Of course, I'd say add some warm color (ie flowers)...not just greenery.

Regarding your proposed layouts, they seem on the contrived side and a bit busy to me, with neither having sufficient landscape bed space along the side borders. Where the trees are right next to the lawn, it's going to look a bit awkward with them right at the edge. It's likely that over time, grass would suffer and eventually refuse to grow where the trees overhang. Nothing at all wrong with the circle, but with a fairly narrow yard, it's going to require some mods to fit. I don't think the double circle works well with the pointed bed sections separating them.

Keep in mind that the patio itself is a path ... a hard surface floor just like the kitchen and dining rooms. The grass, too, is a path ... just like any carpeted area of the house. It does not seem like your proposed layouts are acknowledging the potential of the relationship between these two "floor" areas. I think the best thing you could do here is to make them flow together. It would be especially nice if the patio edge (next to the lawn) had a landing so that the whole edge was the step to the lawn.

When you say "pea gravel," do you mean the kind that is difficult to walk on because it squishes underfoot? For walking, use a gravel that packs tight. The little sneak-through path tucked behind the swing seems unnecessary to me. Why couldn't you use the main path to get to that area?

Thanks GardenGal. I like the idea of offsetting the circles along more of a diagonal. I'll have a go at that. It's difficult to come up with something that retains a large amount of grass lawn while providing diagonals. I'll try again.

dabrron - Yes, I'll be doing lots of planting in the borders. I just didnt attempt to show that and in any case my drawing skills fall short.

Here's my latest iteration... Better or worse?

Again forgive my total lack of artistic skills. The green blobs represent planting. I hope you have a good imagination....

This one place the lawns on a bit more of a diagonal, and I've tucked the seat away on a semicircle of bark, accessed down a little pathway that will appear partly hidden from the house. I thought that might look nice.

What do you think? How can I improve it. Or is the first one above better?

Wow! vstavay. You're amazing. What great skills! Those images look fantastic. I need your help!!

You've turned my thinking upside down - in a good way. I really like the idea of moving the seating away from the house and having some planting in front of the window. It would also give us more sun that way (much needed here in Blighty) because the house shades the patio from around 3pm at the moment.

With all respect to the designs contributed so far, to me they seem too... American? I see a charming shed going to waste. Let a rose ramble up and over it. The firepit is a turnoff, as are the stepping stones across the lawn. I hope someone will offer a more English, romantic approach for this great space. Floral_uk??

Thanks Kitasei! Yes, you're right. The garage at the end I quite like. It's Edwardian and after I painted it last year it has some character. I think the idea of planting rambling rose on the right hand end is fantastic. I will do that. I also think I shouldnt block the view to it entirely with trellis.

My real dilemna now is what shape to do the lawn. I've sketched it a million times on paper and can't get something I'm happy with. Any ideas from you or floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK or anyone would be really welcome!

I would like the garden to look wide in some area, and also to have some sort of flow towards the arch (to be) in the back left towards the garage.

I had this same problem with my yard/courtyard. Google "Small Garden Design Ideas UK" and you will come up with more ideas than you'll know what to do with. HOWEVER, when I did that, I saw LOTS of examples of folks just not leaving enough space for the shrubs to breathe and grow properly against the fences. There's nothing sacred about grass, so whatever you choose, give the borders some room. For my own yard, I put ease of mowing as my top priority, so whatever you do, mark it out and do a practice mow or two before you commit.

I also like vstavay's design. It divides the yard into two distinct areas yet still gives a diagonal path from the large, very usable hardscape to the back garden shed. The large rectangle of the new patio replicates the rectangles of the windows, doors, and the left facade. Also, the use of greenery as a border on one side versus fencing on the other makes the yard seem more open, less like a tunnel. I think it would be far easier to maintain the separation between plants and lawn and patio in that design. Go with it!

Thanks kitasei for your idea.

I haven't started on the rest of the garden yet, but in the meantime I went with the idea of the rambling rose on the garage.

I've now cut a hole for the rose!

I used an angle grinder and then my old SDS drill to break up the concrete underneath. I've lined the edge of the hole next to the garage wall with fresh concrete so the roots grow the other way, and filled the hole with John Innes no 3 and manure (based on my web search of what roses like to eat!).

What do you think?

Next step is to put up some vine eyes and then plant my rose.

What's that white gizmo protruding from the wall?

So the rose will be blocking the light switch as well as the door way?

Yes, the rose will block the light switch - but I rarely use it and could reach through if I really need to.

Which doorway? I'm planning to train it to the left below and above the small window. The gate on the right should be unaffected. And I';m hoping I can stop it covering the garage door to the left with pruning.

... But I've never planted a rose before. Am i doing it wrong?

rayaustin321 I struggle to see how that design would apply to my garden? Can you explain more.

My mistake. I thought the fence was a door so I looked at your first photo. It is fine, and frequently a good idea to hide a fence. What is the name of the rose you picked?

What is the rose you are planting?

Looking at the picture of your main house, I think you could put a rose there too. Two in fact - one by the fence to the right of the stairs, and the other on the left end trained up around the window like you're doing on the shed. I would run your rose questions by the rose forum. They can guide you to the best varieties for the locations and conditions you have. E.g., something that will stay close to the wall, climb 10 feet, be thornless, flexible canes that can be trained as you like, hardy to the zone below yours so there will be cane dieback so you're starting all over each year, reliable repeat blooming (or big one time show), attractive foliage against the color of the wall, a scent that wafts into your window or across the yard or requires putting your nose to the petals, etc etc. The right choice will make a big difference.

Thanks. It's too late on the one for the garage. I've already planted it... I chose Paul's Himalayan Musk, from David Austin. It's supposed to be a fast grower and quite disease resistant.

I like the idea of growing something up the house too. It would certainly make the house look better from the back of the garden.

I've been looking for Paul's Himalyan Musk myself to climb an oak tree. I understand it's a monster albeit gorgeous. In your case I imagine it may scramble up on the roof. Great choice in my opinion.