Here's what we did to cover a metal fence that surrounded us. We had an ugly (but brand new) Stratco metal fence that borders the rear house, plus down two sides of the house. Everyday that I looked out onto this metal fence from the kitchen window (with the view of the neighbours over the top of this fence) it became more unappealing, the more we dreamt of a vertical garden instead, but we knew that would take time or a lot of expense, and I couldn't wait that long for that fence view to disappear from view. The solution was some wicker fence cladding, we bought it in 1.8m high by 3 metre rolls from Bunnings (big hardware chain in Australia for those OS) for $30 per roll, it came in a variety of sizes, but we needed that to cover our metal fences. You can do this with a brushwood fence, or to create a barrier from the heat of fence to your plants, you can even clad your fence in what my husband calls "blue-board", it's a thin fibreboard, cheap to buy, in almost any size, it can handle any harsh outdoors, & you can render over it in, paint over or colour the render in any colour you like - a light sand or cream colour will look nicer against any green living vertical garden you choose to put in. My husband made a wooden treated-pine frame around each metal fence panel, and screwed the wicker fence covering to it, with a washer so it held on the uneven twigs that formed the wicker cladding. My husband did such a good job of this, we had a small tornado come through our suburb, winds up to 200km/hr -4 of our closest neighbours lost significant parts of their tiled rooves, but all we lost was one of the stratco metal fence panels, but not the twig fence screwed to the frame my husband made! It helped we were nestled with neighbours in rear & front strata subdivided blocks, houses beside & behind us.. but that wicker twig fence covering & the frame did survive our tornado. Here's what we did on the ground - You can see it a little in the photo's above; as ground cover (with some stone you can get delivered or they often loan you a trailer when you buy a load or 2) we had a couple of cubic metres of ord river stone delivered (mixed sizes) brought it out the back by wheelbarrow, laid it over some weed mat on the ground, creating like a dry river bed effect beside the decked paths down the sides that connect the front and back decks. On the far wall behind the cubby and the slow growing variety of bamboo, we planted several cutting of a friends Ivy that was like a green waterfall over her boundry fence. Within a year, with mains watering (on a timer with misted sprinklers for 5mins once a day that does all our potplants and the side & rear gardens too) we had our own green waterfall, we cut it back when it's long green tendrils start growing along the gound towards the house. A fantastic effect that is very hardy, and cost us nothing! We don't have the wicker fence surround down that side of the house as we don't see the ugly metal fence at all now. In the hottest parts of our summer (up to 46-47C degrees), a few of the ivy's leaves get burnt around the edges, but it's easy just to cut these off. We planted a smaller leaf, much slower growing ivy (on the right in the photos) in the ground on the back fence beside the wicker fence surround, and put up some wire horizontal lines for the ivy to grow along. The 2 bottom photo's are taken 1 year apart so you can see how much it's grown. If you put vines in pots, you will limit (or control) their ability to cover your fence. We cut holes in the weed mat, and planted about 4 native violet ground cover plants. The effect is quite beautiful now, in the heat of summer, the native violet wilts when it's thirsty, but always comes back when it's watered and after summer. We've also put several plants in pots along the fence line to create our garden "oasis" out beside the back deck and down the side (creating garden view from each of the bedroom windows as well as from the kitchen window out the back). We cut some lattice & this blocks out the view of the rear neighbours completely, plus with shadecloth backing on the lattice, it also protects the cafe blinds that surround our back patio from sun damage in summer when they are rolled up in summer. So whatever you plant along the fence, you'll need to create a narrow garden bed in the ground for it to grow well from (we bordered our garden beds along the side fence with narrow 25mm wide limestone blocks or perhaps with railway sleepers or you can buy coated tin garden bed border), most plants or creepers will thrive if they room to spread their roots, even if the fence is hot. There is a small leafed creeper (planted in ground), that sticks to the vertical surface, It has completely covered our stone pillars out the front garden, next to our front gate that looks fantastic - Can't recall what it's called though?? It's taken about 5 years to cover the pillar, but we only planted one (wish we'd bought more now, I've looked but can't find any more of it). We put 3 mid sized chinese jasmin's down the side (behind where the first photo was taken), in narrow in-ground garden beds down the other side of the house. It took a couple of years for these to take off and spread out along the fence line (length of our house), but in the beginning of spring this year they were all in bloom and it created a very fragrant as well as visually appealling cover over and through the wicker fence. The horizontal wire helped so we could wind the jasmin along it as it grew for the best coverage. I wouldn't use those barrels as planters for any vines or creepers, just create a narrow garden bed along the fence line (& beef up the soil quality with sheep or other organic fertilizer,) and even some soil wetter or water crytsals thar will hold the water amongst the roots for up to 3 months, helping any young plants make it out of their infancy so they live and thrive. The water crystals do expand into a gel once they absorb water, so make sure they are well mixed into the soil and buried below the surface around the plants roots for their best effect. The barrels would look better painted, with as mldesign0401 suggested, those strappy leafed plants like the Strelizia's (or birds of paradise), or a tree fern in a shady spot. My hubby also put a variety of herb seedlings into one of those half barrels, put some castors on the bottom of the barrel, as a gift for his Mum, and this way she can move her herb garden about, into the sun as it moves from season to season, in & out of the rain, etc, and she loves it!! Don't forget that a good part of the enjoyment of a garden is watching it grow over time, so beware of mass planting and consider what you plant and how much water and sunlight it gets from season to season. Some of the best advice we had, was have a look at what is thriving around your neighbourhood, ask your friends or neighbours for cuttings, don't be afraid to move plants around if they don't like the first spot you put them in, or if they don't look quite right in that spot. We were also quite ruthless with the plants we bought, chopped several into halves and quarters through the potbound roots (the native violet ground cover, the water-plants, several others), before putting them in the ground, so we spent far less that way. Cutting or chopping through the roots with a knife or shovel, cleanly instead of tearing them apart seems to traumatise the plants far less from my experience. We have an Orange Trumpet vine that does very well here in Perth in WA, but as it can handle WA's heat and still thrive, it might be good idea for someone else out there in Houzz reader land.. ,,although, it does take up a lot of real estate when it's completely covered a fence, it needs room or regular haircuts once established. Looks very impressive in bloom though! We have Wisteria along our front wall, we have trained it along the front boundary fences, it's tendrils of new growth need regular haircuts, but even though it prefers horizontal trellis's or an arbour, over a few years, we have succeeded in taming it onto vertical green fencelines. In spring, when the flowers drape like grapes on a vines, it's just gorgeous, even when it's just the green living walls, it's so much nicer to have living walls and to be surrounded in vertical garden (& that's why for me the fences that usually contain us, transform the space to make us feel different about the spaces that surround or contain us). Using lighting will create a different mood & effect after dark, spot lights or those bollard lights at ground level, and if you lay the wiring (or solar if it gets enough sun) when you're making the garden beds, putting in the plants at the same time, you'll be glad you did later on once everything has started to take off. Or you buy enough fairy lights to do the length of the fence line if you have outside power close by or can hide an extension cord somwhere. I love the sharing ideas and the stories side of this site, I need some help with a structure for shading our front deck by the pool; our West Oz summer sun is scorching- I'm sure the houzz community will have some ideas & photo's that will help us...

A great concept, I've often considered doing so myself. Whats great about your bodo boards, and the schemes put together on this poll, is that they are quite adaptive with a neutral foundation. They can be easilyapplied to everyone. I love an emphasis on tone and texture, and in place of colour, visual interest is really added by accents, architecture and artwork. The australian bush scheme is very textural, although I think the palette could explore some of the more chromatic tones in our bush, some organic notes of green and taupes, but perhaps with vibrant yellows or deep indigos for example introduced. as for the romantic industrial, lovely, but it is only so because of the rose pink. A feminine take on industrial would to me be softened with humanised accents. Please explain, industry is mechanical, and romance or femininity is softness, so perhaps signage featuring lettering, or bespoke handicrafts which show the connection between industry, and loved spaces created out of collecting. Almost a way of feathering our nest. waterfont is cool, calm and yes collected. Literally. I love coastal schemes, but they can become a little predictable when they are literal interpretations of sea and sand. Coastal can easily be adapted to a relaxed style and I feel many colours can be applied to demonstrate this costal palette. . The key is in muting the scheme and enhancing the textures from nature. Tha grand! Oh the grand. I love it. Who doesn't really. Its very now, but the drama and edge is lost in applying same old collaborations. The geometric tile, chevron, hexagonal or penny rounds are gorgeous, and befitting the current style, but more so appropriate in specific architectural styles, not everyone an have a warehouse or loft, or grand 1920s residence, although we all try to use these same materials and formats. Precious metals and stones are the height of popularity and luxury, brass, marble and glass, are all in favour, actually have never been out of it. What I want is to see the used in a contemporary fashion. It is my pick, because it actually does respond to my own homes architecture, so I'm always on a hunt and gather of images and ideas to develop this gorgeous and luxe style. Whats next? Usually in an effort to be new and different, we move away from what's in front of us, but ever so gradually. I think the appreciation for industry, form and function, man made objects, formats, collaborations will be in favour for some time, so to in an effort to be different, organic will evolve. Colour notes, timbers, sustainability and natural form will emerge. Not to say literall greens or Browns, but more so, soft geometry, tactile materials and surfaces, perhaps a focus on light and shade over shimmer and style. bespoke practices, so things if stone and wood, and one off designs, as in using products that can't be replicated in process, like bricks, every ones different, veneers, grained materials, and unpretentious designs. Hand scribed lines, patterns or prints, I think will favour. Thestyle of now is definitely one we aspire to, as in luxe and indulgent, the monochromatic scheme which is actually ACHROMATIC people is overdone, but will never be out of favour. It is classic. When done right, it is the epitome of style, only the definition of that is what changes! love what you do....I can't articulate the value of conceptualising your style in finishes and fittings, design is often felt not learnt, and we respond to our environments, so it makes sense that seeing your style emerge from a collective consciousness in the form of a board, will literally transform your ideas in reality. As a designer myself, I'm constantly creating them. My own home is a work in progress, which I've created many concepts for. I'm very interested in seeing your perspective on it though, and I'd be very grateful for a bodo board from your design perspective. ml

Hi Harmony, Yes it is getting there! Laundry/kitchen: If I can read the dims my plan will work very well. See if you can follow me here.. left to right dims… l'd 600 bench, 1 m walk, 600 broom & shelf in pantry, 700 depth for 'frige and panty is then 1300, 1200 between benches & 1200 wide island = 2400 along outside wall for DW & sss. This should leave 3600 for meals which is great. Keep chute: get it in the right place! washing then arrives in l'dry. So bench backing garage is where u want bench (sorting) sink (rinse & soak) WM then TD if you need one with bench above. and overhead cupboards to keep the nasties out of kiddies reach. This is the flow of washing from dirty to washed to go outside. The other side backing kitchen is ideal to have some rails to finish off drying or airing, for brought in clean clothes, when ready: fold, stack for kids to take back up stairs. With broom cupboard next to outside door, there are no dead corners! Yippee! Someone put a powder room in here but not needed with the guest bedroom just across the hall. I was trying to make the shower and loo not visible from hall but still accessible from outside. I am sure guests staying of visiting can use this bathroom. Upstairs: I like my layout for ensuite: robe first putting distance between bathroom and bed. Window in robe I mentioned, so you can find sox without light, also lovely to open up for fresh air blast every now then. Looking along vanity to bath and to window. I do like the separate room for loo please with a window. Again not sure of dims but sure it will fit. Bathroom is tope with three people able to use it at once and each area with light and air. Doesn't matter with linen store. to have light and air. This looks to me like a lot of house to clean but a forever home to enjoy entertaining as kiddies grow and family expands. I hope you let us know the final plans and built pix would be lovely to see too. May I ask a favour of you: to write a short testimonial on my page here on Houzz so as others can find me and my design skills too. Thank you Cheers and good luck. Margot

I would keep the paint as it is , at least initially , but like you and Larkspur Lane Design say , concentrate on the accessories and bring in some colour that way . Just one thing -- Linkspur mentioned cushions -- you didn't . I assume the couch is staying , its practical but it needs lifting , so pick your ( or the consensus ) favourite colour , and have fun with cushions -- say 4 or 5 bright yellow ones , and 4 or 5 yellow and white chevron ones ; or purple or green or red or burgundy or . . . . . . . heaps of them , some in solid , some in stripes or 2 tone or polka dot or chevron . The larger wall ( lounge and dining areas ) I'd wallpaper in something in the similar tones as your cushions , toned down a bit ( or contrasting ) . Basically , a feature wall , with a large $200 clock and maybe a couple of small black and white prints . Some art ( I like abstract ) -- a large one on one of the other lounge walls . Maybe a rug too -- subtle or bright , just not clashing . Then you could really double down . 'This end' of the servery I'd do in your chosen yellow or burgundy or whatever , and re-tile the kitchen in similar toned tiles -- the white 'splashback' ones do absolutely nothing style or colourwise IMO . Right now , the plants are the brightest points -- I love plants , but when they are the most noticable thing , that's a worry . Work with the white , beige and grey ( and the plants ) , but use colour to lift everything .