We used to have a beautiful deck and backyard. Between our dogs tramping down the grass, the giant tree that drops stuff all over the deck and the constant deck maintenance, we have decided to do a major backyard makeover. We want to go to a stamped concrete patio with nice landscaping that will be less maintenance as we get older. I have seen beautiful stamped concrete patios, but also have seen them look like a big parking lot which is my biggest fear.

So...we are getting ready to demo just about everything you see in these photos except the house and the picket fence you see that runs parallel with the street which is our property line (where you see the open gate). The other parts of the picket fence will go, the yews that are up near the deck will go, furniture and all the stuff stored on the back patio---gone! We may take out the huge elm tree since it drops stuff constantly on the deck. We can remove the boxwoods, the fountain and the columnar yews behind the fountain or not---or move the fountain elsewhere.

Years ago we picketed off a smaller section of the yard around the deck and patio and put in the fountain, etc, to make a more intimate garden setting. Grass is gone as you can see due to the dogs in this small space. Once we open this back up to the bigger yard, we hope to not have this problem . We will be left just with the L-shaped house and the wood fence that you see that runs parallel to the street and on toward our back property line. This will open up to our larger yard which goes back behind that blue spruce tree.

I would love design ideas on how to design the patio and garden beds

1. We have two big dogs that live inside but are frequently out and end up with dirt paths where they run

2) We don't want a fire pit

3. We use our deck a lot and will want seating for 8 and room for a BBQ grill and a smoker.

4) We love landscaping but low maintenance style---we currently have boxwoods, hydrangeas and a fountain which can remain or be moved.

So pretty much an open canvas with just the L-shaped house and the property line making an open square. How should we design the patio? Curves, garden beds? How do we put lots of interest into it so it doesn't look like a giant concrete parking lot? How can we make the ugly door going into the garage that we never use look better?

First photo standing at the picture window looking out and 2nd picture standing at the fountain and looking back toward the house. Its a panoramic photo so the house looks a bit curved but it is true L-shaped. Thank you!