Now it's beginning to work! Luv the rug! A few more red showstoppers, and I luv the post about matting your family pic, and larger frame for it. Looks like you might be a bit uncomfortable with the great post idea of moving your sofa out into the room away from wall. If so, could you accept putting it diagonally from the entrance doorway, across that corner where it is, stopping at the edge of your window? That's a bit of a move outward, still can see the fp and tv, and show off your new rug, which could go diagonally in front of the sofa. Then, if you like that, after a while you could move it on out as Deb K suggests. Sometimes intermediate steps are more doable for us than those big changes.Same with painting; if you could first paint just the fp wall, then later paint other walls...seems some color would really make it more homey. Would you cosider a quite contemporary fixture for the light in the center ceiling? Maybe a bit of red could go there!

Ozbern: we had a similar dilemma, lovely backyard and then they started tearing down bungalows and building four story townhouses all around us. I built a single depth pergola along the back property line, the beauty of this is not only the privacy, but it brings the scale of the yard down to make it feel more intimate when we are outside. We also added a 10' x 10' (little over three meters) pergola right up against the house where we had a wall of windows. Will try to find that photo too. We have coral vine now growing in it. Dies in winter, comes back in spring. You can always do more contemporary details if this is too casual.

Personally I cannot see what the problem is - I don't mind the presentation. It is not in your face wonderful. but it is never going to be. Its neat and tidy which is really important when it comes to home presentation. I don't like your idea re the bitsy garden at all. It will completely ruin the existing facade. Why not consider a line of pots - big pots running parallel to the wooden fence. The pots need to be all the same - maybe 5 in number. Tall and narrow in shape. Use quality potting mix and consider a native grass in all of the pots like Lomandra Nyalla. This plant will last for years in a big pot and they are tough. But take care of them because if you do this and dont take care of them,. then crappy pot plants are worse than not doing anything at all. Why not remove the lawn that you don't like and use a fine aggregate like Lillydale Toppings with a good base underneath. The effect that I have suggested is neat and tidy but also will give the area a professional, more modern look. If in doubt, leave as is! Alison

This made me laugh: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/09/seagull-turns-orange-after-falling-into-vat-of-chicken-tikka-masala I couldn't copy the picture, but it's hilarious.