Thanks Chloe, a big dark red/burgundy ornamental plum tree is one of the other options. And it's an interesting idea with the stainless steel...i was planning on painting that front porch area a different colour from the rest of the house, but some plants going up there could look great too!

Hi.

A quick concept for you- give me a call if you would like to investigate options

variation

Very nice Yardstick. I love that fence/wall.

Gorgeous house but yikes those north facing rooms must get hot in summer with no shade on the windows! If you're not keen to put awnings up then you might get some summer relief from deciduous trees. Good luck!

As your house is a lovely grey I would consider plants which harmonise with that shade. So consider a range of grey leafed plants such as olive trees (these look great at night as the leaves have a silver backing), wattles, feijoa, euphorbia, lambs ears - an interesting textured ground cover, as is snow in summer. Then a striking deciduous coloured tree or large shrub such as a maple with red leaves, smoke bush, or crepe myrtle. There is no need to build a fence unless you really want significant privacy, shrubs do provide adequate separation. As the home is tall and quite imposing I would also plant three pencil pines neat the front of the building, these will soften the edges of the building and help it relate to the garden. Most grey leaved plants are very hardy. wind may prove more of an issue than sun or soil, I recommend that you look for plants at are labeled 'suitable for seaside locations'.

Cheetsy, what were the shrubs you planted under the crepe myrtle? and deanli14, yep the aircon gets a good workout.

Maybe check out the Waite Arboretum north of Adelaide for some trees that will work in your climate. A smaller eucalypt - some have gorgeous bark or a stunning grafted flowering gum - underplanted with a range of green, grey and maroon native grasses, native rosemary and traditional plants like stachys, lavendar and sages would compliment the tones and modern style of your home and cope with potential salt-laden winds and hot, dry summers.

You might like to have a look at our Rockweld Gabion Fencing for a fence idea. They work well as a stylish, modern privacy screen as well as an effective noise and wind barrier. If you had one as a front fence as well, a letterbox can be fitted within the mesh. Stainless steel letterboxes look great with the sandstone or bluestone rock we generally use. (photo example of a fence we recently installed at a home in Beaumont)

Sorry photo wouldn't load. Rockweld Fence with letterbox example.