Hi Kaiti What colour are your windows/doors externally? Personally, I don't think it matters much light or dark, but what you want is contrast in colour and materials as it creates depth, interest and warmth ... I would start with the main render going all round the house ... and agree with keeping that light grey (*note: match downpipes to render e.g. 'Surfmist') ... a dark colour may work on the facade as there are other elements breaking it up, but the side elevations will look somber ... (you can always re-introduce some darker greys at the back of the house in your alfresco if applicable with say charcoal outdoor tiles for example) ... Then contrast the main render with the windows and doors ... if you're brave enough, I think black works best ... but if that's not for you then settle for a charcoal/dark grey ... Then pair up the garage door and roof which are both Colourbond, so both dark grey/charcoal e.g. 'Ironstone' or 'Monument' ... but make gutter/fascia lighter, like a mid-grey e.g. 'Dune' or 'Shale Grey' so it's not too top heavy, particularly against the underside of the eaves which are usually builder's white ... The the feature posts ... charcoal tiles if not too $$ (even try to match alfresco tiles if possible) otherwise just dark grey/charcoal will work ... in my opinion wall feature lights also work best and particulary stand out nicely against darker colours ... And finally, as you want the entry to your home to feel inviting, introduce warmth in the front projection/porch ... so timber-look panelling at the top as per your picture and matching timber decking on the porch ... note that even in your second photo they have introduced timber to make the space more cosy as only mid-dark tones of greys would leave a cold feeling... Hope that helps, and good luck! Pas

georgi02 "follow some simple guidelines, the ones that people frequently aren't told when buying wall gardens and you end up finding out the hard way" Plant walls are fashionable and seem ideal for small spaces but it would be good if the stores that sell the bits and pieces told people it's not just a trendy decor item, it needs some gardening expertise. mutcherson, is there any space between that deck and the fence? IMO the most successful low-maintenance gardening is the right choice of plant growing in the ground. As soon as you start messing around with unusual plants, unusual containers, unusual locations, you start having additional challenges. But I reckon if you want it's worth having another try with a wall using georgi02 's instructions. Succulents are easy to grow from cuttings and forgiving of lack of water. When you take cuttings of succulents you are supposed to put them aside for a while before potting them and I have found pieces I forgot I cut weeks earlier and managed to grow them. I have had some problems with succulents but that was because of frost so you you won't have that challenge.

Lots of ideas. If you go for a "grey" tile on the floor, make it a mid grey in terms of the intensity of colour but also look at a "cool" blue or green grey to match in with your blues and greens you've chosen. The picture of the grey tile looks quite a warm grey, what I would call "greige" (grey/beige). Starting to get quite personal now in the space but your gut will tell you what is best suited and works with your house.

Yeah oklouise that opens it up ...I'd Keep pool/poolhouse as is, but flip the kitchen back over so the island doesn't interrupt the vista down the passage to the pool, powder room could be worked in somewhere b/w MPR & Laundry. The adjusted stair however of course will change the upper level layout. Just a thought/question considering such a tight site, arguably a lot of unused side area that I understand is there to maintain rear access via garage, but as I see ripe for the design picking/opportunity should you concede rear access happens through the house. Considering your coming through the garage anyway you could possibly set the laundry up so that it runs lengthways down with the block and you essentially take over the external area with the flow of the laundry and when need be you access the external through the garage, into the laundry and then out - better use of the land IMO but as siriuskey said previously ultimately your home and your decisions/priorities :)