How will you pose for your Miss Photogenic photo op? Will you go with the Carmen Miranda fruit bowl tiara? Or would the Easter egg thingamadooeys suffice? Decisions, decisions..... Maybe Grover could photo shop each one with your dress so we can decide? We wouldn't want to break any decorating rules because we do have our reputations to uphold. LOLOLOLOLOL

Hi S, mirrors are effective when they are reflecting something visually interesting, like the view from an opposite window to the outdoors, or when used to create the illusion of additional space. The mirror in this picture does neither of those things. With the TV removed from the corner, there is more room for the window treatments to fill the corner properly (right now they look a bit squished), and it would be fine to leave it bare, or put a low accessory item in the corner, like a sculpture or a potted tree (not too tall!). As for the rug and table, there are 3 ways you can go: since the striped wallpaper and the floors are so neutral already, you can afford to add some color into the room with the rug. With a colorful or patterned rug, a clear glass table top would be good, because it allows you to see the rug. In that instance, the rug becomes the focal point of your furniture group. If you want to keep the rug very neutral too, then a solid table top is good (in an interesting material- maybe wood or stone). In that case, the table becomes the focal point of your furniture group. Lastly, if you want a neutral rug and a transparent table top, I would be sure to add some color or pattern to your seating- either the sofas themselves or throw pillows on the sofas, to inject some energy and keep the whole room from feeling too bland.

I would use plants to brighten the space. The hardscapes are all good, they just look a bit naked and grim. It can be hard to make a space pretty but usable for the kids too, but its not impossible. You have a lovely sitting area to enjoy. Plant some lovely feature bushes in that gravel area. You don't need to completely hide the clothesline, but having something pretty and showy in front will create a boundary and the eye will be drawn to the plants instead of the washing. If you can't plant into the soil there, some large size pots will work. Maybe some medium sized (1-2metre) ornamental trees in pots, like citrus, a weeping ornamental cherry, or bay trees, moptop robinias are nice too. They will be compact. You could cluster some pots of herbs underneath or plant them and let them ramble a little. Herbs like thyme and rosemary and lavender will suit the gravel area and the heat and be hardy with kids playing around, the odd bike falling on them or crushing underfoot would be quite okay. bulbs in pots or planted around the edges of the lawn are great value low maintenance and hardy colour. You can get great seasonal variation in your view then. Online bulb stores like tesselar and garden express sell bulk landscaping bulbs at very reasonable prices. You can get hundreds of bulbs for $30-50. Bulbs are great hardy plants that won't be killed by the odd soccer ball either. The flowers may get knocked over or the leaves, but the bulb is safe under the soil. Cheap and cheerfuls like nasturtiums are good value colour that will self seed every season. Also, plant some very bright flowering shrubs behind the soccer net and against the far wall. Maybe some hibiscus? You need something to catch and entice the eye, plant some large flowering shrubs with larger or bright flowers or foliage you will be able to appreciate from a distance.

Just chiming in. If you did put in a trampoline, I'd go with one that has a net around it. However that only stops them fro falling out onto concrete. My friend is an ER doctor, trampoline fractures are particularly gruesome, often occurring at the knee when someone lands on it. Double yikes!