So many good suggestions and ideas, thank you everybody :) partim I actually had the lounge room exactly how you described to begin with, I know it's hard to visualize through just seeing the photos I've put up but it didn't work as the couch coffee table and tv unit were jammed in together leaving little walk through space and there was a lot of unusable wasted space in the corner where the tv is. I contemplated getting a corner lamp table at the time but what we really need is more sitting space than table space. I changed the room around to this and we liked it much better as the window wasn't obstructed as well. the walking space between couch and cone lamp hasn't been a problem. The absolute last thing after rugs etc will be to move the bigger bookcase that's next to wood heater to another room and put an armchair there :) that will require renovation of the other rooms first. our records are all in alphabetical order and I love them but wouldn't display them any more than I have already as it's not a huge focal point. decoenthusiaste I love the idea of putting the small bookcase on its side behind the couch and could do this if I put a finish on the top and the base! unfortunately it will no longer be able to hold the records if I do that as the shelves are an awkward shape. (Smaller shelf is better for holding records to keep them in separate categories and keep them standing up than the bigger shelf) redpoint, I know! I've always been a timber floor person. When we moved in I was set on putting wood floors down in future. Although these tiles lack character, since living with them I must say the practicality of them outweighs the aesthetics of wood. I can move furniture around without scratching the floor and know I'll never have to ever sand and re polish the floor from wear and tear and they feel cool to walk on in the hot, dry summer. I'm leaning towards getting a sandy coloured slate put down one day. That should add more character to the place :) and my future tribal rugs will work either way. The view is fine, it's just a neat suburban street. I feel too exposed for now with the curtains open and would like a privacy screen put up with a nice garden bed as a view when we get around to re paving and landscaping. It's a southern view so the winter sun now shines through our front windows, which gets a bit bright at times. The brown rug was given to us as a stop gap for absorbing sound and catching the walked in dirt. If I moved it in front of the couch the "brownness" of it would hurt my eyes while I'm trying to relax in my little living space hehe I would consider cutting up the wall hanging or doing something else with it yes, good idea :) Zag Built LLC, I like the idea of a round or oval coffee table! Thos. Baker, a new piece of art would be nice

Barbara pretty spot on. Sand on base is best for temporary situation and you can leave it when the pool gets put away for winter. Another way to level is setup up a string line in a square ie. 4 stakes to hold it up and level the string line. Use the string line as a visual guide and you can also measure down from it as you go. As you dig the higher ground, you effectively move it the lower end. Saves having to get rid of dirt and you can restore it to its former natural slope when you returf. Compact the fresh pile at the lower end and use the rubble to help hold it together. Your other problem of turf not growing in that area has little to do with the rubble in my opinion. Does it get plenty of winter sun? Do you feed it/water it regularly? I grew over 20 sq. metres of turf on a cement slab in my yard with only 100mm (10cm) of dirt which also had concrete rubble mixed in. It had no direct sun in winter but still stayed green throughout, beautifully in summer. Good luck.

emerald..don't know how you full time mum does it..I wouldn't be able to cope lol I only work part time and yet on the days I work I don't even look after myself properly lol. took the kids to Yum Cha today so I bought groceries at Melb Central before hopping on the train back .. just making a stir fry tonight..was going to have stir fried noodles..turned out my Hokkien noodles are expired..this is the reason why I don't buy stuff beforehand lol so will wing it and have with rice..one wok wonder with some scallops from the freezer.. my kids are easy they don't ever whinge about what I cook they know better..as sometimes I don't cook at all lol

What a beautiful kitchen! Colour really depends in the style you are looking for...I have a similar space to you and I went with this light blue/aqua tile....I love it and the first thing most people comment on is how calming it is....I wanted a casual calm beachy feel to my home and it worked perfectly for me! Another option I saw at a friend's recently was a soft ?dove grey glass subway tile (similar to the 2nd photo) in a herringbone pattern...it looked amazing with all white cabinetry.... neutral but if you love bright red option then accessories in red such as toaster kettle etc would really pop...and that way if you tire if red u can change accessories cheaper than a splashback/wall.