Well...all of this is very lovely. But the design issues are:

1) How much total slope is there and how much grade differential has to be negotiated?

2) Is the slope constant or variable?

3) How much maintenance do you like to do?

4) How much money do you want to spend initially and annually?

Have you considered retaining an experienced landscape architect and paying for a day's rate to come to you site and give you some options?

I agree with the recommendation to consult with a landscape architect. I would hope along with great recommendations for steps and fire pit areas for your beautiful lot, they would not recommend “cleaning up” the lake front. Native vegetation along the shore helps control erosion, provides a filter for runoff into the lake, etc. The plants in the water along the shore also provide habitat for fish, and other aquatic life forms and birds, and more.

I would build the house first, then design the landscaped hill.

Make sure you have all the proper permits especially near water.

On a lake, I usually refer to the facade of the house the faces the lake as the "lake side" of the house to eliminate confusion as to what is the front and what is the back.

Our house is on a hill but our vegetable garden/ kids play area is on a flat space below. It was nice to have the house in first and to see where the natural path was that we took, and put the steps there. (My husband just put in railroad ties and gravel and we have apple trees on either side.)

Thank you all very much. We are consulting with a landscape architect next week. Katie I love that you put apple trees on both sides I am sure it is beautiful.

That first picture needs a handrail.

Depending on where you are, you can work with either a landscape architect or a landscape designer. If the local gov't needs a grading plan, we usually bring in an engineer to do that under our contract.

As far as timing, you want to at least have the foundation in, and ideally the framing finished, before really committing to a design. I've worked off house and site plans before, starting pre-construction, and inevitably the house ends up higher or lower than planned (often by several feet). And if it's framed, you'll know that nothing is changing re: door and window locations at that point.

Looks like a great site!

What Mark said.

We have a new lake house. Way too much concrete in the back to suit me but...no steps. My sil can get to the boathouse/dock in her wheelchair and we can get my my 91 yr old mom down there. We had tons of boulders (large rocks) brought in from Mo and used them for terracing on the slope.

You don’t want to do the yard before the House is done but if you want to do work on the shoreline, determine the best time to do it. Ours had to be done before the House was built.

love the fire pit idea.

beautiful site. Good luck.

Thank you all so much- very helpful- great advice on thinking about mobility issues that could arise in the future. Revolutionary gardens- thank you for the timing advice.