Does the lower half of the garden level off? If you use the blocks, I have laid thousands of them, you absolutely MUST lay a buried, or partially buried, row. Depending on your soil, you may be able to just level it with native soil but it would be much wiser to put in a few inches of sand to level the bottom blocks. How much higher is the high end from the lower? Which way is the slope the long way or the short way? I raised the lower end of my one garden by eight inches by putting in old railroad ties from Menards. I protected my one rose garden from winds by putting a tie wall three high at the North short end but I am going to drop it down to two high. The entire garden has ties one level high with stair-case type rising to the high end. Whether you use landscape timber or railroad ties, buy twelve to sixteen inch spikes to fasten them together. There are long, I have used up to twelve inch, screws that are easier to install but cost more. A heavy-duty 3/4 inch drive drill makes putting the screws in easier. I have driven spikes in with a sledge but it takes practice as the most common error is not hitting the spike square and ruining the hammer handle. The base is VERY, VERY important or the wall will collapse or as happened to a person I worked with wash out from underneath in a heavy rain because they were in a hurry. I half buried layer of ties for the vegetalbe garden as it frop apprx six inches from one end and is not not level but does not wash in a heavy rain anymore.

That far wall is just painted an ugly copper like color, i prefer to drywall it up, there are no doors on that wall, it doesnt go to anywhere. The front door is that wood door where the boxes are in the picture. That is a swimming pool outside of those patio doors, that area is where the dining room will be though. Those sliding glass doors will be french door sliding doors soon. I would like to make the space a more formal living area, I do like the idea of a bar and then 4 chairs with a cocktail table in the middle, should I also maybe included a rug in the space? The problem that I'm having is how to actually layout the formal space, meaning where do I place everything in the room so that it looks clean, modern, and not out of place. The new front door will be white with glass, when that is installed the door that will open will be further away from the copper looking wall and the doors open outward not into the house, so maybe I should put some type of long modern buffet type piece against that copper looking wall?

yeah, I like the first and last best -- something about the asymmetry is appealing. not sure how possible that is with a ginormous TV, but the pieces seem flexible.

I'm going to do something like the first pic luckyblueeye posted above. A little conversation area, 2 chairs and an ottoman. When you say you like the table long ways....do you mean short end of table to short end of island? I think it looks a little odd but I don't know what else to do. I was thinking I'd get a large round table but I don't think I'll have enough walk room on either side of the table since I want to have my hutch and something else decorative on the other wall. I love having the table closer to the kitchen area though.