Teppy, your pool and yard never cease to take my breath away. I think an iron gate is very nice. I have seen a lot of people have a wooden gate with an inset of wrought iron, or even peek-a-boo wrought iron on the bottom half of fence panels (like windows for the dog, I say). I like that idea a lot. Greenthumbfish: I like the original gate design, too. Are those sago palms in the pots? I was so excited, I found some good size sagos for $18 Thursday while out with my mom. Unfortunately, she bought half, I bought the other half. At the shop next door they were $45, same size.

When I think beach my mind goes to heavy rope with knots, nets and seashells in natural colors. Be careful putting metal things on your fence--you may get rust stains. I second the TJ Maxx/Marshall's/HomeGoods idea. Also try Joann Fabrics for cute accessories. Everything's 70% off right now.

As you pull in the drive, the gate and fence should be one flat straight line in your view connecting to the side fences. That means a triangle corner of your land will be outside the gate and fence. Do a more decorative fence on that entire front line of the gate fencing that converts to the other fencing where they meet. Preferably the access for the shared well would be outside your gate and fence. If they need to get inside your fence, what is the point of a second gate? Not knowing where or how access to the shared well works, it is hard to say how a second gate might work.

I think you just want something simple and clean. A rock/gravel driveway is fine. Line the driveway with a brick trim edge to match the house. Order more gravel. Install a path to the steps. Brick or concrete pads as shown above Paint the gate and stair rail black. Remove the stump and intall a lawn in front. Plant flowering shrubs along the right fence line and ground cover. Install a 3 or 4 foot high fence at the rear edge of the lawn as proposed but in modern materials. Leave a few feet behind it for access. Put in window boxes but painted black I think if you do these things and add more accent plants and rock, bark, gravel, and grass areas to fill in bare dirt as shown above you'll have a nice look. If it were my house this would be my DIY, otherwise i would hire a landscape architect and contractor and start from scratch. Do you even need a gate?