Without deer you will have many more options. There are so many different styles out there but I would consider creating a counterpoint to the geometry of that hedge. Another personal preference is to add plants with fragrance. Syringa vulgaris, Lilac would be nice and give height. You will want to consider sun exposure and I would place the hosta in partial sun. If you have a heavily shaded are I would use fern. Again consult the web for what is cold hardy. Irrigation systems are designed to have areas and types of plants on different zones. This divides the total water use over a longer period of time and reduces the stress on your well/water supply.

Adrian, please, add some more pics from other view points so we can get a feel for how the pool, deck, yard, public access, and house tie together. Thank you.

Jan I suggest keeping the barbecue area somewhat close to the house, since that's where your table is and also where your kitchen is. Not too close so that the smoke gets into your house, but closer than by the swing. At my last house, I had a swing on the opposite end of my house, it was a "destination" for relaxing. I would start with landscaping that area, with shade trees and then sit on the swing (I'd bring it out more so you could plant behind it, like a "C" shape enclosing it). While sitting in the swing, imagine what would please you to view. My yard was much smaller than yours, but I had a little island with a fountain and some pretty trees and shrubs and flowers, a "pleasure garden" designed for viewing. Lots of white plants that looked good at night, because for me, that was when I had the most time to be out in the yard, and not so hot as during the day in the summer. But I didn't have a mosquito problem at my last house. YMMV for the time of day you will spend out there. If you don't want a fountain, maybe some type of planter or garden sculpture. As for your budget, I would start with the trees. They are the biggest cost and take the most time to grow, and will make the most impact. HOWEVER, you don't have to spend a lot and buy big trees. Little trees grow fast and make up for their small size faster than it takes big trees to adjust to a new spot. You should be able to find trees for well under $100.00 and many under $50.00. Here's a picture of my pleasure garden with its little fountain. There was a fireglow Japanese maple in the middle of it but it died, :( You could put something similar off your patio, but with bigger plants since your patio is farther away. But you'll have to deal with that water issue somehow! There are plants that can work in wet spots but it look like you have an overall drainage issue in your backyard . . .

The bamboo I've seen in containers generally gets shabby looking. Plants growing directly in the ground are a lot easier to keep happy looking. But n Colorado, I doubt you'll be able to grow a bamboo that makes you happy. While the above picture looks like a vine covered fence, there is no fence. It's a vine growing on a trellis. It's not tall enough for your needs, but the height is whatever you make it to be, based on the height of the posts, which are all freestanding and separate. Posts are installed the same as would be for a fence, about 8' apart. (I have them here at 10' because the sum of factors influencing me demanded it.) At each side of the post tops are large hooks and a chain connects each post to the next. (I wouldn't go any lighter than porch swing chain. No rope will work as it deteriorates.) From the chain, at 12" intervals, I ran twine straight down to the ground and tied it to a stake pounded in the ground. Plant one perennial vine for each section (between posts) of trellis. You have to pick a good drapey vine and I can't certify what would be the best for your climate. (I used Flame Vine, above, but it's for warm climates.) Virginia creeper comes to mind as one that would work, if it grows there and I imagine it does, but it's going to be rambunctious. The same for Boston ivy. (Still, these things are not impossible to control.) It's going to take a couple of years for a perennial vine to get to the point of doing a great job. Meanwhile, also plant annual vines, from seed, at every foot or two of trellis run. They're up and running in no time. It's possible to have complete coverage in a matter of weeks. And annual vines put on some tremendous flowering shows. I'd recommend moonflower vine for first choice and Heavenly Blue morning glory for second. Seeds available on Ebay. (Other morning glories, like 'Grandpa Ott,' can be invasive and never stop reseeding so I'd steer clear of them.) Anyway, this could be a good way around the problem if you play it out right. For the most part, it amounts to tall posts in the ground -- legal -- that have no fencing whatsoever attached to them. How are you supposed to be responsible for it if some gorgeous vines happen to find the posts and climb on them ...?? Of their own accord, vines are climbing on things all across rule laden, civilized America with nobody doing a thing about it! Even if trimmed down, such things are liable to climb right back up. :-) It helps if the posts have pretty tops as they must be looked at for a while. I don't have a picture of it, but every year the above vine goes through a brief period of leaf loss loss right after flowering. But even after the leaves drop, the screening is maintained because the vines themselves have formed a dense network of branching. After it has gotten thick, it looks good, too. It just occurred to me that grapes as a vine type might work out great for you.