Both look a little out of kilter...but I think your grass needs more attention -- I think that is what is making this yard look unkempt.

This picture was taken before the entire project was finished which is why there is no grass. Normally is it lush and green.

Well the one closer to the house was done out of necessity in 2015 due to storm water run off and I didn't think I'd be doing another in 2018 so......

Funny, I have been toying with the idea of bringing the plantings around, especially the right side of the lower wall, to sort of close in that side for privacy from the neighbor and to control more run off. But thought it might look weird since it would only be on one side. The other side looks like this and so not necessary:

Patio with Fireplace and Pergola · More Info

But it might be a good idea. So hard to picture anything right now because it's still kind of a mess.

I don’t think they look bad, either. Is it an option to have a nice path going between each set of stairs? It might help tie it together more if you think they're looking disjointed right now, plus be useful. I think that’s what’s throwing me a bit — the stairs at the back wall looking lonely.

I agree that it’ll all look better when the plantings are bigger. And of course, we’re only seeing it from one height and angle.

Pretty patio area! Love your fireplace.

I'm no expert and you should see my yard...it's a mess.

But I would plant some taller, open plants in front of the upper wall to camouflage some of the lines...then I think it will look great.

Doesn't look bad but since it clearly bothers you:

Consider planting a hedge in front of -- BELOW -- the older wall so the shrubs will partially hide and visually diminish the impact of that one wall.

Since you can likely get more of the newer stone, planting your hedge in front of the older stone and then using the newer stone to outline the planting area by placing the stones in the ground with their tops at ground level would visually connect the two terraces.

For your hedge, choose shrubs that keep their leaves and look attractive year round in your planting zone. For instance, in zone 7, you might consider either aucuba or holly.

I had planned to put a blue stone path between the two with the pavers leftover from the patio. I had already spent enough on this project so will DIY it when I have a chance.

I also want to re-arrange the landscaping in front of the upper wall; I think he planted things too evenly. I've already added some ornamental grasses on the top beds and they look great.

I agree, once everything grows in it will look really nice. I can't wait to frolic in it if it ever stops raining!

@ suezbell - I actually thought about doing that, as well. The older wall did have a small panting bed (seen in above pic at lower right) installed in this project and I thought about lining that with some stone because right now it 1) gets lost in front if the wall. and 2) gets flooded from runoff. But I don't think there is enough room between the edge of the bed and the circular herb garden to use stones. I'd have to figure that out. But I think that's a great idea.

You might change the shape of the herb garden to make room. Alternately,

Since you are growing edibles, in lieu of choosing shrubs for appearance sake only, you might consider fig bushes or some other fruit/berry producing planting.

If strawberries will grow where you are, you might plant them at the top of and below the older wall and, by adding soil between the stones see if you can get them to cover part of the older wall. How successful you might be at this could depend upon the direction/path of the sunlight in your yard and some added work.

The blocks that make the herb garden are set in concrete so can't be changed. Without work, anyway.

Our back yard gets full sun in Spring before the trees leaf out and a lot of sun in Summer before the sun starts it's descent to the Fall equinox. I think strawberries like it dry, no? Our yard is so wet, especially this year, that I've tried to plant things that are suitable for that. But I really like your stones idea to surround the bed. I'll run that one by hubby since he'd be doing the heavy lifting.

I've also thought about raised beds between the two walls. Not sure if that would be too busy, though.

The upper area landscaping does seem a tad formal...

What about rosemary? Or lavender in front of the wall? Both will give you an open look..

It looks off-kilter because it is off-kilter, and that has nothing to do with the stone. The biggest problem is the lack of connection between the two sets of steps. One does not lead to the other, and there isn't an 'explanation' for that. A path between the two will help, but it will have odd curves. Generally, this sort of thing is a direct path to a destination further out. Otherwise, why have the steps at all instead of taking the long way around.

The other issue is that it doesn't look like the new wall blends into the grade at the ends. I may simply just not be seeing it, but retaining walls are usually constructed so they do die into the grade. The first wall is, but the second has ends that are just hanging there.

@pennydesign - I had removed the lavendar that was in the plan. The contractor for the original wall put lavendar on top and it was beautiful for about 2 years. This year, year 4, I ripped them out. They get too out of control if you are not harvesting and trimming which I am not looking to do. I had the new wall landscaped with deep blue veronica, you just can't see them in the picture but they look really pretty. I also had rosemary in the old wall but it is an annual here if we get really cold weather which we did this year. So it died. A shame because the previous year it did fine and was a big and beautiful addition the the bed on the wall. :(

@mad - a path is in the plan, when it stops raining. The walls are off center because the yard slopes down on the right quite a bit, plus I actually didn't want the path to be straight. Also, when you are looking at the area from the deck the new stairs are dead on center which is more visually appealing then if they were in line with the other steps. You wouldn't see them at all. The new wall would have been way off if the two sets of stairs aligned. I guess you have to see them in person to understand but take my word for it.

The left of the new wall blends pretty well with the grade now that the grass has come in on that side, but I agree about that on the left side. I am not happy about how the contractor left that at all.

It doesn’t look bad at all. I would add some plants to spill over the edges to soften the look. Good luck, it will look great once everything, including the grass, grows in.

This project shows the difference between working with an installer vs a designer/installer. There's a pretty big disconnect between the two spaces. The plantings don't help - the looser textures and informality of the plants at the lower wall have nothing to do with the symmetrical plantings above.

That said, I think you're left with an opportunity to do something kind of cool. I think if you add to the natural look of the lower wall plantings, and continue that idea around the perimeter of the lawn, and then increase the formality of the upper garden wall area a bit more, you create enough contrast that it looks intentional. Almost like coming out of the woods, or a meadow, and discovering a formal garden. If I were to do a path to connect the spaces I wouldn't do anything super formal or overworked, I'd do fieldstone slabs set level with the sod.

I've seen projects on houzz where the only answer is nuke it from orbit and start over. Yours is not one of those. I think the right plant choices, thoughtful layout of a walkway, and some other minor tweaks will have you loving your backyard.

Also, IF you want to carry the look of the tighter, stacked stonework down to the lower wall, there are a couple of spots that don't look great because the stones don't really overlap - they're just stacked on top of each other (see red circles). I'd pull those boulders, move them elsewhere in the landscape, and have a mason with an eye for design work in some stacked stone in those, and maybe a couple of other, spots.

Adding a few boulders to the rear wall will help match the look of the two walls.

@Revolutionary and Dig Doug - Thank you both for your ideas. I am glad to hear from a Pro that it isn't totally off. My plan for the path is just that; really informal laid irregular steppers between the two. Anything more formal wouldn't suit the site.

I intended the new wall to have some larger irregular shaped stones mixed in to tie it to the lower wall and so that it didn't look so stacked and purchased an open pallet of 4-5 but honestly I only see one at the far left end of the new wall. I am so irritated with this job I can't even call the contractor because I don't want him on my property. His design was great, on paper he looked good but his execution left a lot to be desired due to the crew who were basically teenagers.

I also do want to connect the two with landscaping that more closely resemble each other I just don't think it will be this year.

@Revolutionary - What do you mean by " if you add to the natural look of the lower wall plantings, and continue that idea around the perimeter of the lawn "?

Also, I'd like to add some large alliums on top of the upper wall. I think the can be both formal and informal.

There are actually quite a few perennials in the lower wall. They just bloomed late this year due to the weather so aren't seen in the picture.