I think a comfortable distance between the island and the counter is around 42". It seems that you have only 30" between your cook top and the counter. I might be a little too tight. The wall between the entrance and the kitchen could be 4' long instead of 6', you would then be able to move the island a foot which would give you more room between the cook top and the island. Could you switch the location of the toilet and vanity in your dad's bathroom so your enter facing a vanity instead of a toilet which is a lot nicer.

You don't have to give up your beloved pink. Pink, brown and grey are doable. I googled pink and grey living room and saw some great pictures. Maybe get a large carpet that pulls out the pink (must match the same shade of pink). Then place your beautiful little pink and cream Kashmir(?) carpet over it. Also pull that same pink into sofa pillows. And a similar pink and brown Tablecloth for the dining table will pull the colours together. Just need to make sure all the pinks are the same shade with small accents/border of the same brown and grey from the sofa. Solid colours or subtle designs will be easier to coordinate than bold dramatic prints. These 2 are not the right shade of pink but you get the idea, I hope. Carpets with tone on tone pattern. A dusty rose on one wall would be nice too.

I have returned to your website and my original message is no longer here. Sorry, I guess I failed to press "Submit"- the green means go, I guess. My response does not relate to your request, alas, as I am a site planner and see your problem in the visual and environmental context. It is not obvious in the photos how far down the balcony floor is. Does the opening shown begin at typical height of a balcony, say 3-4 feet, or 1 meter? My initial response was to suggest repeating the strong modern architectural lines with a planter or, better yet, a series of planters of the same size and shape across the entire opening, filled with plants of your liking to bring color and fragrance into your space, in place of the great colors of your neighbor's laundry. If you just want to maintain the simplicity, bamboo all across will give you a light evergreen screen that will accept your rainfall, bring rustling music in the wind, and grow perhaps a foot a day (up to its normal height) soon after planting. Decorative glazed pots arranged in rows or clusters down on the terrace floor will bring delight when viewed from within your home, but will occupy your limited space. Natasha Korn at www.triqita,com is the designer and manufacturer of wonderful fabric designs in silk - many bold patterns with bright colors, in sizes from neck scarves to large wall hangings. A thought would be to frame them on glass so the light comes through from behind and hang them on the wireworks outside. Or perhaps a large wall hanging mounted on a large footed frame or a folding 5-6' (2 meter) tall screen that could be placed inside as a room divider, but then when you need to better control your view, place it on your prison wall outside to bring some warmth and glamour to your view. You can reach her directly, I believe, at natasha@triqita.com, her email site. I hope this has offered further food for thought to help resolve your need. cascio.offsite@gmail.com

A rule of thumb is that the distance between the house and a eucalyptus should be 2/3 the height of the tree. So if the tree is maybe 45 feet, you'd want the house to be a little over 29 feet away. As well as any new root growth that could affect your house, cutting into a root system compromises the stability of the tree. Also, even if the existing roots are deep, driving over the area with heavy construction machinery could compact the soil enough to affect the health of the tree. That's not to say that you shouldn't try, just be aware in case it becomes necessary to cut the tree down later. Good luck and enjoy your new home!