We did ours that was a shocker when we moved in, have a similar area. I have posted it a few times but you can have a look on my profile page idea book 'my house before and after' we used decking, and a combination of fixed louvers and slats (powder coated) plus plants for screening. It has made what was an ugly uninviting space to something (well I think so) special. We open up our back with stacker doors and the areas join, very versatile

Love it. Still spacey, looks classy. Amazing what a little vision can do. Well done :-)

Hi Blake, What an exciting time of your life. I would agree that painting the fence charcoal will be a great start. I would create a few zones. You like the idea of a fire pit, so get one of those fabulous metal dishes that can be custom designed such as Yarrawonga Custom Plasma Cutting does. You could put this outside the alfresco area and pave the space around it. PO Box designs do some amazing lazer cut decorative screens and sculptures. You could break up the fence and add more height and privacy by placing a decorative screen on it which can even be backlit to give a lovely atmosphere at night. Just be aware that you shouldn't block the neighbour's light, especially that high window which they wouldn't be able to see you from but will be providing important light for their home. I suggest having an edible garden. You can plant oranges, lemons and limes which are all evergreen, grow to a good height, and have the bonus of divine smelling flowers and fruit that you can use, and under them plant herbs such as rosemary, sage, and thyme. A bay tree is very useful, but they can grow huge so keep it in a pot or prune hard to keep it to a workable shape. You can use the leaves fresh or dried so cut away and give the prunings to friends! In a shady spot that you are happy to have anything grow, you could plant mint. It will spread but I use it by the arm full in summer in my drinking water, in salads and in fact most summer dishes, and even as fresh mint tea. It will bring in the bees. If you don't want it to spread them plant it in a tub. I would also make some raised beds for some home grown vegies such as tomatoes and annual herbs like basil and parsley. Water is great to attract birds and bees so find a small birdbath and place it by a plant so that the birds can feel safe. I have a lovely one that is on a pedestal with little wrens around the edge but a wide shallow dish on a ground of pebbles looks lovely too. It is lovely to have fresh flowers inside so adding gardenias, daphne, lavender, native shrubs like grevilleas, banksias, correas, bulbs such as daffodils and jonnies, also iris and roses are all lovely. You can train climbers up the fence too such as jasmine, wisteria, and native hardenburgia. None of these plants are difficult to grow though the citrus will like some frost protection to start and I grew them all with great success in the bitter frosts, a number of floods and the scorching heat of the North East Victoria. As you can see, I like my garden to be a work horse not just a show pony. If I am investing my money and time then I want to be able to get perfume or produce from each plant.

If your concerned about the screens not looking quite right with the house or railings, or if you dont have the budget for an expensive screen, you could also consider a growing an easy maintenance, fast growing vine like Star Jasmine over a less expensive screen and training it a little way through the railing to tie them both in. Star Jasmine will grow happily in a pot and will cover everything, hiding all sins! It will also give you a lovely green outlook, complete privacy and the scent of the flowers on a summer night is intoxicating. I have star jasmine covering two totally different 2m high cheap screens (one lattice and one rio metal bar) in my courtyard which separates my yard from my neighbours and it provides a gorgeous leafy outlook with total privacy and covers the screens entirely from base to top so you cannot see the unattractive lattice or rio behind it and all it needs is the occasional trim.