A good beginning would be to replace the walkway up to the house. A new brick walkway or stamped concrete in the same color as the brick on the house will pull all of the elements of the exterior of your home together. I made my walkway 3 feet wide with 2 feet beds on each side of the walkway in stamped concrete. Create the walkway at a distance from the house in an organic natural flowing pattern up to the house with planting beds flowing beside the walkway. Take the brick right up to the from door. Soften the entrance to your home by opening the planting beds up by the house into large organic shapes. That's what I did with my home and it changed it dramatically! It's a lot of work but what a difference!

Before buying online, you'd still need to try out the mattresses -- for firmness, etc. I think the trip across town would be well worth it. Once you've made your selection, you can purchase from the store immediately or order online.

Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.

Hi Reena, It is better to have the chalkboard wall away from the bed or study table for health and convenience. Even the chalkboard wall can again occupy the whole wall or contained within a pattern like below: For painting, a great way of using up space will be to purchase small square canvases that she can paint on and as she finished them, have a wall dedicated to this. This wall can be the wall with smaller width of space available where 3 or 4 canvases( atleast ) make a row. These are the ones I am talking about: She can paint on them and eventually fill up a small wall: Try to stick to sheets that can keep up with this type of decor. Do share your thoughts and other concerns. For a detailed interior decoration work you can reach out to us for a free consult with one of our experts! Atom Interiors, Bangalore