Hello Kal, Sometimes I use Punch to set up building masses, but most designing I do by hand. Paper and pencil are my best friends. (Trace paper, too, and a million erasers). Disregarding what you have read in the past, do you think straight lines are formal? I personally don't. Not intrinsically, at the very least. They can be used to create very formal designs, yes, but they don't necessarily equate into a formal design. In your space, for example, the patio won't be the only thing in the space, and thus can be tempered by other elements to create the look or aesthetic that you want. The types of plants you choose, and/or their arrangement and/or placement can alter the look of the patio by visually breaking up the edges or by accentuating them. Even within the patio, the colour combinations, textures, patterns, scale of the pavers, all of these have an effect on the overall feeling. I personally would say that a rectilinear patio would suit the space better, given its size. With a curvy patio, you might have to compromise on patio area to accommodate curves. The leftover space between the patio and fence may be too narrow at spots to plant with anything significant. There's a lot to consider when you're designing a space, which is good when you're still in the planning stage and it's easier to change things around. I don't want to plan the space for you, since you are the one who really knows what you want to achieve. But I will try, and hopefully with the help of others on the forum, to push you to explore other opportunities or ideas that you usually wouldn't have. - Audric

You stole my heart with all that wonderful subtropical looking foliage ! After getting your safety items in order then the fun can begin with the planning of the landscape and other features. The way the deck is laid out really emphasizes the fenced in box shape of your property. When laying out your new landscape , if it were me, I would start to layer in some graceful curving beds with a layered planting of perennials( foreground) shrubs( midground) and a few trees ( background and canopy ). An overall master plan would help you with phasing and budgeting. A master plan will give you the 'big picture' but it doesn't get down to the nitty gritty of construction detailing. It is sort of a story board that will help you prioritize your project as a whole. In your master plan the shape of the landscape is defined and perhaps even some specific varieties of plants are called out. The deck and any augmentations are drafted up too. All this helps with overall budgeting and staging/ installing the various elements. From May 30, 2012

Green X could use something dense that gets to a decent height in a decent amount of time. I would use Springtime Viburnum or Common Myrtle sheared into an egg. I love myrtle eggs. Mine gets pretty white flowers at this time of year. You may want to consider Duranta repens for the yellow x. A dwarf bottlebrush standard will weep for you, and they stay small. Brugmansia would look great. It sounds like an ideal spot for one. Put something like native sword ferns below so that you don't have to pick up all of the dead blossoms. I have a very nice Euphorbia that looks like a smoke tree- stays small, easy to prune into shape. It may live there. I'll take a photo tomorrow. I'd plant duranta up against the wood fence too. The variegated green and white ones would look great, and they get about ten feet tall. I love the shape of the path you laid out. Renee

If you are selling I think a border has a lot more chance of feedback than no border. Meaning, if the bs was just subway, then there probably won't be comments like "I wish there was a border" because they don't know what they are missing, but if there is a border and potential buyers might say " I don't like the border". Buyers are quite picky and insane these days. Been there, done that. If you think you aren't selling, then by all means do what you like. Life is too short to just be designing your home for a potential possibility you might sell it. No matter what, it will look clean, current, and fresh. And those are always good.