Congratulations, exciting times for you, adding something special in a feature tree would look fabulous, then underplant with hardy shrubs, like rhaphiolepsis’snow maiden’ any grasses , kalanchoe ‘copper spoons’ for contrast, picking just one or two shrubs you love and mass plant will look better than having a mismatch of too many varieties. Gorgeous house.

Hi Julie,

Thank you so much for getting back to me! Would you do a weed mat around them and perhaps lay some white pebbles and a light layer of the pink pebbles?

What is the slope, orientation and climate?

No weed mat, it's horrible when you give up on it later and have to try to remove it.

Hi Sam, absolutely, using a weed mat and pebbles will look beautiful and save moisture as well. Find a gorgeous pot or pots for front door. Will look fabulous.

As maceyjean says weed mats can be horrible, but there is a new biodegradable one that is a fabric type made from vegetable bi product, the old ones were plastic and shocking to lay and remove, this one can be laid under turf also and garden beds and retains moisture. It’s called Pillar eco-weed control mat available at Bunnings, brown in colour so blends into soil.

This is super helpful because honestly I have no idea what I'm doing.

The house is in Geelong so not drastically different to that of Melbourne. I'll need to find out the exact orientation but there definitely is a significant slope that can be felt as you try to get to the front door. So I'm going to have to work out if I use stepper stones or add some actual steps. 

The pictures I uploaded aren't that great. I will need to head over the weekend and get some better pictures during day time.

And the idea for one of those gorgeous white pots near the front door will look great! Cactus would be perfect. Will also be a good spot for posties to hide packages!

Just a few ideas to ponder over the weekend, I love Geelong, love the waterfront.

Thank you for the suggestions 'dreamer'!

I agree. I'm definitely not doing fake grass on the front, I'm going to do that just for the rear garden.

The building supervisor suggested retaining walls as well. I'm getting a house walkthrough next Tuesday so I'll ask him where exactly he suggests I do the retaining walls. 

I'm having a hard time visualising steps for such a small property. If you have any pictures in mind, please pass them along.

Do you need a grassed area?

Did you find out the orientation?

I was going to suggest a retaining wall too. There might be rules or underground services which restrict where or by how much you can change the ground level. What you want to achieve is flattening the ground somehow so that whatever you plant gets the full benefit of rain and watering. Otherwise water gets wasted running down onto the footpath and onto the street. You have all sorts of choices for the materials. depending on budget and whether you get it done or DIY.

Just a few ideas, it’s hard visualising the size , but these might help showing what could be achieved by creating different levels.

Do you have the plans? That should show the orientation. It's important for the building too but not many people think about it, even now.

But it's also important for the landscaping too, in the choice of plants and maybe in enhancing the comfort of the building.

Hi all, just posting up a quick update after some perimeter concreting + steps were poured this morning. Next stage will be to figure out how to go about installing some concrete sleepers.

Sam that looks fantastic, it’s coming along beautifully.

Is it a trick of the light in that photo or do you have reflective film on the glass? Could be a problem for birds. Did you ever figure out the orientation? Work with it, it really does make a difference.

Good catch! I do have it tinted. I had this bizarre occurrence where I caught the neighbour peeping through my front window into the bedroom with her phone flash out. Creepy! I immediately got it tinted so that they can never see in. I'm yet to have any birds crash in. I'm glad I got it done because I can see the outside without anyone ever being able to see in ( unless I have lights on).

I didn't figure out the orientation - the challenge currently is digging out the front on the property to put the sleepers in. I've had to contact dial before you dig to ensure that I don't end up hitting the pipes.

Yes, a front window can be challenging for screening passers by, your home is coming along beautifully, love these outdoor lighting lamps by Beacon, certainly adds a bit of a wow factor, a gorgeous planter, sounds like you have a plan for the garden and a wise move by utilising dial before you dig, saves a lot of stress , can’t wait to see what you do.

Maybe you have to live with the benfits of planning for orientation before you really 'get it'? I did. In multiple houses we complained about the afternoon sun in summer but never thought further than that, blamed it on summer, and it was not until we lived in a house planned for orientation from the start that we understood. So it makes me sad to see discussion, this by no means the only one, where such an important easy maintenance-free feature of buildings is treated as an afterthought.

Hi gang, new update! Just finished the retaining wall. I'm doubting myself on the colour I chose. Reckon Charcoal, is too dark for this facade?

I've also got this letterbox on the way. Would appreciate your thoughts on the best position for this letterbox

Planning on putting granite pebbles opposite the driveway

If the letterbox fits, I would put it here. The letter and parcel people don’t need to climb your stairs. But you should of worked out the best spot and space available before purchasing the letter box.

I like the letterbox. The post office used to have rules about where it could go. The charcoal will be fine once you plant some spiller plants.

Thank you for the idea on the Spiller plants!

I totally overlooked the dimensions of the letterbox. Luckily, I've just got away with it. Just went out and measured the space highlighted by bigdreamer. I'll be able to install it into the slot with 2cms to spare. Just made it

Looking fabulous Sam, love what you have done and the colour is great, love all your ideas. Have a look at dichondra’silver falls’ to spill over your charcoal retaining wall, and the granite pebbles will look beautiful. Looking fabulous.

Thank you Julie! You've always got the best pictures ready to go. This thread has been very helpful! I was totally clueless a few months ago. I still am clueless but less so 🤪

I think you are doing fine, your ideas are great, you had better be careful, you will end up having the best looking house in the street 😊