It's refreshing to see nautical, navy BLUE. Everyone is saying the same thing for the most part - just introduce another color, definitely bright (yellow or orange IMO) and it will make it more current. What I really like is how your style will withstand the test of time - and with minor updates now and then it will always look fresh and "current".

Thanks Orangecamera. It's still a work in progress and mud everywhere Sorry we did look at having the steps' off set' but it didn't seem to go with only three steps and a small area. And about the zen well the cats are doing that for us much to our disappointment (it's still like a litter box to them). We went to the garden supply place still not knowing what kind of stones we were getting. We stood in front of all the bins (there where many). We even looked at mixing some. The grey stones had a bin more the size we wanted but we ended up getting the golden fleck. It was a little smaller, which was a shame, the bigger ones were so mixed in their grading it looked too messy. So this is what we finished up with. It was seagardens that got me thinking away from grey and nwduck mentioning the drainage. So this has really helped. Also everyone seem to think the wooden steps needed to go a lot lower. Next it's figuring out where the large river stones should go

We got the IKEA shelves that are pictured in the butlers pantry photo I posted when we were on holiday in Melbourne, Australia. We don't have IKEA here in New Zealand! Hubby is going back over in May/June so will get him to get more of that sort of thing when there. We would pay about 4x the price for that sort of thing here in NZ. I need to work out what I will do now where the fridge was and there is the angle change (does that make sense?).

no problem, so are you saying that wall is closest, but stronger, do you think it might like a smokey teal? that is very in right now, or is it like the grayed out turquoise on the coverlet? Grey would be a wonderful accent with that. Have you thought of making your headboard? So amazingly simple? Give yourself like a nice padded gray? Could go for a silk or velvet? oh do you have dark hairy people? you know like black retrievers or something? that could be a problem. If you put covered buttons, there is actually a little tool (under $10 does it all for you. really glam it up. do these help? I think i would go with light gray or a variation of the wall color. let me know when you are ready for more. Couple ideas for bedside stands, first 2 less than $100, last one idea for alternative.