What exactly is the objection? How the rear elevation looks? from what vantage point?

Do you use your backyard? I don't see anything from the photo. Do you want to use it, or just the deck?

I think, no matter what you do to the house, you probably want some landscaping and terracing. Where are you? I'd start with that first.

As to the rest, it depends on what you are willing to spend. I don't think shutters go with the style of the house. I think a deck the whole way, if it is exactly the same deck and same height, would just look like a mass. I don't see the color as highly objectionable.

Is this the back of the house or the front? If it's the back, I wouldn't change anything. I think the color is fine and making the deck bigger wouldn't necessarily make it better in my eyes.

I think it looks like a fairly typical rear elevation. How often are you (or anyone) looking at your house from this vantage point? You really don't have room for shutters. I think some landscaping, deck furniture and container gardens on the deck would add a lot.

It looks pretty well balanced to me. I have a tendency to be extreme with symmetry and your home doesn't bother me at all.
Deck looks fine, but just needs some nice furniture and container plants. Some extra landscaping to create height and color will go a long way to improving your issues.

Thank you, everyone. This photo was taken from a road probably 100 yards or so from the house; the camera compressed the look. The patio,which you can't see, is fully landscaped, with terraces on each side and all kinds of bird-and-butterfly-friendly plantings. You can't see them now, as the flowers and foliage are gone. We use the patio a lot, as well as the deck. There's no furniture on the deck or patio, as winds have been strong and winter is approaching.

The rocky slope immediately below the house is very steep, as is the slope below it. Neither of those can be used for anything. Our property actually ends at the bottom of the rocky part, with an easement and green space below that. I should have made all this clearer, and I apologize. I didn't want to make my original post so long it would be hard to read.

We don't see the house from the vantage point of the camera unless we make a point of looking up from the road. We can see the rear rocky slope from the deck. But it's been bothering DH since we built the house that it looks so plain and uninteresting, and lately he's wondering even more about what we could do to spice it up.

So, that's the situation. I think your suggestion of containers on the deck, or maybe railing flower boxes on the deck, would help, porkandham. We were going to plant blue grama grass (Hachita) on the rocky slope, but I don't think that would show from the road either, and so I came up with the idea of a solid dark green base of junipers. I hope I've made it all clearer, and thanks again for your comments.

I can't think of anything that would not cost a bundle. If you ever need a new roof I would change the roof line over the upper patio where that section would come out a few feet. I would change the roof color while at it and do some multi earth stone terraces below. I would pick out the darkest stone in the multi stone shades and paint the house that color (maybe dark charcoal) and leave a lighter trim. Color in the landscaping!

Oh sorry Robin, I started writing and then went to do something so didn�t see your last post before posting.

Does anyone think a solid carpet of dark green low-growing junipers covering that whole steep rock slope would look good, going all the way across the lot? (Our lot ends at the bottom of the rocky slope; green space past that.) Thanks.

"Does anyone think a solid carpet of dark green low-growing junipers covering that whole steep rock slope would look good, going all the way across the lot?"

I don't.

Can you post some pictures of your landscaping?

From the sole picture here, I'd say you want shrubs or small trees of varying heights and appropriate to where you live, including (possibly especially) some below the two outer second floor windows.

Variation in height is one element that would make the view of the house more interesting. I don't think a blanket planting would do the trick.

Also, what's going on with that concavity? Are those walls I see at the top?

I probably would not make the deck go the length of the house - I could only suggest using larger pillars for the deck - something more "weighty". Then work on a beatiful landscape.

I would only add containers of taller plants along the outer edge of the patio but if you get a lot of wind that may not be doable.

I doubt the rocky slope can be easily planted. My guess is it's leftovers from the builders clearing the lot and there's probably not enough decent soil to plant in. Plus, you'll need to add some type of drip irrigation in order to keep the plants alive and to prevent erosion.

An option would be to build a some type of barrier that is an extension of the retaining wall and carry that across the edge of the patio. Build it as a bench and it'll also give you more seating area!

The posts look spindly, so I think boxing them in with wider lumber to make them appear more substantial would be a cheap fix for that. However, I'm more concerned that that large deck only has 3 fairly small posts to support it! I think you should have a knowledgeable contractor out to inspect it. It may not be to code, and I'd hate for anyone to be injured in a deck collapse.

I really like the color you have now and it works well with the roof, too. I like your husband's idea of extending the deck and if you do that, You might even consider changing the large picture windows to french doors (or sliding glass doors). Of course, I also agree that it is fine as is

As far as planting the hill, it does look very rocky and like the builder just dumped construction detritus. I am not a big fan of junipers, but if you like them, plant some. It looks as though the ground levels a little near the bottom, so I would start there with a mixed border including trees and shrubs-not planted in a row, but staggered and far enough apart to allow for their mature size. Since your picture doesn't show it, I can't tell how much flat space is behind the house before the drop-off, but it is a good idea to plant something to stabilize the hill. You will most likely need to improve the soil, but there are lots of things you can plant pretty easily on even a steep hill. We have a VERY steep hill way out back and I have planted deciduous and evergreen trees (very small when first planted), camellias, carex, liriope, hosta, ferns, bulbs, azaleas, etc. that have filled in pretty well. I am still adding and tweaking, but the more things grow in, the less weeding I have to do and the hill does not erode as much as it did when I first started.

I do think you definitely need to add some trees though. That will go a long way to changing the look from the angle of the photograph. JMHO :)

It's the back, who sees it?? I would just plant some trees and let them grow and fill in the spacing that might need some interest. Nothing that needs attention, make it natural with native plantings.

Can we see what this view looks like from your patio looking down to the road?

I don't think the back of the house lacks symmetry, and I also am one to obsess about symmetry. Because of the hills on either side of your patio, the deck looks balanced to me. If those little hills weren't there, my eye might be drawn to any differences. Also, the color looks like a nice desert neutral.

I would recommend plants/trees w/ some height for your yard. It will beautify it and give some interest to it. One advantage of the junipers is they require low water and/or do not require additional water in some climates. However, they might not be the best or only answer. It's hard to advise on plants, though, without knowing your climate, what grows well, what other people use for landscaping, how much water you get, how you plan on watering, and what types of weeds you need to keep down...

Have any of your neighbors done something you like with their similar spaces?

Have you considered landscaping those little hills, from the road side? I mean.. creating beds with some type of mulch and diverse plants.... at least nearby the house/patio.

Robin, My biggest concern is the erosion on the rocky slope. That hill needs to be stabilized. I am actually very surprised, looking that the hill, that the builder was allowed to leave it in that condition.

If I were you I would call the local Soil Conservation District technician in your area and talk to them about what you can legally do (and attractively do) to anchor that hill. It could cause bigger headaches for you down the road if you don't. I would deal with the aesthetics and what looks like some gullying erosion simultaneously. It can't be nice for you to sit on your deck and look at that mess. You may also find by the way that funds are available to plant on the portion of view that does not belong to you, if it is publicly owned land.

The Soil Conservation District people will talk to you about it for free, I think this office exists in almost every county in the country. The will help and advise you. It's their job, a federally mandated activity (for you history buffs) put into place after people saw just how destructive erosion could be in the Dust Bowl years.

If you want to really know more about your soil, enter your address in the database in the National Soil Survey site. It will tell you exactly what kind of soil you have (it works for every address in the US, is keyed into Google maps) and what kind of uses your soil is appropriate for. I just learned about this database and learned my soil where I lived is appropriate for just about NOTHING which explains why my gardens just wither...

We had a similar house and property. Over 40 years, we planted every bush and tree in the photos. We put in the pool. We put steps into the hill. Early years the steps were railroad ties, then we put in flagstone.

I never was happy with the back deck, but in the last few years, we stained it dark brown and felt it looked better.

I don't know what zone you are in, but the pics might give you an idea of plantings. Ours was a steep hill, mowing was a challenge so we just kept adding bushes. We couldn't grow anything under the deck (too dark), we filled it with grey gravel and kept our planting supplies under it and stored our pool equipment there.

The photos were taken in early spring and the bushes need trimming. You can see the deck color before we stained it dark.

Bottom of the hill

The walkway leading to the steps

Jane

I would haul in dirt to build a terrace towards the bottom the the yard and have the other side leveled. Plant grass and large trees. Buy the tallest trees you can afford.

IMO, that's all you need because your house looks fine. I agree about putting pots and such on your deck.

That's so pretty, Jane!
I agree, landscaping would make a huge difference.

Jane -- Just gorgeous landscaping!!! :)

Yes -- another vote to investigate the soil/erosion landscaping issue with the Soil Conservation folks -- and check around your area. Stablizing the hill would be the best idea! :)

cyn -- GREAT ideas! Yes -- there may be a variety of tall and short bushes, trees and grasses (like fountain grass) that might work well ... Check with local garden centers and on sites on the web ...

Also -- adding long planter boxes along the railing of the top deck would look great! A bright umbrella and taller bushes/trees in pots would work in the bottom patio.

Maybe add a wood lattice "wall" on the right-hand side (from your photo) on the bottom patio -- good for sun and wind control too! :) On the bottom patio -- consider adding a large metal artwork to the wall right of the long rectanglar window.

Also -- do agree that --in the future -- beefing up the columns would work very well -- against the visual weight of the whole house -- the current columns appear spindly.

What is your view from your deck/rear windows? if it's not something worth looking out at, I'd add some evergreens to the back. You can put in a row of arborvitae or other 'screen' type of plant to create privacy. Personally I would not use juniper...they stink, and are bug haven.

Eventually a retaining wall at the lower end would be good, as drainage will be a problem with erosion. Where in the country are you located? It looks to be an arid area with low rain.

Hardscaping, I don't see much to do. You need landscaping to enhance this rear view. The deck and windows are fine as is.

Wow, all these ideas! Thank you so much, everyone. First I should address the erosion question. DH is so careful about such things I thought it must not be a risk, but couldn't remember exactly what's going on with that slope. I talked to DH about it last night; here's the scoop: The rock and looser dirt we all see is a very shallow layer of leftovers from when the basement was dug. There is a lot of rock in it. Just under that shallow surface layer is the natural hill, the original slope, which is stable and not a concern. I would have said that in the beginning if I'd known it and realized you all would think it was dangerous.

I did find one photo of the patio below the deck, which I'll post tonight. You'll see from that what we've done and it will clarify things, I think. I didn't realize what a poor job I'd done explaining the situation until I saw your answers.

We do have a lovely view and don't want to do anything to obstruct that.

I'll wait until this evening when DH will be home and I can get the appropriate photo into the computer, and further illustrate what's going on.

Thank you so much for being so helpful. I apologize for not doing better job. We live in Colorado. The deck supports do look spindly in the photo, but we already changed them from 4x4 to 6x6. We could maybe stucco them to make them bigger, but I'm not sure that would look right. Anyway, I'll post this evening when I can put in a patio photo that will illustrate it like I should have done in the first place.

Jane how pretty! Your roof line that comes out a bit over the deck is what I had in mind on my above post.

I would also mention, our house had the same size deck your house does. We extended it when it needed to be rebuilt, about 20 yrs ago. We added the stairs at that time. The original deck was smaller than yours, just a small space off the dining room. When we rebuilt, we wrapped it around the side of the house and added the stairs.

We loved the deck. It felt like being in the tree tops.

I think you can work with what you have, just start planting bushes to hold the soil. Junipers, Yews, etc.

We had a deer problem and learned quickly, what not to plant. Eventually we had to fence in the property because the deer began to eat everything we planted and decided they liked to swim in the pool!

Jane

3 6x6 posts would still be pretty concerning even if you weren't in snow load country with all of that possible extra heavy weight to account for. Please take the suggestion to have an experienced contractor look at this! There are way too many instances of deck collapses making the news because all too often, such construction is done DIY or from a contractor who doesn't obtain the proper permits and inspections.

Coming from a drier area of the country, I don't see a problem with that rocky slope. To me it looks like natural native landscape with the bonus of not having to water, weed, or feed. While you could do junipers, I don't think they add anything to the picture. My personal experience with junipers is that they look ratty fairly early on in their life cycle. If that slope's stable, I'd leave it alone, and just let those bushes/trees? grow on their own.

Would stairs from the balcony to the ground be helpful to the way you use the balcony? If so, I wouldn't worry too much about the wildlife. Deer and coyotes won't be coming up to say hello. Skunks or 'possums might want to have a look-see to check on left-over yummies, but a simple gate at the bottom would solve that. I don't think stairs are an aesthetic issue one way or the other, this would simply be a matter of use preference.

I think your property looks fine from this angle, but if you don't, then I'd suggest some trees in the back yard to offer height interest. I'd choose something that grows well in your area without lots of extra water. CO, like CA. has water issues, so a native tree or one that grows like a native, would be a better choice. I love all Jane's lush greenery, but that just isn't arid, Alpine CO. Embrace it! Are you in aspen country? Aspens would be in my first choice slot. I'm sure there are others in your area that would make great backyard trees.

suzannes1 makes some excellent points. Landscaping with ornamental grasses might work, though. Many are water-saving, they come in a wide range of colors, and they'd hold the slope to prevent further erosion.

Here is a link that might be useful: Some ornamental grasses here

Someone mentioned the idea of a bench or rock planter at sitting hieght along the bottom under the deck. I like that idea as it would give a more weight and a finished look to the space when seem from below. I would run it all the way across so its as long as the deck. The easiest least expencive way to make your deck supports look beefier would be to add cross supports to the existing three post. You may not need them for your area but they add structural interest with out alot of dollars. As far as you landscaping goes . If you want a low care landscape that visually keeps a low profile you might consider a variety of low growing conifers and ornamental grasses with a few large rocks set in here and there. A fake drie creek bed wondering threw the from the top to the bottom would also add some visual low upkeep interest all year round. There are lots of fun things you can do with that slope to make it look great and still keep it low maintance.

Thank you again for all your help, everyone. These are great ideas! I have a whole different concept now. My computer crashed completely. I'm having so much computer trouble neither one of us can get any new photos in but here's an old one already in the computer.

This is one of the terraces which go up at each side of the flat space in the middle. We've since stained the wood a very dark brown, and replanted the terraces with brightly-colored perennials, and ornamental grasses, which are doing well. The concrete has been replaced with a more natural stone-like look. There is about 20 feet of space between the patio floor and the top edge of the rocky slope; that area has woolly thyme groundcover and low perennials with stepping stones. On the right-hand side we have a very large bowl fountain with two Asian-style herons standing in grasses near it (all taken in for the winter now).

porkandham, bleigh, teacats: I didn't think of putting colorful plants on the deck that can be seen from the road. I love the notion of railing planters. They'll have to be very well secured because of the wind, but I think this will be an amazing help. And I think one large metal art piece will be just the thing for that empty spot on the wall, teacats. We're both art lovers. It will be fun looking for just the right piece.

jterrilyn, we hope we won't need a new roof for another decade or so!

lynxe,cyn, lolauren, oakleyoak, teacats -- I hope the second photo helps. I get your point about staggered heights and placement on the slope looking better than a solid mass of one plant. We don't want to plant anything very tall because the view is the major attraction, but we could plant several large shrubs in a natural-looking pattern. We had the slope shot with wildflowers when we first built the house, but for a variety of reasons they didn't make it. We have irrigation to the slope that we're not using now, so we can reinstitute that.

annz, you're right. Because of the wind a row of pots won't work. I love the idea of a retaining wall "bench", but the outer edge seems to be holding fine, and now that the flat space is all planted people sitting on the wall would probably step on the plants getting there from the patio.

livewire, cyn, judith, we did have a structural engineer and the County okay the deck. That was when it only had 4x4's. We changed it to 6x6's for the aesthetics, and it really should be okay now, I think. The deck is 24x12.

jane, what a gorgeous yard! I love it. We can't replicate that here, as the climate just isn't right, but thank you for the gorgeous photos. I had to laugh at the deer going swimming in your pool. Nobody here has pools, so they don't get that upscale experience!

suzanne, we have bears and mountain lions here, so we'd rather not make it even easier for them to get to the deck. Bad enough we have racoons climbing the posts all the time. We're just a bit too low for aspens to do well here; we have some in the front yard, and they're not very happy.

madeyna, we thought about cross supports earlier, but it would obstruct the view.

So, thanks to you all, we've been able to look at this freshly, and here's the plan: We're going to plant a tree above the right-hand terrace (as you look at the house in the photo view) so that it will appear to be at the corner of the house. It won't be where the view will be obstructed much. On the left side we'll do a similar placement with a large evergreen shrub so that the tree and shrub don't "match", but harmonize. We're going to get some substantial planters which will hang on the deck railing and be planted with colorful annuals. On the slope instead of that green blanket of junipers I was imagining we'll plant a more natural landscape with a few large scattered shrubs, using a drip system and leaving the rock as is. This won't be expensive, as we have the irrigation still in place that we used for the wildflowers which didn't make it and can easily convert the spray to drip. We'll either block in the posts to make them more substantial-looking or perhaps plant a climbing vine on one of them for color.

Everyone, thank you again! All of this will be doable, not expensive, and will make us happy with the way our back yard looks. And thanks also for your concerns about erosion and the safety of the deck; I think we have that handled, but I very much appreciate your caring enough to point out potential problems. Now I can't wait until spring!

You could get an excavater in and cut the banks away that slope down at the windows, level out the yard some,deck if it were mine would have palms,ferns plants big and small.after ground work is done plant ,crawling plants both sides ,how about a few shrubs,trees?

I had the same situation when I lived in CA, and erosion *is* a serious issue. When it rained hard enough, soil would wash down.

We wanted a pool, so after the pool was built and the decking material was poured, we had a fence installed. Various local plantings were put in(outside of the fence), no grass, and left the property looking natural, no fill added. Even though we owned the sloping property, and it *could* have been made useable space, it would have cost a small fortune to landscape and maintain The fencing still allowed the view and a feeling of openness. The property below was owned by a developer and sprinklers were already in.

Jane, your property is gorgeous, but I can't imagine the maintenance, and I love gardening and yardwork!