Longriver, Yes, I do need to learn how to graft. Unfortunately the grafts that I tried did not suceed. AND I ended up killing the camellias I was trying to graft onto. I'm kind of scared of risking that much money since camellias are expensive to buy, and then I might kill them by trying to graft on them. My mother is retiring from her job and is going to try her hand at grafting. I hope that she learns how to do it. The plant that I rooted was not wintersweet, although at least one of the wintersweets did root. I think it was probably the one you call evergreen 'YangTong', even though that isn't the name I know it by - and I still can't recall the name! Luis, Soil tests thus far have indicated that there are almost no nutrients. But camellias grow wonderfully in this area (Texarkana). I went ahead and planted my baby camellias into the native soil. We'll see what happens. In 5 years or so they should be something to see! I am trying absolutely every one that the company offered which blooms during the winter (and not in the spring when everything else is blooming) and that is reputed to have somewhat cold hardy buds and/or flowers. I also purchased some fragrant camellias to try.

Thank you guys! blfenton, you are right! I want this to be an updated midcentury. I actually want the bathroom to look contemporary modern, with lots of white-clean, modern, and bright. The exterior will replicate the mcm architecture but the interior will be more updated. I am really stuck on the floors and very nervous because I want to do the whole house in one floor type. kwsl2-That acutally sounds like fun. I wouldnt want to pay to fly someone out here though. I have called a few places so far. One was recommended by a store, but they dont do residential properties. Another one I called only does multimillion dollar homes and wasnt interested. I called a couple other places, but havent gotten a return call. I called an architectural firm whose work I really like, but they do their own work and didnt know of anyone. I am also nervous about the cost. A lot of the stuff I see online is very expensive multimillion dollar traditional/farmhouse style homes. Maybe these places are expecting calls from builders or architects and not homeowners?

If you don't need space for socializing on the deck, I think you would be better served by a simple, 6' wide runway deck/walk that hugs the house and then devote the leftover space to planting. Split the steps with half at the deck and half at the entrance to the walk (from the drive.) It would seem a lot more luxurious to you if you made the step-treads 16" (front-to-back depth.) Use a conventional railing instead of seating. (You can't post photos by embedding code, but you can upload them directly from your computer by using the "Photo" button at the bottom of the window where you create the post.)

Like you, I dislike the paver yard. My first thought was to remove most of it and add some plants. Remove the lattice and the timber outlining the bed. You may have to dig the soil down a few inches. I'd plant fern there. I'm not an artist so view this for ideas only. It is not how I think it would look after, No matter what you do, I think you should hire an arborist to remove some of the lower branches on the Redwoods. While they are beautiful, the shade is so dense that almost nothing can grow near the house. Which direction does the front door face? Then I reread your post. I see that you get little rain. The previous owner may have done the paving to solve the problem of watering the lawn. It is also likely that due to the deep shade closest to the trees no grass could grow. Considering all that I made a new image. This one is even more crude than the first one. Consider the ideas. Longer windows due to the need for indoor light. I am thinking that one window is above the sink in which case it cannot be changed. Perhaps it would be enough to paint that section of siding in a grayish off white. I also think a veneer of whitish brick would look nice. Larger pots for the plants near entrance and move them to the side so they do not hide the posts. Use light colored planters. Under the pots place an indoor/outdoor rug. It would need to extend wider than the posts. You could coordinate with the color of the pots. Plant light colored annuals in season. Impatiens will grow in quite a bit of shade. So will fibrous Begonias. For the shrub I would choose a variegated plant to increase the look of sunlight. I do not show the wall in a white as I do not know how to do that. I also cannot simulate brick. It looks like you cannot have wider porch lights but you could make them longer. This light is for interior so I am not suggesting this exact one. Lighter metal finish would also help due to the dark from the overhang. I think you should hire a landscape designer to make a plan for removing some of the pavers. You could do the work yourself. Get a real landscape designer. Not the guy from the mow & blow crew. If the trees are in fact Redwoods then they have an interesting root system. You should learn about that. Where is this house located?