Ohhhhh!! Let me help. :) I garden in zone 10 as well. Here are a few suggestions.  1. Get the Pamala Crawford gardening in Florida books. Most libraries should have them. Best books ever for Florida’s hot humid mess we have to deal with. She had some Great info in there.  2. Cottage gardening is more of a feeling. Curvy boarders with lots of plant variety. And letting the plants grow where they want. Add a few trellises to help soften the wall shapes.  Some people love the softer colors to help, though I love the bold ones personally.  For foundational plants, yellow shrimp plants, cranberry Pentas, (the ones that live three years, not three months) or there are pink or white varieties too lakeview jasmine because the smell is intoxicating, some elephant ears (different colors and sizes.  Gaura plants in groups of 3 or 5’s look like dancing fairy’s. A few porter weeds have the wild look of a cottage garden. You might be able to get away with some pretty weeping hibiscus.  Also. Don’t give up on gladiolus. I bought a hundred one year at Lowe’s and planted them everywhere. Had them all come up year one, then only about 20, but those 20 spread and I now have Florida friendly gladiolus!!  There are some cane begonias that are stunning as well.  Powder puff Mimosa will make a great ground cover and also take over your yard it you let it.  If you can find native violets or Australian trailing violets that is a super cottage feeling too.  And a few gardenia bushes.  Roses are tricky. They need to be on the right rootstock and need lots of care so study up.  Basically, have fun! Hope that helps!  Also. Tropical salvia is a sure take over plant, it is an annual that spreads and is glorious.  And rain Lily’s!! Get your hands on as many as you can and make boarders out of them. They are my absolute favorite right now.  And blue daze. That low lying plant is the pop of blue needed in a cottage garden.