I'm an [amature, though I sell pieces from time to time] artist, so I intend to design my own. I feel the art of landscape design has been somewhat over mystified. I think its not unresonable to design your own, if you meet two conditions: First you know gardening-- what plants grow well in your neighborhood, water needs, growth rates and mature size, etc. Second, you need to understand enough about art that when you see landscapping you like, you are able to identify the reasons it succeeds, when you see one you don't, you can likewise give a detailed analysis of why it fails. If you understand the artistic principles of proportion, contrast, color, etc., and the gardening principles of planting according to mature sizes, grouping according to water use and exposure needs, I think you can do fine designing your own. But if you don't by all means get some help. Remember that you are hiring an artist, not a hole digger. You are essentially buying a picture you won't see completed for some years. It must suit YOUR taste, enhance YOUR property, express YOUR personality, not the landscappers. Be aware that there are trends in landscapping that get repeated relentlessly until they become bad cliches, just like in interior design. That said, I'd definetly go with something 'no mow' on that bank. Personally, I'd like a stacked stone retaining wall, with a few natural, low maintenence, wildflower looking plants like Red Ace potentilla. But that's me, thinking about my climate-- your area may offer many other possibilities, and your taste may be different.

The frames of the cabinet boxes, and the drawer fronts and door frames are all poplar. He had the cabinet boxes made and painted then made the doors/drawers which had a problem warping due to humidity in July. So he remade the doors/drawers and then painted them. The cabinet boxes/frames were painted weeks earlier when I saw them and commented on the thin paint coverage. They did not have the clearcoat on at that point. He said oh they aren't finished yet so they will look better. Well they don't and especially next to the doors drawers; it is very noticeable in my kitchens natural light. I am worried that if he just does the frames over then it will look again different from the doors/drawers. They should have been painted all at the same time.

You have many great ideas suggested here, find what catches your interest and go with it. My preference would be for a mass planting of native grasses (not needing mowing), ferns, cornus canadensis, or creeping juniper. Within a few years the ground will be stabilized by the roots to decrease erosion and you will have year-round interest. In my experience, landscaping fabric covered in rocks keeps weeds from coming through from underneath but after a few years of debris/soil collecting on top, weeds start growing on top of the fabric.

I would love to make this into the quintessential outdoor entertainment space. I wouldn't change what is there except remover the fence between the pool and patio. I see a great outdoor kitchen and a bar, both with counter or bar height seating. A few round tables with 4 chairs each around them - must be comfortable!. Add some paddle fans, a misting system. All seating must be comfortable. Around the pool I would have a couple of seating areas with 2 chairs and a small table between them so people who are swimming can sit and dry off or have a drink, also nice at night when it has cooled down and you just want to sit and enjoy the evening. On the far side of the pool I would create a fire pit and seating (far from the house and shed so you don't burn anything down). You could do a horseshoe pit, putting green or ping pong table. Don't forget an outdoor sound system. Think about how you will entertain, who you will have at your home and how you will enjoy using the space. No one cares how modern it looks when they are having fun.