I agree that charcoal would be nice - softer than black Just check that it has a greenish base, as that will work with Woodland grey Use a coppery colour for the front door and follow the theme by using rusted metal pots and mail box, as julie herbert suggested Pebblecrete for the pathways will complete the theme of natural materials, then give the garden some personality by contouring beds and mulching with pebbles and stones in the grey, brown and black colours of the building Perhaps a winding path to the front door Use Woodland grey for the new garage door If you really want to change the roof tiles, make them a greenish grey too With medium sized shrubs - magnolia, camellia, mock orange as well as soft grasses, the garden will finish the project nicely You don't have to do it all at once - it's nice to let the process evolve as you develop confidence Have fun and let us know what you decide

Hi Samantha You have a challenge. Because of the steep slope you wi need soil binding plants to stop erosion. Agapanthus (I notice some already planted) now come as non-weedy forms that are excellent for binding the soil. Alternatively your home would look great with natives. There are some excellent lower growing forms of Bottlebrush that could be massed for their vibrant colour. Your home is not a cottage, so stick with a few choice plants and mass plant them. I also believe that you need trees. If there is a view, views always look better when not whole - that it is broken in places ideally by tall tree trunks with a high canopy. This allows you to look through while retaining the bulk of the view.

This is really a utility area. You have a washing line, an air conditioner unit, which are noisy, and a hot water system in that area. I would not be spending a great deal on flooring. I would purchase more planters for flowers and vegetables and put them along the fence line. I can see your small outdoor seating is in the corner, because it would be in the way for the washing line, but ideally have that in the middle or to where the cat is sitting. Then lots of flowering plants and greenery along the entire perimeter of the courtyard space. This is something you could do yourself after a trip to Bunnings or a similar retail shop. The concrete ground just needs a good sweep. If you install decking then this may need ongoing maintenance and not really achieve anything. Don’t pay money for someone to do this job, when it is quite achievable by yourself, and fun, and satisfying. If you are not physically capable then a handyman gardener would purchase and pot all the plants.

@bigreader thanks for your comments. I think we may as well forget the retaining wall anyway! That's not going to be for a good number of years yet! I'm inclined to keep the top hedge as it flows on from the rest of the hedge bordering the lawn (see image below) on the top bank. But the bottom line of hedges get too much water so would be happy to replace them. With the tree, what height are you suggesting under? I am wondering if it would it be too close to the tree on the other side of the path? There is also the tree to the far left of the garden bed? Would some larger plants be more suited to here like a QLD Spear Lily with a few different types of smaller plants as you suggest to fill out the garden bed? But what would you suggest as a border/edging for the front of the garden bed? Rocks or a hardy wet soil loving plant?