Thanks for asking Gioenne Rapisarda. Its been a while since I put this up! Unfortunately other unexpecteds claimed priority. I have been spending a lot of time off my feet, so time to fantacise and sketch. Have gone through heaps of possibilities on paper. Some look promising, many are far to eccentric but have been interesting explorations. Fence and screen designing is not a job I've been trained for but I seem to have a little bit of flair. The exercise has taken me to some very interesting internet sites and have discovered new materials. Found myself, for unrelated reasons, driving through an up market new suburb in Sydney where many new architect designed, privacy screened homes..no idea where that was but have sketch ideas from some of those really...designed... fences Do not want to make an overstatement here.....just a practical remedy and remove my lovely stable-natured the dog from the site of the antagonism. My best idea at present is to extend and convert an existing large fernery in that yard and not involving that fence at all. Just a tidy-up there. This would eliminate the danger to cocky boys hanging over it making mischief. The local boys in blue have been of assistance as well...."adjusting" the cheeky boys! For now have a temporary solution for my big black boy and he's happy not being teased. Thanks again for your interest Gioenne. Did you have a suggestion ? Something I could add to my sketch book of ideas? Input from other creative minds is always welcome.

What a find! Most houses of this era in Sydney have been gutted and renovated or bulldozed. Agree with all previous comments on keeping the general era as is, just freshen up. Definitely do the left hand window, either a tart up or replacement. Only disadvantage with pulling up carpet for the (no doubt beautiful) floorboards is that they didn't exactly have the same building standards back then! There may be gaps between the tongue and groove, or patchy lengths if they were always going to carpet over the top. You will probably want to insulate under them too. Possible better to keep the carpet until you have the money set aside for any eventuality of replacement work. If you don't want to keep the interior trim timber, just make sure you sand back the layers of estapol that would have been put on the over the years. The original was probably an oil based stain with shellac over it and others would have been added over the top. Many undercoats or stain blockers or even ESP claim to 'cover up' old stain etc, but in the 6 houses I have done for myself, and 13 houses I have flipped, I have not seen any of them work properly. Colour from underneath still bleeds through. I use a Black & Decker mouse with 80 grit paper to rip the top off, then go back over it with 120 or 140 grit. Make sure you have a P2 mask on while doing it! It is a bit of work, but worth it in the long run. The finish will be smoother, the colour more uniform and you won't get bleed in the future. A Pascol undercoat on the trim, then Dulux Natural White (which is a soft white with warmth) low sheen on the walls and an Aquanamel in the same colour semi gloss (or gloss if you like that) for the trim. It is a colour that takes on the characteristics of whatever colours you put with it, unlike a stark white that screams against anything competing with it, or a tinted white that you need to compliment. As for landscaping, I agree with Annie Cass. Homes like this were of the traditional English era and were complimented by an English country garden. Quite formal with borders, roses and flowering shrubs. Very thirsty too! Annie's suggestions are the Australian version of that though you will have to keep the cyprus' down. They do grow quite tall and will block the view/sunlight from the front. The RHS of the driveway looks ripe for Jasminoides (star Jasmine. They require little are of soil for planting and little water once established. Green all year and have the most glorious scented white flowers. Unlike Ivy or some other climbers, they are not invasive. Run some steel cable along the fence through each of the uprights (drill holes and thread through with turnbuckles on the ends) for it to climb on. It will be the only thing you need down there as it should take off nicely with all that sun! Just make sure you poke the tendrils back and train them regularly to keep it on the wires and keep it trimmed back so as to not block your driveway. Most of all, have fun with it!

A very interesting brief indeed! The back of your house has quite a symmetrical look to it, so I think formal lines and symmetry would definitely work in the garden as an extension. I'm thinking rows of Citrus trees and even some Olives to create a Mediterranean theme. This will also tie in to having raised planters. Using recylced apple crates for the vegetable planters is a great idea and they can sit easily within a crushed granite. A focal urn can sit directly opposite the decking area and you could incorporate an area of large format square pavers around it. These can be either laid together as a pavement or be separate steppers with the crushed granite between them. Here's an example of steppers in crushed gravel with some feature urns. Other good plants to consider are: Lavender, Rosemary, Box hedge, Portuguese Laurel and Echiums. Here are a couple of examples (from google): It sounds like a great project. Best of luck!

Hi Rick, I am presuming you are in Queensland because of the pebble crete driveway. If so i would suggest you get rid of the whole dated bed and go back to lawn. Save what you can from the bed, the palms and conifers would look great in pots. They could also be put in long planter box under the front window symmetrically with an agave in the middle. Your house has straight geometric lines so would suit formal style garden with Murraya hedging, grow to mid thigh height across the front from letterbox , leaving open for entry path, and both sides could be higher. For height I would plant advanced Bangalow palms or candle stick Cyprus pines either side of your entry, and put a stepping stone pathway in the lawn, from your front boundary near letterbox to the front door to save visitors from squeezing past cars. The other path which comes off the driveway would be just for your own use. I would under plant these with 3 Cycads or Zanadu for each, fill in and edge with Rhoeo making a small bed. This will make your entry stand out. Improve soil with compost or cow manure be for planting and mulch well with dark cottage mulch. On the right hand side between the end of the window and the new hedge I would plant a shady evergreen specimen tree in the front corner of thelawn. The trees over the road in the pictures look good. Tuckeroo tree? Under plant to soften with star jasmine ground cover. Clip to keep neat. your lawn needs feeding then it will lush up and be more protected from the heat. Keep blade high, don't scalp! Simple and clean lines look modern and stylish. Good luck! Josie