[VoodooChile]

Yes, I'm still struggling with this one, but we gotta get these folks, our neighbors, something this weekend.

Here's one conception I came up with based on agla's ideas. I have incorporated into the design some turf next to the sidewalk, acknowledging the reality that the kids will take the shortest path between the drive and the steps, which isn't the sidewalk.

Any and all forms of input are appreciated.

[jwholden]

I scanned the post quickly, I may have misssed one of the design constraints...

I'm thinking make the steps inset with walls on either side and then curve the wall back around to touch the house to the right and pull the left side around to the corner of the house or more with an s curve. Keep the plantings above the wall low enough that you won't lose the house now or in the future. Put a weeper coming over the wall to soften it a bit.

[VoodooChile]

Talk about thinking outside the box!

I have been fixated on the right side of the steps, but maybe the most pleasing solution is to integrate the wall into the entire front of the house...

[Pelican]

Sorry for the delay in posting these pics, I could never remember to download my camera. Here's one that I did a number of years agor that had a lot of foundation wall exposed on a slope.

[Pelican]

Here's the other one in the same development. The contractor here didn't leave us a whole lot to work with. I hope these are of some help. The owner I worked for no longer lives in this home so I had to take the shot from the street. Lighting could be better, should have taken the pic in the am.

[springfever]

I have to agree with deutekom! Forget the retaining wall completly. The only part that actually needs retaining is the step side. Place some boulders there. Make it look natural. Plant it out and you will look like a hero because it looks great and you saved them some money.