Sorry I am so late coming to your site - you are an inspiration to all, homeowners and advisers alike. For your planting advice, I suggest you call Merrifield Garden Center to see if they will come out your way. They currently have wonderful garden centers in Merrifield and Fairfax (both in Fairfax County) and a new one in Gainesville, but they may come further south to wherever you reside. (www.MerrifieldGardenCenter.com) Even if they don't send designers to your area, they are worth a trip to see their huge selection for a day of pleasure and inspiration, or to pick up some plants. Most of my clients are in the Fairfax and greater Washington area, but I am currently living out west below Front Royal, VA on the Shenandoah mountainside - wonderful views. cascio.offsite@gmail.com

Are you standing in a rowboat when taking the picture? Lots of humidity, I guess. Try this in your minds eye: A tall shrub at each deck column below, so the wheelbarrow and dogs and kids can still go beddiebye between them, and continue along the foundation walls as well. You can mix the different plants, but if you choose to, I would suggest 3-5 of the same before introducing another. The lilac, of course, will be the most fragrant; and the shadblow the earliest to bloom. Lilac (Syringa), Shadblow (Amelanchier), Crape Myrtle (be careful when selecting these just by color, as some have a mature height of 2' and others have a mature height of 20') and the Crape Myrtle do not do well up north, if you are on the coast of Maine. Underplant these beauties with groundcover (a flagstone path for the wheelbarrow access) and low flowering shrubs or tall grasses will add nice color and texture for all the passing boatmen to view and smile and wave to you ON DECK above. Ask at the auto supply store if there is a product to wipe onto your railing to prevent fogging of your "wind shield". (as well as your telescope lens) Looks like a great spot for morning coffee and evening Dewars. cascio.offsite@gmail.com

Looking for a balustrade design that affect the view in a minimal way. Not interested in glass. But horizontally fixed stainless steel wire. Ultra.tech is the brand.

It is a pretty 'basic' look , but unless you spend big dollars , that is going to be the base you are working from . the first 2 things I'd do , is buy a waterblaster , blast everything especially bare timber ; and secondly , do every fence in a charcoal stain . Personally , I wouldn't paint the bricks , and I'd even hold off painting the block too . That brown peak has to change , I suspect I'd go a mid-Orange , to be reasonably 'sunny' . Red or yellow too bright for the cream and the style ; blue or green too old and too cold ; grey too boring ; black or brown too dark . I the short term , I'd leave the terrace panels , but do the top rail in a bright Orange , and the base timber that can be seen , in a charcoal . The stair railings I'd do in white with the same bright Orange top rail , the actual stairs in charcoal ( you may have to add a white bit at the front of each to meet Health and Safety regulations ) . Windows etc are okay IMO , but add a detail or 2 -- 2 matching $100 letterboxes ; your street number in a nice style , painted bright orange or even apricot , made from ply , and screwed or glued so it is 30mm 'out' ( protruding ) from the downstairs wall between the 2 windows ( maybe off-centre by 30cm for impact and interest ? ) OR maybe on the front fence . Then your idea of plants in big bright pots will really add too . There you go -- $2500 and some labour and some fun and it will look quite a bit better .