Agree about the paving stones - a mistake to be repaired & pulling them up & allowing someone on eBay to reuse them where they may match, sounds good. However, don't agree that the bricks are a mistake. Personally, I love textured bricks as you can pick out a colour from them to do trims & in 15 years, change the colours & refresh & still go well with the brick colours. I think yours are particularly nice. Removing shutters - great. If you can, take the opportunuty to take off the ornate screens on doors & windows & replace them with the very simple looking security screens. Renewing the roofing material to something that lets in more light is also a good idea. If it's not feasible to do at this time, it can always be planned in steps, but it's good to know ahead what the plan is/will be. Re colour choices. I would suggest not going with the current fashion completely. Remember when everything in every suburb was "mission brown"? Everything that has that colour is immediately dated. Best of luck, and enjoy

Hi Ann, no I don't get the vase because I have lots of vases but every now and then I think about it. I don't know where it's made but it's a really good quality, nice solid and stable and it gives enough light for the room, I suppose it depends on globe you get . R u getting it.?

I am just wondering whether it is a good thing or not to go with solid colours like the dark blue (prussian blue), grey floors and white on other walls all in tiles. I see that a lot of designers seem to do a pattern on one wall, but I haven't found one suitable and whatever I do, I just don't want it to look out of date in 5 years time. I am not sure how about much of the prussian blue tile is appropriate in order for it to be noticeable but not too overpowering.

Hi Renee, I like the space and your furniture. Grey monochromes are very soothing, but need some colour for contrast. Some greenery would provide the life to make it all work. Your main problem is access, and the way the furniture is arranged it makes a small space even smaller by creating a skinny passage to the balcony, basically dead space. Here is my suggestion for a more open furniture arrangement. This provides room for a round dining table without eliminating the buffet. I would suggest a round glass coffee table so your beautiful rug remains the defining point of the lounge area. I would keep the TV on the low unit so it won't block too much of the light. That is also a better viewing height when sitting down. A big leaf pot plant alongside would complete that end and tie it all together. You might think about getting rid of the 3 silver sculptures (hear no evil, see no evil...). Purely decorative objects can easily make a small space seem cluttered, and they steal useful unloading surfaces.