These all sound wonderful, thanks so much, I wonder if I have space for one of everything! I would really love a Grancy Greybeard so am thinking i will try to find a spot a little further uphill with slightly more sun for this one. Maybe I could squeeze in a Silverbell there too, they look really beautiful. I do already have an Amelanchier in a sunnier spot, so i can pass on getting a second one. For the shady area then, I will look at Styrax, Cornus alternifolia, Witchhazel (i have been wanting to plant one of these for a while too), oakleaf hydrangea (i have smaller ones elsewhere and love them), mapleleaf viburnum, and redtwig dogwood. That Magnolia looks beautiful Esh, but I am thinking it might get a bit big - Floridata says 30-40', do you think that is likely in shade? Eastatliens, I had thought about an Aesculus parviflora a while ago but I'm not sure I want anything that dense. They are stunning though. Incidentally, I read on Floridata about bottlebrush buckeye and it ended with a warning that they are very toxic and ingestion can be fatal. That got me wondering whether i have any other highly toxic plants (we have 2 small kids) so I googled and discovered that my Daphne (berries) and Mtn Laurel are both listed as potentially fatal if eaten, as are Privet berries. our back yard is covered in privet berries right now from some massive old privets -- maybe i can use that to convince my husband that they must go! Time to give the kids a reminder talk about not eating any plants or berries... Thanks for all the great suggestions, I am looking forward to planting this area.

Thanks for the suggestions; the info./link was interesting. Is culantro the same thing as Thai coriander? If it's good in salads, I'd love to try it......and where in the world do I find these herbs? Honestly, I've never heard of either one. Thanks noinwi, for the advice; thyme is one herb that I love to look at, smell, taste, feel.....ahhh, I even decorate with it. A whole row of it would be sort of nice, and where I live, I can use it all winter long......

Hi everyone, Thanks so much for the replies so far! Maggie - I am actually happy to hear that you don't think my inspiration photos are very girly... that makes me feel more at ease with going in that kind of direction. Maybe my home is more masculine than I thought, so that aesthetic just feels girly? Not sure... either way, I LOVE the picture you posted. Annie - I think you are right. Right now, I have a very light robin's egg blue shade on the walls in that room, but that's really the only thing in there. It has old beige carpeting - replacement to wood laminate is on the agenda but not anytime soon. The space itself has some unique challenges. For example... the room is actually a sunroom (I only have one wall available - the rest are windows) and the room is long, and divided up into two sections. Our plan is to have a sofa and TV in the other section, and to position my elliptical in such a way in the office section that I can work out and watch TV in the mornings, if I so choose. I could also chill on the couch and watch something different than my hubby, if he happens to be watching baseball or something in the living room. The office is the space to the right of the living room labeled "sunroom" Outside - I hadn't thought of using a raspberry shade... that sounds lovely! Marina - I had thought about using wallpaper, or maybe even stenciling on the one wall I have available. I think it could add some nice interest, but sometimes I struggle with mixing patterns in a room. Lavender - I think the sheer panel is a great idea! Luckily, the room already has a glass paneled door (original to the house, with the old hardware - it's very pretty!) and I like the idea of adding a sheer panel for added privacy. Here are some of the elements I have so far: [[(https://www.houzz.com/products/liatorp-desk-prvw-vr~255337) [Modern Desks[(https://www.houzz.com/products/modern-desks-prbr1-br~t_580~s_2105) by Other Metro Furniture & Accessories IKEA [[(https://www.houzz.com/products/ingolf-chair-prvw-vr~250183) [Modern Dining Chairs And Benches[(https://www.houzz.com/products/modern-dining-room-chairs-prbr1-br~t_969~s_2105) by Other Metro Furniture & Accessories IKEA [[(https://www.houzz.com/products/barometer-work-lamp-prvw-vr~256720) [Traditional Table Lamps[(https://www.houzz.com/products/traditional-table-lamps-prbr1-br~t_611~s_2107) by Other Metro Furniture & Accessories IKEA Also, I am kind of loving this rug (and the price) and the colors go with the rest of the house: [[(https://www.houzz.com/products/home-decorators-indoor-outdoor-area-rug-home-decorators-collection-rugs-prvw-vr~6857011) [Contemporary Rugs[(https://www.houzz.com/products/contemporary-rugs-prbr1-br~t_515~s_2103) With that rug, I wouldn't know what to do for curtains, however... thoughts so far? :)

Thanks! Is there a tall upright shade-tolerant, slow-growing grass or plant that I can plant at the back of this bed for vertical interest? The Japanese forest grasses I looked at appear to be short. I am a little afraid of the climbing hydrangea, it might be hard to control...? For ferns, I originally had my heart set on Tennessee ostrich fern since it is more upright than the other varieties I looked at, but then I read that it spreads rapidly and so dropped the idea. Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ looks very nice, but not sure if I want an orange shade in there. I will keep looking. I want to have Dicentra 'king of hearts' in that bed. Not really finding a source, but there are seeds available. Can they be grown from seed easily? I planted some astilbe from home depot in a different location, and I think maybe it is too much sun, though only morning sun .. they are dying. I am hesitant to try again here, considering in this location they get 11am-1pm hot sun. So, on the whole, now I am thinking some bright colored hostas, ferns, king of hearts dicentra. I will go to the nursery this weekend, I hope they have some nice varieties that were discussed here. Otherwise I will have to order online. I am wasting way too much time on this.. :) Thanks so much.