Some advice on a backyard deck layout
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Advice RE making back yard kid and entertaining friendly
Comments (12)well done to your husband for such a detailed plan... i suggest that you focus on the clothesline level by removing or demolishing the pond or simply filling with rubble and soil to make a raised garden or seat, long term plan to level the area shown as "stones" to make a fenced lawn with access from the deck but any change in level of more than 1m needs a fence so you should fence off the garden with gates across the steps on both sides...a treated pine log fence with chicken wire mesh to prevent any footholds for climbing would probably be the cheapest and consider enclosing a space under the deck over the raised floor to create a storage area for the ladder, gas bottles, mower etc...the walls could come out as far as the round steel post (if it can't be removed safely) and broken bricks could fill in the pond, try moving the clothesline over to the pond lawn to make a more open lawned area on the other side and paint everything except the house brick walls with a very dark paint to tone with the bricks.. consult the local nursery for suitable shrubs to screen the neighbours and unless you're a keen gardener convert all the small gardens beds into lawn or paving...See MoreHelp me design a backyard oasis please
Comments (45)Start by spending a portion of your budget on the various dream feature items that are relocatable and can be used in your final design anyway. e.g. Buy the firepit you really want - it can become the focal point of your future garden. Test it outside in your backyard for a few months. Are heaps of mozzies annoying you while you're sitting outside around the firepit? If so, then you'll know that you're going to need a gazebo with flyscreens as well as privacy curtains so you can really enjoy lying outside in your hammock year round. The hammock is another relocatable part of your design. First, lie outside in your backyard on a swag or a rug for a few hours. Is it too windy? Is there road noise? Keep experimenting until you've found the perfect location for the hammock. Then buy an inexpensive hammock and suspend it from a couple of sturdy RL4 poles. If it's working, then this is the place where you should build your future patio, that's going to shelter your hammock. Keep testing inexpensive versions of your other ideas out. Trial tea candles or a string of inexpensive white Christmas lights as garden lighting. Do they create the feel you want or do lights just attract moths or unwanted insects? What about relocatable solar garden lights? Or a portable floodlight from Bunnings? Where's the ideal place for your garden table and chairs? Test it out with inexpensive camping chairs - or chairs you already own for a few months to be sure. Then invest in the perfect outdoor table and chairs. Same with the water feature. Start with a wine barrel with a waterlily or a second hand pond off Gumtree. Can you hear the trickling water in the garden or do other noises crowd it out? Keep in mind big goldfish need deep water and space to swim. To help you in your choice of plants,look around your immediate neighbourhood. What purple, blue and scented plants are thriving in your immediate area? Who has the best garden in your street in your opinion - and why do you think that? Do you always see a particular neighbour passionately working outside in their garden? That's the person you should strike up a conversation with to get advise about suitable plants for your immediate area. Chances are they will not only give you heaps of free advise but they will probably give you plants and cuttings as well. Markets are another source of perennial plants that grow well in the local area. Plant these smaller plants into large plastic pots and garden bags and allow them to grow for a year or so. Consider herbs as filler plants - many are highly scented, can be used in cooking and often have interesting foliage e.g. choc mint, fennel, rosemary etc. After you've been using your backyard for at least a year and you've experienced all of the seasons, then invest in your big ticket items like your gazebo. Buy or build a structure that's truly practical for your local microclimate - incorporate glass, windbreak fencing, shadecloth, mozzie mesh or whatever you need to make your hammock shelter ultra comfortable. Build this structure where you've tested it and know it will work - not where a stranger who designs gardens thinks it should go. Spend the remaining money on the things you know you need and want - the stones, plants, irrigation, a birdbath, etc...See MoreBackyard dimensions
Comments (18)You have an ensuite and an identical bathroom around 3 steps further apart. Can't see any advantage for this. You could lose the ens, relocate the WIR and end up with a bigger bedroom, bigger WIR and save money. Your roof has these eaves all close together over what appears to be some upper level windows, but these walls aren't reflected below. If I've understood this correctly you've added significant build cost for little gain. I think the room sizes are ok but I would suggest a design professional to polish it up....See MoreFloorplan recommendations - creating connection to backyard
Comments (26)Hi Siriuskey - Thanks so much for your advice and floor plan suggestions. Basing the extension around the existing garage structure is not something we had considered. It might be difficult with our block but we'll mention it to our builder and see what they think. Really like the glass skylight in the roof of the picture you added in as well. HI Oklouise - Thanks for your updated floor plan suggestion. This is a great adaption of the floor plan we sketched up and I think the type of layout we are leaning towards. The only two changes we might make is to: 1) remove the wall separating the front living and middle living to allow more light into the house and open it up a bit; and 2) remove the current side door out to the courtyard and replace it with a bigger sliding / bi-fold door in the line with the rest of the exterior wall so that we can move the dining area over a bit. Also, what program do you use to sketch?...See More- last year
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