Lost my internet this morning for some stupid reason so trying to catch up now. Talking kids and heights, my grands here are absolutely racing skyward at the moment. I'm 5'6" but all my daughters are taller than me - 5'8 - 5'9". My 15 year old grandson took great delight when they visited on Saturday to come straight in and stand over me. Said he had had a growth spurt that last week and he is now a full head taller than me. Then my 12 year old granddaughter had to join in as she is now 5'8". The 10 year old boy then had to give me a hug and he is almost looking me in the eye. DD reckons I'm shrinking. The 9 year old girl is pretty much a 9 year old but my daughter's partner's kids came too, his son is the same age and height as my 15 year old but his daughter at 8 is almost at eye level with me too. They so fill the house when they are here. At least is isn't as bad as when my mum was alive, she was only about 4'10" and everyone used to crowd around her and pat her on the head like the family dog. I don't have to try very hard to be fave grandparent, the others are hopeless, particularly the mother. She is very much a business woman and just isn't on kid level at all and very tight with money. I was just chasing curtain rods and fittings today - boring stuff - and found a pretty cushion that is done in a soft taffeta and absolutely covered in flowers of the same fabric. I can get it in red and navy - of course didn't have the pillow slip with me - so will have to go back and check it out. I really have a thing for the flowers. I haven't got to the fabric shop yet, can't remember what happened the day I was going to go, I'm really trying to get as much as possible organised for hubby to do before he leaves next week and then I have 2 blissful months to do what I want to do....... even better spend what money I like, heehee. It has turned so hot here again and really steamy making it even harder to get into things. Anyway back to your problem - 1 - did you try the chairs in front of the window as joan suggested? 2 - fireplace - I'm now going back three weeks ago to when we had the lounge in front of it so you could look out the front window and the TV in the front corner Why didn't we like that??? This is now true decorating, we are going round in circles. Just have to show you this too, while I was shopping today I happened on a fabulous table lamp I reckon I'm definitely getting for my lounge room to go beside the new entertainment unit (when I buy it) and beside the new TV (when I buy that too) http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/lighting/table-lights/23355415/twisted-table-lamp-60cm-natural-finish/ It has a matching floor lamp too - the colour in the shade is more accurate. I'm having a bit of a beachy theme happening too and I just love the rough natural look of them. http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/lighting/floor-lights/23355408/twisted-floor-lamp-150cm-natural-finish/

Hello Francesca, Yes the room looks quite bright and one thing I can think of that you might like to try is getting a big rectangular mirror for the wall behind the sofa... It will bounce light back into the room and offers a nice backdrop to the wall.... Rather nice to frame the sofa as well.. I'd say nearly as wide as the sofa. You want to leave a gap from the top of the sofa and the top of the wall to ceiling.. Why not try a light covered throw on the sofa too to lighten the brown. I can't see the skirting but I would say yes, paint them a nice chalky white.. Another idea which I rather like... have you thought about moving the sofa round to face the french doors? Put the arm chair in the other corner where the rad cover is and turn the coffee table round too... Still hang a mirror but then you could get a bigger one and lean it up against that wall where the sofa was... You'd then have the appearance of a room that's twice as wide... It would need to be 6 x 6 ft at least and you can find a cheap one on ebay shop. They are copies and you could even paint it to match the wall colour... You also have a table or something in front of the other corner of the doors... I'd move that somewhere else... Bring the furniture in to the room more so you have more space around the french doors... I love moving things around it's very good to add a fresh feel.... Sometimes little things have an enormous impact.. : ))

Hi Andre, what lovely pictures! Is this your new home or are these what you’re planning to work towards? The simplicity of a grey floor is very practical investment for any room in the home. Easy on the eye, and not a scene stealer, it makes a great base shade for rooms on floors, walls, curtains or fabrics and suits a range of decorating schemes. You can keep your greys warm, with amber and burnt sienna undertones, or cooler with blush tones and icy blues mixed in. If you’re wanting to enhance the country feel, we suggest you embrace the modern rustic appeal by drawing on the best elements of traditional country designs – such as light hues, distressed timbers, classic furniture and heritage fabrics – and offset them with a contemporary colour scheme and uncomplicated approach.

I think the door of the shed attracts the eye much less than the walls of the shed. And the door is darker. I’m just pointing that out because I’ve painted a few fences, pergolas and sheds in my time and the first few times I tried light and out of desperation then went dark and have worked out dark recedes. Plus, rough wood is hard to paint and shows that it’s rough much more obviously than dark. But if you husband is a decorator I bet he can do a great job whatever you pick. :)