Hi there!

I have recently demolished a house on a city lot in Chicago. Now it needs some serious beautification. We have already put a parking pad in the back made of CA-6. We plan to fence that off. We will also add an iron fence in the front. Other than that, I'm looking for a solution that is:

• High durability (think Chicago winter)
• Low maintenance
• Budget-friendly

Another very important thing to note is that the yard slightly grades down toward the left.

I'd like to have as little grass as possible, but I am ok with a small grass area. The purpose of this yard will be for adults to entertain: I like having an area for seating, perhaps some pathways, and even a firepit in it. The lot is 25x100 feet (which does not include the parking pad).

What do I need to know to get this all started? What ideas do you have? Do you think its something I can do -- seeing as how I've never done anything like this myself? How can I prevent weeds?

Thanks for your insight!