Pic 1: retaining wall that we love, pic 2: our house, pic 3: ai rendering of what this kind of retaining wall could look like at our house
Is it possible? We like the unique retaining wall slightly up the slope from the sidewalk, opposed to most houses in our neighborhood which have their retaining walls pushed right up to the sidewalk
i dont recommend changing the “on” way direction…straight to jail
PNW_Undertaker
I hope you wouldn’t get rid of the sidewalk like AI did in photo 3….. city may have a few words 😂
Simplesolution123
Think about the space you have to work with… their yard is bigger than yours – not a diss! – so it may not look right
QuadRuledPad
Love this idea! It’ll be gorgeous. Agree that walls look better when they’re set a little further back from the sidewalk.
bobjoylove
Looks like you still have a slope to mow. Something to think about. Also since the house is asymmetrical you want something on the right side of the terrace plateau. A nice Acer, Cherry blossom, dogwood or redbud would help balance the look.
Randonoob_5562
I really like the offset walkway approach to your front door and would try to keep that. The new retaining walls could become a gentle embrace of your front yard slightly uphill from the existing sidewalks.
jrdidriks
hire a professional to draw up a plan and do a rendering for a more accurate look at if this would be possible or not. The AI is doing something funky with the grades
gefba
Will it look nice? Yes.
Is it worth doing? Maybe.
Retaining walls are quite expensive compared to other hardscaping, let alone landscaping.
If I were in your shoes I’d spend half what I would spend on the retaining wall and use that for landscaping or other exterior updates (although I really like your house color, so I wouldn’t paint it but if you’re tired of it that’s a consideration)
Desperate-Score3949
That is going to take a lot of space of your already pretty small yard honestly.
I personally would wrap the retaining wall that you already have in the rear all the way around to the front, this would allow you to properly landscape without such a steep slope.
Open-Cartographer731
Which app did you use?
Seoulmanaja
What AI program did you use?
NoMoreFanMail
I would move the entry steps to the left side of the house, with a nice curve to the front door. They will be much shorter, easier to climb and maintain in bad weather Then you can do a proper 2 level retaining wall in the front of the house that is not interrupted by the steps.
RamonesRazor
Is it possible? Or course. What’s your budget?
Entire-Molasses7897
Why do you want a retaining wall?
Is it to assist with creating some screening/separation?
I’m trying to determine whether there is a cheaper, less intensive way of getting your goals met.
Easy_Perspective_835
Love it
anubisimyourdad
Would look beautiful and add safety for any cars getting stopped by the wall instead of careening into your home. I would do it for that reason alone.
turnerm05
Love this look. I’d recommend thinking about shortening the wall on the right side and extending the way around the corner on the left side.
Worth_Courage_3880
damn that rendering looks nice, creates a great strong presence for the front yard which looks currently looks anemic in comparison
dont think its legal to get rid of the sidewalk so add that back into the rendering
tuckedfexas
Definitely doable, cost and effectiveness being worth it is really up to you. I’d probably opt for a boulder wall and some more natural landscaping below, rather than fitting the grass in everywhere. I’ve also poured almost identical setups that turn out looking really nice.
Vitringar
ON WAY (the opposite way)
maxp0wers
Maybe do a small front porch and extend that portico with 2 posts. Either out of decking or masonary. Would look nice and give you a spot to hang out in front.
No_Novel9058
I’ll just throw in a word of warning. We recently purchased a house with a similar (but cheap-ass) brick retaining wall, on a street with a small but decent amount of foot traffic. Our place similarly has a raised grass front yard due to the property slope. Turns out that since there’s nothing else on the street even vaguely like it, strangers use it to sit on, and we collect any amount of garbage that people leave behind. We’ll be replacing it with a low wooden fence/retaining wall combination. I can see the same happening at your place, particularly since it’s a corner lot.
notreallyswiss
Needs some railings on the AI and adding those will give a different vibe depending on the design.
Also, it’s weird that I like how your house looks with the windows on either side of the door removed. I usually like more windows, not less, but from the outside at least, the version without windows gives this facade more character.
Eggplant-666
I love how AI got rid of the sidewalk and huge post, 🤣 it does look better that way!
CheeseChickenTable
I see the appeal with pushing the wall back purely from an aesthetics POV. Can this all be done, yes! It will be expensive tho, or at least doing it right, the proper way, with a group who does good work that will last a lifetime will cost a pretty penny. and if you’re gonna do this sort of work and investment in your landscape, I’d do it right!
I’d also plant the fuck out of some creeping thyme, phlox, and frog-fruit to hang down from the ledges. Would look spectacular
Landscape_Design_Wiz
The retaining wall idea you’re considering would definitely add character and make the slope more usable. I put together a quick mockup with some wall + planting options so you can see how it might look in your yard [https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/nSilxnZM7zh](https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/nSilxnZM7zh)
Decent-Bear334
What tool are you using for the rendering?
showmenemelda
You might not need terraced walls, but it looks like your yard would suck to mow. I am team retaining wall one level. My dog loves to _Parkour_ them
The_Poster_Nutbag
Yes this is definitely doable.
Chuckles_E
This is beautiful. Just don’t fill it with boxwoods. Look up Japanese pruning techniques for your bushes and they’ll be the best looking in the neighborhood.
RespectTheTree
On way!
lastlaugh100
Plant a tree or two instead of a retaining wall. It will stop cars from hitting your home and prevent erosion.
Looks like you’re on a busy street, you probably won’t stay there long enough to make spending $50k on a retaining wall worth it.
And that AI photo has zero plants that help pollinators. Boxwoods as 100% of your landscaping is ugly.
YouAreTotalGarbage
Seems like a lot of time and money for little to no return?
JoeyRottens
Make sure you talk about setbacks from road/sidewalk. I didn’t and the city dug up a sewer line and trashed my wall. They would not replace. Couldn’t find my permit on record because I never got one.
37 Comments
i dont recommend changing the “on” way direction…straight to jail
I hope you wouldn’t get rid of the sidewalk like AI did in photo 3….. city may have a few words 😂
Think about the space you have to work with… their yard is bigger than yours – not a diss! – so it may not look right
Love this idea! It’ll be gorgeous. Agree that walls look better when they’re set a little further back from the sidewalk.
Looks like you still have a slope to mow. Something to think about. Also since the house is asymmetrical you want something on the right side of the terrace plateau. A nice Acer, Cherry blossom, dogwood or redbud would help balance the look.
I really like the offset walkway approach to your front door and would try to keep that. The new retaining walls could become a gentle embrace of your front yard slightly uphill from the existing sidewalks.
hire a professional to draw up a plan and do a rendering for a more accurate look at if this would be possible or not. The AI is doing something funky with the grades
Will it look nice? Yes.
Is it worth doing? Maybe.
Retaining walls are quite expensive compared to other hardscaping, let alone landscaping.
If I were in your shoes I’d spend half what I would spend on the retaining wall and use that for landscaping or other exterior updates (although I really like your house color, so I wouldn’t paint it but if you’re tired of it that’s a consideration)
That is going to take a lot of space of your already pretty small yard honestly.
I personally would wrap the retaining wall that you already have in the rear all the way around to the front, this would allow you to properly landscape without such a steep slope.
Which app did you use?
What AI program did you use?
I would move the entry steps to the left side of the house, with a nice curve to the front door. They will be much shorter, easier to climb and maintain in bad weather Then you can do a proper 2 level retaining wall in the front of the house that is not interrupted by the steps.
Is it possible? Or course. What’s your budget?
Why do you want a retaining wall?
Is it to assist with creating some screening/separation?
I’m trying to determine whether there is a cheaper, less intensive way of getting your goals met.
Love it
Would look beautiful and add safety for any cars getting stopped by the wall instead of careening into your home. I would do it for that reason alone.
Love this look. I’d recommend thinking about shortening the wall on the right side and extending the way around the corner on the left side.
damn that rendering looks nice, creates a great strong presence for the front yard which looks currently looks anemic in comparison
dont think its legal to get rid of the sidewalk so add that back into the rendering
Definitely doable, cost and effectiveness being worth it is really up to you. I’d probably opt for a boulder wall and some more natural landscaping below, rather than fitting the grass in everywhere. I’ve also poured almost identical setups that turn out looking really nice.
ON WAY (the opposite way)
Maybe do a small front porch and extend that portico with 2 posts. Either out of decking or masonary. Would look nice and give you a spot to hang out in front.
I’ll just throw in a word of warning. We recently purchased a house with a similar (but cheap-ass) brick retaining wall, on a street with a small but decent amount of foot traffic. Our place similarly has a raised grass front yard due to the property slope. Turns out that since there’s nothing else on the street even vaguely like it, strangers use it to sit on, and we collect any amount of garbage that people leave behind. We’ll be replacing it with a low wooden fence/retaining wall combination. I can see the same happening at your place, particularly since it’s a corner lot.
Needs some railings on the AI and adding those will give a different vibe depending on the design.
Also, it’s weird that I like how your house looks with the windows on either side of the door removed. I usually like more windows, not less, but from the outside at least, the version without windows gives this facade more character.
I love how AI got rid of the sidewalk and huge post, 🤣 it does look better that way!
I see the appeal with pushing the wall back purely from an aesthetics POV. Can this all be done, yes! It will be expensive tho, or at least doing it right, the proper way, with a group who does good work that will last a lifetime will cost a pretty penny. and if you’re gonna do this sort of work and investment in your landscape, I’d do it right!
I’d also plant the fuck out of some creeping thyme, phlox, and frog-fruit to hang down from the ledges. Would look spectacular
The retaining wall idea you’re considering would definitely add character and make the slope more usable. I put together a quick mockup with some wall + planting options so you can see how it might look in your yard [https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/nSilxnZM7zh](https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/nSilxnZM7zh)
What tool are you using for the rendering?
You might not need terraced walls, but it looks like your yard would suck to mow. I am team retaining wall one level. My dog loves to _Parkour_ them
Yes this is definitely doable.
This is beautiful. Just don’t fill it with boxwoods. Look up Japanese pruning techniques for your bushes and they’ll be the best looking in the neighborhood.
On way!
Plant a tree or two instead of a retaining wall. It will stop cars from hitting your home and prevent erosion.
Looks like you’re on a busy street, you probably won’t stay there long enough to make spending $50k on a retaining wall worth it.
And that AI photo has zero plants that help pollinators. Boxwoods as 100% of your landscaping is ugly.
Seems like a lot of time and money for little to no return?
Make sure you talk about setbacks from road/sidewalk. I didn’t and the city dug up a sewer line and trashed my wall. They would not replace. Couldn’t find my permit on record because I never got one.
I like it a lot
Wow wow wow!!!! Go for it!
That’s neat