Thanks everyone for your further comments. No problem about it being an old post, always nice to communicate with people about design solutions/problems. Jilly, I posted some photos on 1st January 2016, they appear further up in the post. Garden Beet Pty Ltd, and Morel Construction Ltd, both of your solutions look great, but our problem still remains the western Queensland sun which is pretty vicious on anything that will either wilt, fade or break down. It was quite a difficult challenge to come up with something that was affordable, workable and durable. I would love to have had plants because I believe they soften large "hard" exterior areas, but we have decided that we will do that with pots around the pool area. Still have that to do, even after all this time. :) Thanks everyone for re-igniting this chat. Jilly, hope you find something that works for you.

Your long wall room. Scandi look is lighter timber .. If you can swap your dark furnitures to lighter pieces . The room is already dark. For your dark floor boards may be get in a light rug? It will zone it a bit? As for the wall what about wall paper panels? ie not the whole wall ..that way you can take them off when you're sick of the design? something fun similar to this? still Scandi and will brighten up your room? bottom photo is an example of what panels look like . It will help define the areas . The different floor covering would help with defining kids' area from adult area too.

Julie Herbert I was thinking of your suggestion for the bench seat and large mirror thoughts as to whether that it would work in this area were I have the triangle shelf. I could move the shelf to another area. What size mirror would I look at for this area.

We had the same issue however our wall was also the walkway through the open plan kitchen/living. We found a long console table, with shelving below that houses our board games and puzzles as well as few decorator items. We also made a large artwork to hang above. Now the stark wall looks pretty good! Sorry, i don't have a photo to share with you