Balancing neighborhood, home size and yard size
navi_jen
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (17)
Greta Interiors
3 years agoAnna (6B/7A in MD)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoRelated Discussions
good sized side yard design, mostly color and bloom time question
Comments (10)It is always fun to pick up where a crazy lady gardener left off! I suspect future owners of my house will refer to me as that :-) One thing you might be forgetting is that all plants are basically green most of the time, so stuff going together is really not that big an big issue. One exception is probably forsythia with pink flowering cherries, but then, I hate forsythia so I may not be seeing that correctly. But on the whole, in the type of project you have in mind, I would feel quite free to go with whatever plants you like. Another thing, a single forsythia can get pretty big so unless you like that garish yellow colour a lot, three of them might be overkill. One is permitted to throw plants in the compost even if they are still alive. Your kids will be safest if you simply teach them not to eat anything from your flower garden, although I have to admit that I have never been able to bring myself to grow monkshood, even though my kids knew the rule (my son could say Euphorbia when he could barely talk because he knew not to touch his face if he'd touched the euphorbias "dis a euphorbia?"). But the list of poisonous plants is astonishingly long and limiting, and if you also worry about what's poisonous to cats you can't grow anything at all, especially not lilies. Do try to beat your weeds before you plant. It's way easier. Karin L...See MoreMedium-sized trees for front yard
Comments (32)Arktrees - you are right maple is a 1.75" b&b, magnolia is a 15 gal container. I checked with the landscaper about the tree depth question, and while he took this as an insult (why can't tradesfolks let go of their ego - it was a fair question and I meant no harm!!), he did say that he did not bury the root ball and that the trunk flare was slightly above existing grade. Visually it looks like the place where the trunk meets the soil is 2-3 inches above existing grade when I measured with a tape. So if no additional soil was added on the root ball, I can think of two possible scenarios: (i) he is right and the trunk flare is indeed about an inch underneath what you see in the pic and the trunk flare is planted 1-2 inches above existing grade which is right acc. to the website below or (ii) The tree was planted too deep in the nursery and his definition of trunk flare is where the trunk meets the root ball. If the latter is the case, it might be too late because I can keep removing soil until I hit the root flare, but if the root flare is below grade then that means the planting hole originally dug was too deep and there will be a low level right around the trunk where there will be water logging which might be worse off than current situation :( What do you think? Same goes for the magnolia. My other question: I am guessing I can deal with this during the Thanksgiving weekend as it is not imminent and how big would be the main roots from the root flare for a 1.75" caliper b&b tree - I don't want to accidentally damage those and then it will be a point of new return ;-) Would scratches or dents inflicted on the roots by a small plastic hand-held shovel be ok or entry points for bugs? An interesting website I came across: http://www.cmg.colostate.edu/gardennotes/633.html...See MoreAdding addition to smaller home in neighborhood of larger homes
Comments (31)I don't know if this helps BUT we bought a MCM-ish house on an acre 2.5 years ago. The house was designed and built by a non-renowned architect in the early 60s. It is 4600 square feet. Out of the 10 or so houses on our street, a couple are smaller, most are the same and a couple are more like 6000-7000. Most people thought of the house we bought as a tear--down. We are just finishing up a to-the-studs remodel. We haven't changed the exterior much at all. We love lower ceilings. I would never buy a house with high ceilings. I especially would dislike an addition with too-high ceilings. 9' is good. We have a butterfly roof so part of our ceiling is 11'6" and I was really stressed about it. I'm only okay with it because it's mostly in public/non-bedroom area and at least some of the ceiling in our house is low. We would have loved a house in the 3500sq ft range. I think it's very very desirable. Add-on if it would increase your happiness while you live there, though. I will say that if you are interested in resale, many purists would have a problem with the addition no matter what you choose unless you are super super consistent with the rest of the house and what the original architect would do. We met with four architects. I would encourage you to meet with more architects! You never know, the right idea could really clarify things for you!...See MoreLove the house but hesitant on neighborhood!
Comments (27)Leigh, Here are my thoughts. Of course, my opinions are subjective, and my life situation is different from yours. Gunfire incidents are definitely a big NO for me. There are other more affordable areas that have low violence and no gang problems. The house you passed on was in Oak Grove. It's an unincorporated area and often gets bundled together with Milwaukie, which is an incorporated city. DH knows that area better than me and his opinion is that it can be semi-rural in places. "Rednecky" as he says. The areas along SE McLoughlin Blvd have a reputation for higher crime rates. I've been watching the real estate market too. DH and I are contemplating a move again since our DS is graduating from HS soon. This time it's to downsize and reduce the home upkeep burden. Personally, I'd stay away from North/NE Portland. Yes, those areas seem to be on the cusp of gentrification and the real estate started appreciating in value. However, the fact that the city budgeted $96 million over the next 10 years to fight gentrification in those areas doesn't sound good to me at all. Portland tabs $96M to combat gentrification Apparently the money will go toward providing low-income housing in N and NE PDX. Looks like there's a lot of resistance from the inner-city activist groups toward more affluent newcomers which doesn't make for a good neighborhood climate. Poverty enclaves also tend to attract crime. A friend of mine lives in the Alberta St. area. She has 2 kids, one in preschool and the other in elementary school. They both attend a private Montessori school. She and her husband-to-be moved there before they got married and had the kids. Now they're shopping for a place in West Linn because of good schools and safer neighborhoods. She said they might keep their house in NE PDX as a rental since the area is quite popular with the hip crowd. DH and I are watching Milwaukie now. The city government seems to be investing in community improvement projects: http://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/communitydevelopment Apparently the goal is to make Milwaukie an urban "destination". They launched farmers' market downtown, have plans for higher density housing downtown and in nearby areas like high-rent townhomes and condos. They already built some rather upscale-looking townhouses next to the city library. So far, they don't appear to be concerned with fighting gentrification. There are plans to make some streets bike and pedestrian friendly (sidewalks, bike lanes, etc.) like SE Monroe St. which appeals to us. The area around SE Monroe appears to be pretty much middle to upper middle class with low crime. However, from what I know, Milwaukie schools aren't that great. There's a chance they'd improve if new people move in and the city manages to replace trailer parks and cheap apartment complexes with more upscale housing, but it's pretty much a gamble. Still, in my church in NW PDX a few young people in their 20's-30's bought houses in Milwaukie in 2015 because of the new MAX line and more affordable prices. Realtors told us that houses under $300K and without major issues sold in a week or less last summer. We had a few upper-middle class clients who lived in Milwaukie. They told us they sent kids to private high schools since Milwaukie HS was bad. Apparently the big source of problems was a high share of families from trailer parks and cheap apartments near SE 82nd St. Someone told us she had no problem getting a transfer for her kid out of North Clackamas school district which includes Milwaukie. Her kid went to schools in Riverdale district, a top-notch school district in Dunthorpe. She said there were a few more Milwaukie families who transferred to that district too....See Moresummersrhythm_z6a
3 years agonavi_jen
3 years agoGreta Interiors
3 years agokhrisz
3 years agonavi_jen
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agonavi_jen
3 years agonickel_kg
3 years agonavi_jen
3 years agoGreta Interiors
3 years agonavi_jen
3 years agoUser
3 years agohomechef59
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agonavi_jen
3 years agoceilsan32
3 years ago
Related Stories
CRAFTSMAN DESIGNHouzz Tour: Thoughtful Renovation Suits Home's Craftsman Neighborhood
A reconfigured floor plan opens up the downstairs in this Atlanta house, while a new second story adds a private oasis
Full StoryMODERN HOMESHouzz Tour: Modern Minneapolis Home Balances Openness and Privacy
Clerestory windows, cedar overhangs and a clever layout let in natural light while protecting the family’s privacy
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN6 Front Yards That Balance Privacy With Curb Appeal
Selective screens, layered plantings and low walls boost privacy but still keep yards welcoming to neighbors
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN7 Stylish Front Yard Ideas for Homes on Busy Streets
Create privacy and cut down on traffic noise while maintaining curb appeal
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: Yard Seals the Deal for an Eichler Home
Expansive indoor-outdoor living sold a couple on this midcentury California home, now brimming with vintage finds collected over time
Full StoryKITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: A Balance of Modern and Country for a Family Home
A kitchen remodel expands to become a first-floor renovation — improving views, flow, storage and function
Full StoryHOUZZ CALLShare Your Neighborhood Acts of Kindness
Chalk art, teddy bear hunts and rainbows: Show us how your community spreads cheer while social distancing
Full StoryENTERTAININGHow to Be the Neighborhood Hangout House
Try these 10 ideas to make your home the place where everyone wants to be
Full StoryARCHITECTUREHouzz Tour: Modern Plays Nice in a Historic Houston Neighborhood
Subtle modern details make this new home stand out from its elderly neighbors without disrespecting them
Full StoryHOUZZ TVHouzz Tour: Rock Musician’s Tiny House Wakes Up the Neighborhood
Electric violinist Asha Mevlana built her Arkansas home as a place to live, practice and perform for neighbors
Full StorySponsored
More Discussions
Greta Interiors