theresiebode's ideas

filled an area with sand to create their own beach

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if "platform" at bottom of stairs extended between our properties, it would be strong visual cue that people can walk along the whole length of the bottom area. Or just link our area at bottom with Johnson area at bottom with peagravel path

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handrails from posts sticking straight up, ours could be further apart and much taller

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maybe handrails are just a series of separate posts, bid and wide, sticking straight up out of ground

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if we throw in a hydrangea or 2, it will tie in to rest of our landscaping

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combination of materials for stairs and slope

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uneven steps or steps with uneven edges are a bad idea... no one over 20 can navigate

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handrails from rock

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stairs and handrails from retaining wall

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handrails from wood beams

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natural materials for handrails. Maybe we could find driftwood to construct ours

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path - sloping, pea gravel, edges of step use inexpensive material - but Im not sure that is a good idea, but gentle slope, winds around corners

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combine pea gravel with natural stone steps too

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different materials, set off firepit with darker & different material around bottom of it, stairs leading to patio, all done with rough edges to look more natural. bench fits in made with same materials as other parts of look

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consider using wood for sections of retaininig walls. And where wood is used, turn it into raised garden areas for planting veggies, herbs, etc.

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combining materials, hard v soft edges, types of staircases and materials to design stairs, brick/stone and boulders, etc. Very visually interesting with lots of variation of materials used

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patio materials that would match house, especially if we replace patio at kitchen

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intentionally soft edges of slope..... maybe or maybe not

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We could also use combinations of stone/brick and some sections like this for visual variety & less expensive materials

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using rocks for visual color change and texture changef between fireplace and patio softens edges of the whole thing and more interesting, less formal look. If we did with peagravel, or similar, ties into other hardscaping material used on the job

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multilevel backyard, multiple textures, combines flat with sloped, rock with staircase, how to use tress/rock/mulched areas to make steep slope in middle of backyard look naatural and appealing

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peagravel path combined with staircase

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fireplace built to look more "natural" than structured one from bricks with square edges

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the idea of a sloped path to lake instead of stairs.. Use peagravel to save money & to make less slippery, easier on knees than stairs, less formal, less to maintain, use saved money for longer retaining walls across entire slope. Build a shared, doouble wide staircase with Johnsons for when carrying things up/down to lake & for those who prefer stairs. Maybe put a landing that branches in each direction - to Johnsons & to us

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