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Any suggestions for entrance patio makeover?

Hi, I would like to make the entrance to my townhouse more interesting and would love some suggestions. It is south facing, so not much sun. A few thoughts were: digging up existing pavers/pebbled concrete - but replace with what? Also maybe either paint brickwork or construct a wooden frame on brickwork for plants? Do I plant more around the tree?
Any ideas appreciated!

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Decking and Paving

Building and Construction

Planting and Growing

Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Ros2. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about improving the look of your entrance.

The first step is to decide what you don't like about the area. If you're not a fan of the Pebblecrete and pavers, then, by all means, remove them. As you mentioned, you'll need to replace your path with something. Have you considered giving the Pebblecrete and pavers a thorough cleaning with 30 Seconds and a Pressure Washer? Once rejuvenated, they should both look much more attractive.

Are there any themes that you might like to go with? I think an oriental theme would look amazing, but that might not be your thing.

The wall definitely could use something to break up the space. A verticle garden created from GreenWall units would look stunning. Given the lack of sunlight, it would be best to use ferns and bromeliads. Unreal artificial hedge tiles could also be used. They do a fantastic range of quite realistic luxury tiles as well. I used them to create this guide on How to build a plant wall feature.

Adding decorative pebbles or mulch around the tree would look great, or you might like to create a planting of low shrubs. You could probably get a small water feature in there if you wish.

Are you allowed to paint the brickwork? Even if you just painted the brickwork within your courtyard walls, that would look great.

If you removed the pavers and some soil, you might have enough room to build a low-level deck. If you raised it above the pavers with a step and built it around the tree, you could make a stunning place for a morning cuppa.

I'm keen to follow along with your project. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Ros2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/22177#Comment_22177

Thanks Mitchell, that’s really helpful.
I think I good paint the lower brickwork (Dulux Surfmist possibly) and maybe get a wooden pallet or something similar to attach to the far wall and then do the vertical garden idea. I want to check out the artificial tiles and see how realistic they look. I think more decorative pebbles and a couple of small shrubs near the tree could work. Still not sure what to do with the concrete and pavers. If I took it all up and replace with a few larger square pavers/tiles with pebbles in between do you think that would work?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/73813#Comment_73813

I think the pavers could work @Ros2. What about paving over the Pebblecrete and old pavers? That would raise the area slightly but could cause a trip hazard when starting the pavers. That would be a whole heap less work than removing the concrete path.

Mitchell

Ros2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100395#Comment_100395

That’s another good suggestion. I’ll do some more homework and let you know how I get on.

Remarka6le

Hey @Ros2 ,

Painting is a great way to freshen up the place. I'll always recommend spraying rather than rolling the paint on as you can get the job done much faster (I did my entire house and started rolling, quickly got sick of it and purchased a sprayer). Rendering is always an option as well.

For this area, I would go with a combination of wood and artificial screening to bring in some warmth. Two community members did some fantastic work using a similar combo, you can find their projects here & here to get a better idea of the style I'm thinking of. I think the artificial panels look fantastic when contrasted against something like Merbau because it makes them look realistic, that realism lowers when they're used as an entire wall (IMO).

You have a good opportunity here to go for a concrete / artificial grass combo on the ground. I would match the existing concrete where the bricks currently are and replace the pebbels with an artificial grass of your choice. Keep a small circle around your tree free of the grass and plant some nice flowers or plants of your choice around it to cap that off.

To finish things off, I would build some corner seating at your entrance that can lift up and double as storage to give you an entrance seating area.

Hope this helps, let us know what direction you go with 🙂

Ros2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/22214#Comment_22214

Thanks for your ideas Remarkable. The Boston Fern looks to be one of the more realistic ones. I’m thinking of erecting a timber screen 1800x900 on the brickwork and then attach the fern tiles. I could get one timber screen 900 wide or get two and then place the fern tiles in the centre of the two, rather than get one and cover it all? Trying to picture what this would look like.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/73831#Comment_73831

It might look something similar to this @Ros2.

Mitchell

Ros2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100404#Comment_100404

You’re a gem 😄. Tall plant in the corner perhaps? And large white decorative pebbles to replace paved area?

MitchellMc

@Ros2,

Mitchell

Ros2

Thanks everyone for their input on my little project. took me a while but I finally got there. Here is a before and after photo. I just need to mount the wooden slats on the bricks.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/25656#Comment_25656

I absolutely love it, @Ros2! You've done a spectacular job and should be immensely proud of your efforts. That area looks just so lovely now.

Many thanks for coming back to us with the results. I'm sure your project will inspire many of our members with tired courtyards to give them a spruce up.

Well done.

Mitchell

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/25656#Comment_25656

Well done @Ros2 and many thanks for coming back and sharing your handiwork. You should be really proud of your efforts and I'm sure they will inspire others.

Jason

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