The fence will end up being a modern picket fence, We aren't sure if we should grass the two squares or plant it out, it's a nice sunny spot, but we have nosey neighbours that we are trying to make disappear, if then it becomes more private then a seated area could be really nice, Hopefully the right plants will work or we will have to go with plan B, of installing barbed wire and two wild Dobermans!

I think the most impact would come from a well placed, well sized Acer. You can get them grown fairly tall already, Tamata have them and I'm sure there are other places. I'd get one that grows to no more than 3 metres (although check this against your property as scale is hard to gauge from photo), and has changing colours of leaves/bark. I'd place it towards the left of the property, looking at it. That will give some balance to the windows, provide some privacy but not obscure light. It wouldn't be a cheap option but cheaper than painting the house, and would need almost no aftercare. Then some easy care phormiums in the border underneath the windows. Both phormiums and acers come in a range of colours- limes, bronze, purples, oranges, dark reds etc, so choose what you like. The acers are soft and provide movement and variety, the phormiums sharp and provide solid consistent structure. This echoes the plants that can be seen already behind and at the side of the house and should make the hour 'sit within' its environment instead of bing perched on top of it. Also, the edge of the driveway- I would dig a border to just beyond the seam of the gate, lay down a weed mat, and put some stones in there. The garden centre has a range of them, in several colours from white through green red greys and blacks. If you chose reddish (or reddish and lime/orange) tones for your acer/phormiums, I would prob buy a large specimen plant in a pot for the top of the driveway, at the eight hand side of the garage, to link the colours. And maybe paint the front door and have some pot plants there that tone in too, especially in the area near the path that can be seen from the street. For a cleaner line I'd consider painting the lower part of the decking (the vertical frontage) to tone in with your house.

HI there! I saw your comment on the midcentury modern/Hamptons story so thought I would trot on over to see your post! What a gorgeous little entrance you have there! That panelling is so smooth, is it real timber? Usually it is done in knotty pine and can be way too in your face. I have a lot of off white painted knotty pine VJ boards in my midcentury house and I love it. It is a shame about the gap left in the parquet, although i think it is a bit much with the timber on the walls. Would you consider laying some terrazzo on the floor of the entrance hall? that would look fabulous and bring some light into the space. Is the carpet coming up? I would get a beautiful big pot and add a lush plant again - it is a great way break up all the geometry in the hallway. Without seeing your space in person and knowing more about the house and the people living in it. It also depends on your budget, but it would be wonderful to keep the architectural integrity of your home. Check out the US publication, Atomic Ranch, and you will get some great ideas! If you are in Melbourne, you are welcome to give me a call - but standby for lots of good advice coming from the rest of the Houzz crew! www.pleasedtobijou.com

This family had no access around their house and they have always used their front door to get into their house and a slider door out to the back lawn. We are busy creating a functional space all around their house, a flat paved area from their laundry to their washing line, a fence and gate so they can easily get their bins to the street for collection, step-down terraces to get them to their existing lawn space with planting on both sides. Some beautiful garapa wooden steps (same as their existing deck) between 2 new honed block retaining walls that will create 2 new planter boxes. This is a replica of their existing boundary wall.