Ideas for large front yard in "urban" area..

9 years ago

So the area we are building is more "urban" and while we are still way early in the build process we have realized that we have little ideas on what to do with our front yard.. The property we acquired is larger then most of the other properties in the town so we decided to set it back further, mostly so we could have a larger driveway (26x35).. So the house will sit about 35 feet back from the sidewalk.. While the width of the driveway is 26 feet wide we are still left with about 40 feet (13ft to the right and 26 to the left).. We thought about just putting grass but this is not the area for your typical lawn and white picket fence lol... While we could do it and just "not care" what other think, the house will stick out like a sore thumb.. I posted a picture so you can get an idea of what the area looks like.. I know.. Kinda rough to work with.. I have no idea what to do with it as far as any kind of landscaping goes.... Let me know what your opinions are on what we can do..

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

PRO
Yardvaark
9 years ago
"I posted a picture so you can get an idea of what the area looks like.. I know.. Kinda rough to work with..."

You are not kidding! Squeezing two pictures in makes each 1/4 the size it should be. Then, the bad lighting in one ... and then no explanation of what we're seeing the in picture ... I don't know which property in the first picture is yours as none of the houses seem to match the second picture. Begin with a single picture taken square on of the property showing its whole width ... when the sun is behind the camera, please.
njbuilding143
Original Author
9 years ago
LOL... Sorry about that.. did a quick google maps snip lol... Ok.. Here is a picture of the property head on..
Related Discussions
front porch and front yard border design idea?
Q
Comments (4)
The picture is no help. move the camera up to the city sidewalk, in line with the front door, and take a series of slightly overlapping pictures that pan the ENTIRE scene from far left to far right, including neighboring houses in the first and last pics. Unless you move the cars for the picture, we wouldn't be able to see left of drive. Please take when light is good. Above picture much too dark.
...See More
Updating urban townhome side and front yard for the dog & more use.
Q
Comments (17)
Looks like a great spot to hang out with your dog! Narrow urban yards can be challenging, but careful planning can maximize a small space. See photos of an urban garden in Chicago here. Remove existing shrubs to create space for a pathway that connects the front and side yard. Establish a focal point at the corner, similar to the photo here. The focal point can be a planter, fountain, garden art or statue that is visible from the front and side yards. Your stone pathway can be laid out from the front porch to the side of the house, ending with a petite patio area with a bench or a couple of chairs. Seating could also be added with a bench that provides handy storage for cushions, dog toys, and a water bowl like these. Finish the front with ground cover between the stones as shown here.
...See More
Help! Need ideas/tips on front yard landscaping and entry area
Q
Comments (5)
It's a fact ... you'll not be able to get rid of the mess until you create a permanent, hard walk where there is now mulch. The magnolia roots are going to make it harder, but it must be done if there is to be a cure. I agree with others that something like concrete (simplest and cheapest) or pavers/brick are suitable. A walk laid out to acknowledge the tree will look and work better than one that doesn't. The bench only makes sense if there is a way to get to it ... i.e., use it. But because of Magnolia roots, it would add a lot of difficulty extending the walk to the bench. Therefore, I'd recommend using the bench elsewhere and having only plantings at the front of the house. Consider using a groundcover like Asiatic Jasmine to cover the magnolia roots.
...See More
Need ideas for a front yard area
Q
Comments (2)
It doesn't appear that the wanted pathway will be affected by the position of the stump. It will be close but isn't directly in the way. Not every path has to be dug deeply into the soil. You need only dig out enough soil to remove the grass. The simplest pathway would be to set stepping stones directly into the grass. Or, buy more of the scallop-top concrete border and lay it from either side of the gate to the front of the border. Cover the soil between with a weed barrier landscape fabric that allows moisture to pass through, then cover that with gravel. Continue the path to the right in front of the porch in the same manner until it intersects the main entrance walkway. I recommend a crushed stone gravel as being more stable to walk on than a rounded gravel. However, concrete tiles or paving stones can also be placed down the middle of the path for walking ease. Where the tree is planted depends on how big it will get. What does the tag say? Regardless, don't plant any tree close to underground utilities, which can eventually be damaged by roots.
...See More
njbuilding143
Original Author
9 years ago
This is to the left of the property starting with the first house directly next to our property...
njbuilding143
Original Author
9 years ago
And then this is pciture is everything to the right of the property.. Just trying to give an idea of what the area houses look like to help decide what might fit in.. Sorry about the first pics..
shrubbish
9 years ago
Hi! Just so we all understand this correctly, you are building a house on the parking lot? If so do you have a rendering of placement of the new house and some drawing of the front facade?
PRO
Yardvaark
9 years ago
The photos make much more sense presented like that. (Besides the fact that they can NOW be seen!) My next question is same as Shrubbish: what will the house look like? Or, are you in the process of designing it based on the lot constraints? And ... is this strictly a residential project, or will you have a business here, too?

This post was edited by Yardvaark on Sun, Aug 3, 14 at 13:54
njbuilding143
Original Author
9 years ago
Shrubbish - yes.. The house is going on the parking lot..

Yardvaark - This house is strictly residential..

Here is a picture of what the front exterior will look like..
njbuilding143
Original Author
9 years ago
As far as placement.. Here is a snip of the site plan.. You can see how they positioned the house..
PRO
Yardvaark
9 years ago
Jason, suggestions for hardscape alterations and basic landscape arrangement are on illustration.
njbuilding143
Original Author
9 years ago
yardvaark - that looks so nice and amazing.. My only concern is (and again we could just not care) that with the way the other homes on the block look, this will stick out like a sore thumb.. Again.. I think like two houses have 1 or 2 bushes in front of them.. the rest have nothing.. the above rendering looks amazing, however i just do know if it will "fit"..

i dont wanna be this guy:

This post was edited by Jason143NBPD on Mon, Aug 4, 14 at 15:08
dekeoboe
9 years ago
My only concern is (and again we could just not care) that with the way the other homes on the block look, this will stick out like a sore thumb.

I vote for just not caring that your landscaping does not look like the others on the block. Just because they have limited landscaping doesn't mean you have to follow suit. Your house isn't going to look like the others either. Embrace your difference.
PRO
Yardvaark
9 years ago
Seeing the picture, I am wondering what the hell the dome is about ... so the final sentence did the explaining and made me chuckle.

As far as "fitting in" goes, I'm a believer in it when what one is fitting in TO, is as desirable as possible. But if there is room for improvement, then there is no reason to shirk from improving and setting the example that will inspire others. Over years, a neighborhood can completely transform for the better on account of trend-setting gentrification. In this case, the street is already and oddball mix of structures. if you improve it, you will be seen as leaders and others will examine what you do and get ideas from it. Trust me, copying is rampant.

Ideas for large front yard in "urban" area..

Comments (12)

Yardvaark

njbuilding143
Original Author

Related Discussions

njbuilding143
Original Author

njbuilding143
Original Author

shrubbish

Yardvaark

njbuilding143
Original Author

njbuilding143
Original Author

Yardvaark

njbuilding143
Original Author

dekeoboe

Yardvaark

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Ideas for large front yard in "urban" area..

Comments (12)

Yardvaark

njbuilding143Original Author

Related Discussions

njbuilding143Original Author

njbuilding143Original Author

shrubbish

Yardvaark

njbuilding143Original Author

njbuilding143Original Author

Yardvaark

njbuilding143Original Author

dekeoboe

Yardvaark

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

njbuilding143
Original Author

njbuilding143
Original Author

njbuilding143
Original Author

njbuilding143
Original Author

njbuilding143
Original Author

njbuilding143
Original Author