retaining wall assistance required
PC NewHome
3 years ago
I am a first home buyer. Getting experience of building a home while constructing my first home.
I got this retaining wall built 1m high and I am not allowed to build more than this as per council requirements. Also, if I construct above this, then it is getting quite expensive for me.
Now my dilemma is how to hide the neighbours soil that is visible above the retaining wall and not look ugly?
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (52)
Kate
3 years ago
PC NewHome
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Kitchen redesign ideas needed
Comments (812)This made me laugh: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/09/seagull-turns-orange-after-falling-into-vat-of-chicken-tikka-masala I couldn't copy the picture, but it's hilarious....See MoreCurtain colour help - am I being too picky?
Comments (21)There are some great comment here, but my take on this would be if you are going custom to take your time and look around. Many designers offer different takes on each person's preference. The colours you have are good but I'd personally would opt for a more warmer cream, with a self print pattern. I would also suggest pinch pleated curtains and not pencil pleat as you have currently, pinch pleated curtains will give you uniformed pleats from top to bottom. In addition to this I would suggest you use blackout linen to prevent light to enter the room, and possibly interlining so that you retain some thermal properties in your fixtures. Having custom made curtains are a lifetime choice for most customers, take your time and don't settle for the first company you come across. The space above your bed i would possibly add a sheer fabric roman blind which is slightly see through but enough to give you privacy if you bedroom is situated on the ground floor. You can also get the a roman blind to match your new curtains if you'd like a more repetitive theme in your bedroom. I would suggest if you do opt for a roman blind, and you are looking for a good qualities add blackout linen. If you would like a rough estimation on what you would be looking at we can assist you so you are aware of what most reputable curtain making specialist charge in this current market....See MoreEclectic Elegance Villa Renovation
Comments (0)Brief: The client had purchased a 4 bedroom villa with large proportions. With white walls throughout, and very little existing furniture that the client wanted to keep, it was a blank canvas for design work in all areas of the house. A new kitchen was required to allow the client to enjoy cooking and house contemporary storage solutions. The client wanted to retain the integrity of some of the villa features, yet create a contemporary elegance which was different from a traditional take on design, and incorporated a quirky eclectic feel that could include reference to other eras. They wanted a sense of luxury and surprise incorporated into the design but didn’t want the traditional busy-ness of the Victorian era in which the villa was built but a more uncluttered simplicity. Newly purchased villa Solutions: With the entire house being white, and the existing black painted floorboards and grey carpet, a black and white base to the colour scheme was layered with accents of red and aqua, mixed with metallic silvers and charcoals. The starting point for this colour scheme was a painting the client had for the living area, which had a touch a soft aqua in it. (as pictured below) and we wanted to connect it into the room. A variety of depth of aqua tones were brought into the colour scheme to give it more depth but keep it restful. Existing art work The existing kitchen was dark and heavy and required a complete redesign, but had to fit with the existing large scullery area in behind it and incorporate all the modern storage within. The new design bought together pattern, texture and light. The cabinets above the hobs were printed with graphics on glass which incorporated a large scale traditional pattern and a touch of the soft aqua blue. This pattern on the glass uses a traditional emblem element and plays with scale to contemporise it. The main bench-top and cabinetry were kept light and white, to connect with the rest of the house, and an asymmetrical feature bench-top in Petra Grigio marble was added to balance the asymmetry of thehigh wall cabinetry on the back wall. The feature marble added interest and depth to the island. The high wall cabinetry was kept open on the right, to visually connect with the scullery rather than close it off. The splash back tiles on the back wall and tiles on the back of the island were heavily textured and played with the light to create a sense of interest and movement. The kitchen is situated in a south facing part of the house so it was important to consider reflectance, sheen, and the use of materials that added to the perception of light. The kitchen and scullery floor was also replaced with quirky tiles that played with light. To complete the area, high gloss black glass lights were hung over the island.These light fittings had a large base plate so the framing of the fretwork on the ceiling had to be enlarged to install them. The previous kitchen was flued through the roof on the kitchen side, we took it through the back wall and up through the scullery shelving in order to take it out of sight. The design off the kitchen allows connection to other areas so that while the kitchen is being used by the client, he can entertain at the same time. Before After The dining family area was open plan to the kitchen. A large American ash dining table with a charcoal stain was added with fully upholstered dining chairs, sitting on a custom designed rug. Contemporary cabinets in Resene Black-white sat on either side of the fireplace which had the hearth replaced in a black Basalt and a new gas fire retro-fitted into it. Contemporary chairs and small black leather and chrome side tables gathered around the fireplace sitting on a custom designed rug to provide a comfortable conversation space with out cluttering it with heavy furniture. All the fabrics and rugs pulled together the aqua, black and white colour scheme. Each chair around the fireplace was upholstered in a different luxurious velvet fabric, pulling together the traditional and retro elegance. Before After The formal lounge connected to the kitchen area and the back patio area of the house. The furniture was custom built for comfort and luxury. The fabrics incorporated velvets and texture, and the custom made rug added a high silky sheen to the room. Red was introduced into this area along with the aquas and the black -white base to bring warmth into a south facing room. A black basalt hearth was overlaid on the existing hearth, and the clients existing entertainment cabinet was recoloured to work with the scheme. A large traditional decorative silver framed mirror reflects back to the kitchen connecting the areas. This area provided the client with a spatial sanctuary, but also allowed for entertainment with the connection through to the kitchen and living areas. Before After The entrance hallway had large proportions. New hall lights were added that were made from a contemporary medium of black acrylic, yet were a modern take on a traditional chandelier. The pattern of these lights was reflected in the design of a custom designed hall runner. The scale of pattern oversized to enhance the proportions of the hallway and emphasis the contemporary feel. A touch of red was added in to bring interest into the colour scheme, you can see the formal lounge at the end of the hallway and the red leads you in. There is a real sense of an eclectic mix of scale and over the top luxury in this space. The rug allowed the client to have a warmth and softness on the flooring. To furnish the hall, we had to custom size a hall table so that the proportions worked. Before After The final result is a seemless transition from Victorian through to contemporary, connecting through a variety of design elements and creating the eclectic elegance the client was after. Check out entire project here!...See MoreHelp with new bathroom layout
Comments (4)If you can narrow the linen cupboard, then you do do a similar layout to that GB has shown but with a changed door swing, swap the basin and WC, putting the WC on the wall beside the door so the WC is concealed behind the door....See MoreUser
3 years agodreamer
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years ago
macyjean
3 years agodreamer
3 years agodreamer
3 years agoKate
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agodreamer
3 years ago
Rochelle
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agome me
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years ago
Susan Clark
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agodreamer
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agomacyjean
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agodreamer
3 years agoUser
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agoRochelle
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agodreamer
3 years agoThese are examples of how retaining wall should be constructed. And these are for walls that are less than 1 metre! I still feel yours is not to correct structural code. But if your design coordinator has said it is okay and needs to be built to level of foundation of neighbours property, that is good. But, a design coordinator is not a structural engineer.
And will you actually receive a written approval from council to prove that the wall is structurally sound, after completion.
if the foundations are not supported correctly, and your neighbours wall starts to crack. You need that building permit/approval so you are not liable for damage.
macyjean
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agoRochelle
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agoKate
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agomacyjean
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agodreamer
3 years agoPC NewHome
3 years agodreamer
2 years agoPC NewHome
2 years ago
Kate