Forever House

I love my house.

Together we have lived in and done up and sold 3 houses in 12 years. So this is our Forever House. There are no major renovations needed (other than after the kids move out and we turn one room into a sauna/spa and the other into an office/gym - yeah right) and we can do little things to spark it up a little.

I have plans to convert the garage into a rumpus room so the kids can watch TV in there rather than in our bed (for Saturday DVD nights). And we are going to replace the pool metal fence and balcony fences with glass (safer for the dog AND any little visitors).

But that's a few years down the track when we can chip a little off the GIGANTIC mortgage.

Anyway, after overdosing on home magazines (my porn), I need some suggestions on how to jazz it up a bit. I'm thinking a really bright red funky chair instead of that round green thing the dog is lying on and an antique chaise lounge where the blue rocking chair sits (the previous owner had a beautiful worn brown leather lounge that I imagined myself swooning on which I absolutely love, but they wouldn't sell for under $2000!). And maybe a shabby chic table behind the couch where the phone could sit.

So have a look at these pics and let me know what you think I can do to spice it up. And if you have any before and after shots of what you've created, please show and tell!

The chaise lounge should be to the right (rocking chair out of shot as its a bit daggy).

This last one of the back verandah is me just showing my favourite spot on a warm morning. Also I need to improve my gardening skills to make the raised herb garden (out of shot to the left) grow! I've killed more basil in the last 8 months than John Cleese. Any hints on that would be welcome too.