I'm sorry to say it is a "nay" for me. I like when there is a flow to the overall yard, where things seem to fit and their existence makes sense. I get why the firepit area is circular and why the path to it curves. But I don't get why there are additional circles that seem to be nothing more than artistic motifs imposed on the lawn. The circular bed seems to match the flowering tree centered in it, but it doesn't seem to match up with the theme of other things in the yard.

If I was the prospective buyer, I'd be accepting of the firepit area but wishing you left out everything else, including the flagstone paths. I'm not a fan of them on account of their being actually not great as a path surface, having to edge around them or accept grass growing over them, and because their rustic flavor seems out of sync with the flavor of everything else. I'd rather have the opportunity to do my own path. If I didn't use the firepit much, I'd be fine with the path to it being just lawn.

On another subject, I'm wondering why there seems to be neither landscaping for the garage or any plan for doing it in the future. The routing of the flagstone path in the vicinity of the garage seems like it will surely kill any possibility for adding landscaping in the future. As a resale item, I'd have to give demerits for that.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments, yardvaark. I'll get back to the drawing table. :)

I agree with Yardvaark's comments. I am also concerned about the landscaping (or lack of) around the raised deck. In the first photo, it looks almost like a fence barricading the house from the rest of the yard, and in the last mockup you have added a pair of tall everygreens at the stairs, crowding them (at least psychologically) and interfering with the view of the yard.

To help reduce the appearance of the house being fenced off from the yard and to nestle it into the surroundings, I would put a bed with shrubs and groundcover, well-edged to keep out grass and mulched until the groundcover fill in to reduce weeds. You want the shrubs to not create another wall, so resist using another row of all the same kind of tall evergreen. Use something more mounded in shape and that will stay well below the level of the fence around the deck, preferably something that flowers such as medium height rhododendrons or panicled hydrangeas. Or do a mixed shrub border where you have a variety of flowering times and foliage color, including some evergreens. Whatever you choose, be sure to make the bed deep enough to allow for the ultimate width of the plants (plus a foot between the fence and the shrubs to allow for maintenance) Choose ones that won't need much if any pruning to keep them with your desired size to reduce maintenance chores. Any shrubs near the steps should be low, or plant some long-blooming perennials or annuals for color near the steps.

I had a path of pavers set in grass at my last house/yard. Major pain in the rear to maintain. Total nay on random circles from a maintenance perspective and also not really needed for enjoyment of the yard. I would beef up the patio area at the bottom of the steps off the deck, and beef up the fire pit, and skip anything in between. Also, two big shrubs (appear to be arborvitae) right up next to your deck steps not a good idea. Block view of yard. If you have views to block, put the blocking well away from the house.

Good points, IPM. I was also going to say not do arborvitaes at the steps but think I forgot. Good on you as you laid out the case.