Yard landscaping/design advice

3 months ago

Looking for ideas/advice on planning/designing a backyard update.
Current situation:
- very sloped block
- toppling retaining wall which needs replacing. We hear from neighbours our area is on a rock shelf so digging down has been challenging for many.
- narrow/convoluted access to our back grass area with crumbling steps.
- pool decking needs replacing and currently the whole area is very hodge-podge (pool is in ok shape and we are happy to keep the pool itself)
- there is an awkward corner behind/beside the pool decking which I have no idea why it's there. We had a landscaper look at our property and he thought potentially a water tank was hidden there but he's not sure. We have tried loosely digging above it but haven't reached anything to give us any more information. Ideally we'd include the space in the new pool area?
- the whole outdoor area of our property is quite hodge-podge with all different materials and looks messy
- the current state of our property is high-maintenance and we want to create something that will minimise maintenance while still looking beautiful and inviting.
- we have a limited budget so are looking for lower cost but durable options.
- timing on a renovation is flexible but probably at least a year away.
- we want to keep in mind maximising resale value as we are not sure if this is our forever home. Hopefully at least for the next 10 years.
Questions:
- how could we optimise the layout of the yard/steps/pool decking to improve access to the grass in the back? We thought about making sloping/stepped access on the south side of our property alongside the pool area (making the pool area smaller then) or making steps from the back of the pool area on the southside down to the grass.
- in an ideal world we would have a space to entertain/have meals outside.
- what materials would you recommend for replacing the decking and tiles framing the pool?
- we don't have a garage or shed and are looking for a way to possibly add a small shed for bikes and garden tools if possible?
See photos for current state. Note: we have repainted our exterior to shale grey with white trims.
Looking forward to any input/advice.

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Yard landscaping/design advice

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