Ideal

[DIY Gal]

Hi Everyone,
I'm in the process of landscaping the front garden and would really appreciate your advice.
As you can see, there's a considerable slope from the pavement down towards the house.

I'm assuming that the DPC runs beneath the row of red bricks. 
I plan to level the ground between the back of the hedge and the house (second photo) and cover with decorative gravel.

(1) Should there be three rows of exposed bricks between the layer of decorative gravel and the DPC, four, or more?

(2) Would you recommend that I lay a type of French drain directly against the brickwork, or would that be overkill?

Thank you - I really appreciate your expert eyes on this.
Anna