You want very easy care so you won't have to be weeding, pruning, watering and feeding because it is hard work on a steep bank like that. Along the bottom edge, I'd plant a few soft, smaller plants that won't require trimming back and are OK to brush against. Many natives are great for tolerating poor soil and not needing to be nurtured or fussed over. Clumps of hardy grasses - enough of each to make an impact, say groups of 5-7 minimum. Perhaps red tussocks (Chionocloa rubra) for their bronze tints, and Silver tussock (Carex comans) for their graceful light green fronds, and Chionochloa conspicua, which is very pretty in flower, (like a miniature toetoe.) Mix in NZ iris like Libertia perigrinans for its bright orange spear like leaves and it will tolerate clay well. Marlborough rock daisy if it is a dry area. A little further back put in that lavender, smaller hebes for flower and scent, and possibly some of the many miniature flaxes which come in a range of colours. There are a few spreading prostrate coprosmas that are great in areas like this too. If you don't like the bronze rambler but it is growing well, think of it as the background to set off something that you like, so perhaps a spiky silvery plant like an astelia will contrast with it and be a feature, or a little bright green hebe, with white flowers would contrast nicely. Behind those, put the feijoas, full size flaxes, corokias, the larger hebes, pittosporums, and coprosmas.

An entire wall of built-in cabinets and hooks and cubbies for your crafting stuff (and perhaps filing-type stuff and printer for the office). Take a good look at what you have and think about how best to organize and store it and what could be displayed to be pretty and what should be hidden behind curtains or doors. A fold down ironing board on a wall or back of a door somewhere would be great. A nice desk and filing cabinet for the office side... or perhaps a great big table in the middle under the window, wide enough to function for both of you facing each other? A nice curtain rod would make a big difference too. Preferably just about floor to ceiling. I'd put a splash of colour on the walls and keep the curtains simple, but you could go vice-versa too. Something like this: [https://www.houzz.co.nz/photos/modern-bungalow-phvw-vp~4999540[(https://www.houzz.co.nz/photos/modern-bungalow-phvw-vp~4999540)

My very first thought was to paint the ceiling white. Some colourful artwork would be nice I think. I see you have some blue cushions, so some art with that colour would be helpful to tie it together and also a rug on the floor. What about a lampshade with a shiny chrome stand A tallish plant or two in white or pale coloured pots placed somewhere on the TV wall. I see something else on the back of the lounge suite that looks an interesting colour. Wouldn't hurt to bring that colour into the room too.

Why don't you live in the house for a while and get a feel for things. The curtains are bright but if they are still good quality / newish it would be a very expensive exercise to replace them (I have just spent a few thousand just on three rooms), you can always add a few red cushions or a red toned throw over your existing couch or a rug with a red tones in to it, to tone the red down, if required. Repainting the walls is cheaper than replacing curtains and a piece of art with red tones may also help. As far as furniture is concerned it would depend on what you like style wise. Why not send us a photo after you have moved in. You may find some of your concerns disappear once you are in and settled.