I would use graphic black and white rugs and choose a strong color such as red or lime green or colbalt blue as the color that gives punch to you apt. Get some pillows to pick up the color from the shelve where I would put some modern vases. You can find them at Marshalls or Burlington Coat Factory etc. for almost nothing or Home Goods.

What about one or two artistic small shelves in a darker wood or painted a colour in your rug? I can't find what I'm looking for, but basically a sculptural shelf or it could br a collection of small boxes together with some beautiful little artworks or collection pieces inside. You could also add a drawers or some hooks (stylishly!) to the bottom so you can hang your keys or throw your bits and pieces in the drawer. It would be the artwork and be practical too without taking up floorspace. Light it up too!

How on earth did this happen? I think the only way around it would be to lower the first step to ground level, adding an additional step to pickup the incline, I realize this will mean reducing the tread depth, but perhaps over the four it will be minimal. Regardless, having these wonderful deep treads are pointless if you can't get up on them. I would definitely create lush architectural looking foliage beneath those stairs, and continue to spill out into orgsni shaped beds either side. Things like strappy leaves, variegated varieties, ginger pants, strelizias, birds nest ferns etc. Use boulders around your foundation line to help ground the house and marry it to the landscape. The entrance is a real statement, make it lush and dramatic, incorporate lighting both undemounted to the foliage and top lit to the stairs. To define your boundary with the council land, you could creTe a rock river bed lined with similar plantings of grasses etc. It would help draw your eye upward and create platforms in your yard.

Thanks everyone for your kind contribution and feedback. Thanks especially to allanaspree for taking the time to photoshop your ideas into the photos - the centre table looks much better with your simple suggestions J (see post) I’m taking it all on board and will post the after photos.