Hi Richard The first thing to check then is what the rules are about putting anything on that roof. A deck there will have limits to avoid overlooking, and multi-story, issues with the neighbours (I have first-hand experience of these rules :-) ), which will establish a boundary of how far you can go. Then there is the fundamental structural question of what you can put on there. Then there's the question of what you can afford... For me, a simple and cheap option would be to put some tall plants/planter boxes toward the far edges of the roof, tiering to lower plants at the front. I'd take away the plants in front of the stairs at the garage, and have smaller/narrower plants up against that garage window wall to hide it, and also away from the side steps from your upper level. That makes the roof part of the garden view, and maximises the terrace area (remove encroaching plants), and hints at 'more' around the corner, down the steps. With a bit more money and appropriate permission, a deck on the roof gives you another whole space to play with. You'd have to work out where the best access to that roof deck would rise from, without losing too much of your current paved area. Connie's idea for a bridge could work well, but would seem to interfere with the access to the current paved area? With a lot more money, permission and some engineering, I'd be really tempted to build a deck on that roof and extend it full width right back to the house, at the same level as your door/windows! That way you bury the garage (and small terrace) under a much larger area, giving you heaps of options for creating spaces. You can use the old terrace then for storage (e.g. gardening materials always take up space, and more garden = more materials; compost heaps, worms, bikes, ...). Even if you can't take the deck all the way to the front/side of the garage, you can still create a whole new area there. And you can surround it with plants even if you can't build to the edges. I love spending other people's money :-)

The rendered brick wall is on the property boundary and is the neighbours garage. With the wood screening I was thinking to finish the height similar to the rendered brick wall. The stoned area at the end of the deck is just under 3 meters deep and the trees are 1.5meters in from the back fence. I would like to keep the one closest to the wall if it worked in but not fussed about the other two.

Consulting a Landscape Architect or designer is going to be time and money well spent. Taking in the location and aspect of the yard. What you and your family want and how you want to use the space for, will help in creating the design. A good landscape designer can be found through you local landscape industry association and will be able to provide a cost estimate to construct the project. Then if you are going to get contractors to quote the work you will be getting quotes based upon the same brief and not random impressions based upon verbal interpretations which can only confuse your decisions. If your going to do this project your self then ask your designer how they would program the works and how to stage construction. Best of luck. Hope to see the finished job !!

Hi Jase, 1. I would level out the entire backyard salvaging only the tree in the corner. 2. I would then use the bricks from the current retaining walls as pavers for a BBQ area with a pergola.(Looks as though you already have one in photo #1) 3. If you can't remove the existing fence (you should because it looks like asbestos) - then I suggest you straighten it up and paint it (asbestos proof it) then place a lattice in front of it and grow a climber. 4. I would then use the grey cement pavers to create a pathway with mondo grass in between directly in front of that area in #3 leading to the tree in the corner. 5. Using some of the cement pavers I would create a place under the tree for a garden bench and some beautiful pots with flowers. 5.The grass I would use in the newly created space is Sir Walter. Hope this helps - good luck!