Mtn - Pictures did not load

I know , sorry! Tech issues RN. BRB

Same thing here when we built onto the house and bought another acre. All the land is on the side and back of the house. Less to mow. :)

Without seeing the pictures I'd stick with what you have. Maybe freshen the area up a bit?

Trust me, future owners won't care if your path to the front door isn't optimal. If it's pleasing to the eye and functional, that's all you need.

If a friend drops by, where to they park?

I think Mtn is concerned that it ISN’T functional...the parking for guests does not give an easy visual or direct path to the front door.

Can‘t wait to see the landscaping porn, er, plans! 😂

Looking forward to seeing the pics if you can make it work.

I can’t wait to see! I’ve saved pics of your posts w clematis as inspiration!

I’ve had issues posting today- even w just 2 pictures 😩

I definitely had issues posting one single picture today. Looking forward to seeing them!

Cattle Chute? Just kidding of course, without photos it's hard to make relevant suggestions. You said that there is a parking area for guests and a gated entrance, Is the walkway defined or more pea gravel? Is it possible to install a low decorative fence from the parking area to the gated entrance without re-doing the existing landscaping? You mentioned that you have directional signs, you could hang one of those old fashioned black and white hands with the finger pointing the way.

I couldn't post any photos yesterday - but this afternoon I could.

Not sure it totally works but you can try resizing the photo...when I post from mobile I change “actual size” at bottom to “large.”

Cattle Chute? Just kidding of course

Not really : ) . I live on a farm and we use many of Temple Grandin's principles for moving livestock (in our case, beef cattle and sheep), a lot of which comes down to basic behavioral principles (like fight or flight), so it applies to humans as well lol. But that's also what good architects/landscape architects do too.

Sorry I've been MIA! Busy few days. I will give it another try. In the meantime, replying to those who have posted.

Becky, yes. People will go the shortest, easiest route. But you can also funnel them as you'd like with signals about where one enters, which path is primary or secondary, or even planting ground cover instead of just grass where you don't want them tempted to walk.

Maire -

the walkway is stone....

a low decorative fence from the parking area to the gated entrance --- yes, this is similar to one of the plans.

You mentioned that you have directional signs, you could hand one of those old fashioned black and white hands with the finger pointing the way. A sign is sort of a fail in my book (even cute ones), I want to redesign it so it's intuitive. I have signs now and people always ask if my house used to be an inn.

Oakley,

I think it could be both more functional and more pleasing.

It is impossible to prove if this will matter for resale. I think it will, and others with local knowledge of competing property agree. If it were just for me, I might do something far more dramatic and expensive. I am trying to do things that make sense whether we stay or sell. It's just a judgment call, but i'm definite about doing it

Where guests arrive/park depends on how many there are, who they are, what they might be carrying, what the weather is, if they are dropping off a kid or staying, if they are workmen or delivery, and in the case of guests --- where in the house or property we will be entertaining. So, it varies. But other than a car or 2, they park in the guest parking, and sometimes even then.

I'll be following with interest as we have a similar situation and the only solution I can come up with is signs which seems a bit off-putting to me.

I lIke plan 2. It clearly marks the entrance to the home entrance. The courtyard seems almost a stopping place, and therefore almost an impediment to the entrance.

I don’t get the point of the courtyard either, it seems like it would add confusion. You think it’s not a long walk because of the courtyard, then it ends. Do you ask yourself, hmmm was there some other path from the drive? Are you more likely to take that first turnoff to the pool house?

Plan 1, on the other hand, seems to do a better job of discouraging people to turn toward the pool house. It and the trellised path to the garden are more hidden. I like that. Also plan 1 makes the pool turn off less grand.

Do you have to have a turn off to the pool house? I think that is for people leaving not going to the pool. Couldn’t they leave and return to the parking area via the trellis ? My logic may be faulty though. I am assuming people who don’t know your house and therefore could get lost will never go directly to pool area, they will always go to front door.

I like Plan 2. It is less fussy, and more direct without distractions. I don’t see the point of the courtyard either. Nothing wrong with some additional small landscaping, as long as it doesn’t eventually overpower the intended path. Having similar plants on one side or the other along the whole path could suggest the path itself.

There are things I like about both...but I think ultimately Plan 2 accomplishes what you are trying to do better. Plus that stone half-moon is darling. Comparing both plans to the original I can see why you want to do this project...current path really is hugged up close to the house. Now it will seem more like a proper entry sidewalk.

Any photographs of the view from the street?

Hi Nini, a view of what part(s) from the street?

Plan 2. It shows you where the walkway begins and is just less fussy.

I also like Plan 2. I'm a sucker for a New England gate. I am wondering if you could achieve the same goal with the just the installation of elegant path lighting? Is this more a night vs. day issue? These path lights could give visual directions.

Project Creep Lighting

I prefer plan 1.

FWIW, this is the type of gate we would add in Plan 2 (just the bottom half.) It would be left open 99% of the time, since you've already entered by gate w/ your vehicle. So it is more .....ceremonial that anything else. Just before the gate would be a half moon stone landing (at grade), flanked by planting beds and with 2 path lights.

In either plan, the rest of the path would be gently lit by gentle pools of light from above (hung on trees, buildings, etc).

I was favoring Plan 1 as were my DDs, but to be honest, i think it was because, when she rolled it out we loved the pink and green watercolor! It made me think of Lily Pulitzer. Plus that one had the pool, which is not really part of the plan but I think swayed us just the same. OTOH, our house has soooooo many clowns, inside and out, and this courtyard contrivance would be one more. So I get that!

I think the concept of using a courtyard to break up a walk must be Landscape Architecture 101, because I found an old plan I had forgotten. Ten years ago we hired a LA to fix this same problem, as well as improve the short, inelegant owners' entrance. As is often the case, landscaping comes last and we were in no mood to spend the 150k-plus that landscape/hardscape plan entailed, after a year long remodel at 2x the original budget (let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories and all that). But I dug out his LA plan, and it also has a courtyard in almost the same area!

I will try to post it just fyi but it is NOT an option we will consider as we have already reworked the owners' entry in a much more modest fashion.

You say that the front door is not visible from the parking pad. That’s fine. But, it should emerge into view pretty soon along the walkway. To that end, can the walkway start closer to the parking pad or garage, and kind of arc along a tad closer the wall and plantings? The path can then approach the door from whatever angle you like, the side as the proposed plans show, or from an angle, or more head-on.

I agree bpath. The walkway starts as soon as the pea gravel driveway/parking ends. The issue of the exact arc, to seem natural and yet bring the door into view, will have to be finalized on site, since there are existing mature trees, topography changes, and a leach field, etc. The final approach will be as head on as possible given a massive tree in the way.

I think what I meant was, can the path start closer to the road, to one‘s left as one approaches the house, but to the right of the garage’s cobblestone demilune.

Where the darker green is, is that a little woodland of mature trees? Are there a lot? Is it lawn beneath, or is it tall plantings? I guess you’d need to mark what you don’t want to or can’t remove.

At first I didn’t get or see the point in the court yard plan so preferred the other. However, the more I think about it I like it best. You might need a sort of yellow brick road for the other plan just so that the pedestrian knows that there really is something at the end.

Now I can’t get the follow the yellow brick road chant out of my head.

I'm more a function over form person (although I really appreciate form as well my first thought is always function.) Just want to explain where my thoughts are coming from. I do think whichever one you choose you should make sure that the path to the door is a wide path that preferably 2 people can walk side by side all the way to the front door and do so comfortably. 4ft width would facilitate that and also be very clear where the main path is vs. any other paths. Because the walk is longer I'm suggesting the walking side by side because guests can then walk together with whomever they came with and converse without having to try to converse by turning around etc. It just seems much more welcoming to allow that. I like either the courtyard or the gate, but functionality wise a wide path with the gate would be a clear indication to me that this is where I need to go. Width tends to make people see it more as a main area and without signs width is a good way to indicate go here.

Will guests where the stone path starts in plan 2 be able to see the front door, or does a big tree block the view? If,as bpath suggests, the path starts near the tree line, it appears that your guests would be able to see the front door when they start on the stone path.

I'm the type that easily gets confused & end up in the pool house. What about a straight line from parking area to the door instead of weaving in and out? A plain as day sidewalk of some sort could be between the house and yard/courtyard. IMO, the simpler the better. I like the idea of a wider sidewalk for side by side walking.

You know I have to say I like the previous expensive plan with the round courtyard. Because it seems more like a transition space and less like a stopping space (the fruit trees kinda crowd up the first courtyard). But in looking at the last plan I can see the courtyard appeal.

Bpath,

Aha I see what you mean... instead of centering the new gate in Plan 2, shift it left toward the street, so that the path shifts left and you see the front door sooner. However, as you guessed, I don't want to disturb the existing vegetation line (shown as a darker green line in plan 1 and 2). It includes very mature hardwood as well as lower bushes and groundcover.

This photo is taken from the vantage point one would have if they were standing on the stone patio, pool house on the right and guest parking on the left. Straight ahead is the street. not really visible between the vegetation and a low stone wall which come to think of it has fencing too. If you look closely you actually see my neighbor's taupe fence across the street. Funny how the strip of grass looks so narrow in this photo, it's probably 40 or 50 feet.

Suero, there is a very large tree blocking your view so no I don't think you could see it even if shifted. People will still have to take it on faith, LOL.

Lyfia, Honestly that never would have occurred to me, but my LA told me the main path should allow two people to walk side by side, I think she suggested ~52" wide. So, yes, your point is totally correct.The secondary path is narrow, and simply placed on grass rather than set in crushed stone.

Jterri, thanks for the earworm! It appeals to me, too, but again I think it was the pink! LOL. I'm also a sucker for symmetry and that really delivers on that front. But as you can see, my house is very hodge podgey and certainly not symmetrical or formal in anyway and so IDK!

52" is even better and if the large path can be seen then that is the path people will gravitate to no matter if it has the gate or courtyard as long as it is the widest path of all visible paths by much more than any other path.

Plan 2 and I agree with bpath about the visibility of the front door.

Becky, yes. People will go the shortest, easiest route. But you can also funnel them as you'd like with signals about where one enters, which path is primary or secondary, or even planting ground cover instead of just grass where you don't want them tempted to walk.

Yes, the funneling is a very important aspect with the livestock -- the cattle run gradually narrows. You also can't distract them with too much, either sights or sound, or they stop moving (or even worse, turn around and head back).

And the problem with animals that are overly tame (without a flight zone) is that it's much easier to lead them than it is to herd them, which means offering a treat or using a halter. In people terms, the treat is the front door : ) .

Maybe we could leave breadcrumbs....

It is a long and confusing walk.

I like the gateway as in plan 2. I would minimize the meandering as it's far enough as it is and doesn't need to be longer. (Especially in inclement weather.) Rather, I would focus on a consistency of what's beneath one's feet (yellow brick road concept) with lighting along the way so that it looks most purposefully like a path that leads somewhere as opposed to a path that's meant to take you on a stroll through the gardens. What you do on the sides or overhead (wisteria arbor along the way?) or "pullouts" with benches is fine. But the path itself should be deliberate.

Not yellow brick, but common brick would be in keeping...

or large stone slabs...

I like this brick herringbone and the definition of the stone wall on the side...

LOL JT.

Annie the middle one is divine! I love herringbone, too (been thinking of herringbone marble for a BA floor i have to replace). Thx for the pics; and the confirmation that it really should be done!

Update, construction starts tomorrow! Going w Plan 2, with a few adjustments to reduce the secondary paths (some needed for workmen to access systems) and add more beds.

DH says he will buy me a pink tree to put anywhere I want, LOL. Or maybe I should just get myself something from Lily Pulitzer.

Great news. That "ceremonial" gate photo you posted is lovely, mtnrd, can't wait to see your take on it.

But you ARE adding a zipline, aren’t you?

Yes, over the pond!

In general, I don't like trees close to the house but YMMV. It's a beautiful look but a lot of leaves to deal with and maintenance. Thoughts about keeping walk clear during winter and where will the snow go as far as how it will affect the beds later on in the year to have snow piled around them. Just some futzy stuff but food for thought. I have to really watch what I put on my walkways because there are garden beds around them and salt to keep walks clear has bad effects, as does constant snow cover . . .

Nice! I too am loving that gate and can’t wait to see the finished product. Oh yeah, and the zip line! (Snicker) More fun than a pool probably.

Thankfully, I pink, our gardener of many years will over see the project; he also does our snow removal. Not sure what you mean about trees close to the house?? We aren't adding trees.

I can't see the plans anymore, but I thought one of them called for four small flowering trees to be planted . . . I have to spend a lot of time on my tree maintenance in the yard, so that's why I mentioned it. But if you have a gardener, then no big deal, that's what he gets paid for.

Oh yes, it did, but it was not near the house. True, we have someone do the work, but I still agree one should be mindful and decide knowing that one option might entail more work than another.

Just for example of some of the issues, I have an allee of small trees along my driveway. 9 months out of the year they provide a lovely view and softening of the big driveway's impact on the landscape. However, in the winter, when we snow blow the driveway, these small trees get hit by the flying snow an there is no other alternative place to shoot the snow . . . and that's not good for them. Some are more sensitive to that onslaught than others and some years are much worse than others. We try as much as we can to avoid shooting the snow at the trees, but that makes snow blowing the driveway more cumbersome. I could cover the trees with protective burlap walls/snow fences, as
they do in some other situations along roads, but then I would have a
driveway lined with big burlap blobs during the winter, which is already
bleak enough . . .

Same with my small garden along the walkway into the house, any salt or products I put to keep that walkway clear in the winter will affect the soil in the garden and hence the plants. Particularly if the salt builds up and then all melts at once which is what often happens--salt shock.

Not saying don't plant the trees or don't treat the walkways, or put up the snow fences . . . just consider 12 months of the year. Too many landscape plans are made in the summer and broken in the winter . . . Or made when it's not raining and broken during a long rainy spell. Start with worst case scenario . . . Either way, it's going to be fabulous. These are just some futzy little comments, not even sure if they add much to the discussion but having done the maintenance of gardens for dozens of years, they are the kinds of issues I futz over . . .

How exciting that you are starting this week.