doesn't trap the hot air like your standard flat roofs that are tied into the existing eave. It also seems to capture any breeze on a hot day. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Thanks, Paul. Totally hear what you're saying. We feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Consulting a designer would have been our first port of call. But we're cautious for very good reason. We did what we thought was the sensible thing and consulted a 'designer' for our internal renovations. We got burned big time. We're fearful the same thing could happen again, when the wrong landscape designer spots the garden illiterate coming too. We simply can't afford to make that mistake again, but understand the consequences of not consulting a designer. Consulting the trades direct does arm us with more knowledge (so we can spot the con artist a little sooner), but we don't want to be time wasting tyre kickers either. We've had some great word of mouth referrals with other trades. But due to lack of exposure or bad experiences, absolutely no-one can recommend a designer or landscaper. That in itself makes us a bit nervy.