Oly, I totally get what you mean about leaving the curved brick wall in full view. Tomorrow, I am going to move the striped chairs to the other side of the open patio and post pics. I can't really switch the striped set on the open for the sofa and chairs in the covered patio because the sofa and chairs are much more comfortable and will be used more in the covered area. Thanks for the very observant comments.

1. Love Oly's suggestions. I would only add that the addition of a large, shallow saucer or tall urn filled with colorful annuals might draw the eye to that gorgeous curved wall without overpowering it.

NAP (I didn't want to call you "Nuts" for short, lol!) could/would you please take a photo from out in the yard so I could see the whole shape of the cement patio somehow? Your porch is almost exactly like mine (except I have a wood floor) and there is a deck off the porch that both SO and I hate and it is rotting away and our plan is to replace it with a patio. We plan on having wide steps like yours, etc. Not sure how to configure it though. Also interesting to me since we are on a busy road and I plan on landscaping around said patio when we install it, to block the views of the road. I love how yours is landscaped for privacy. I was already planning on some kind of raised planters along the edge.

I love your gardens and I'm a sucker for brick walls. I agree you need some color, or at least some greenery in pots at the end, and maybe even a colorful pot on the top of your curved brick wall. I assume you have a couple of steps leading down to the grass, so I'd put a matching pot on the other side of the steps from the patio.

Do you use the French door where you have the new furniture set on the covered porch? I wouldn't worry too much about blocking the view from the large windows. Even if someone is seated, they will be able to see pretty much anything out those windows. I would pull back the 2 chairs a little bit, even if they are in front of one side of that large expanse of window. Right now it looks like a big blank space, which I'm sure is what you're trying to fill. I would also add some large pots of ferns or for color, some New Guinea impatiens or make up your own combination of color for the patio that could tolerate a little shade.

The grouping of chairs on the patio needs to come out to near the center of the patio. Is that a table base or glass-topped table? I'd group the chairs as close to the middle as possible, leaving a 'walkway' down the center. Maybe even put that grouping over on the other side to balance the furniture more between the porch and patio. If you wanted to put something else on that side, perhaps a small bench with a fire pit?

Thanks Oly, Pink and Outside. I've taken your feedback and quickly rearranged a few things. I moved 2 of the five chairs to the other side of the open patio and the remaining 3 chairs to a hidden spot far out in the garden. I can move the concrete branch to another spot across from there. I have more spots where things can be moved to. Pics below hopefully explain what I'm talking about. Please weigh in. Thank you!

Outside, Pink, I will look for some colorful pottery for those spots. Pink, (yours is better shortened than nuts), here are some pics you requested. We love the brick. It's reclaimed Old Chicago. However, it's beginning to chip in several spots. We need to bring a bricklayer to take care of those places. As for privacy, you're right. We live in a very central location, but it's so so cozy and comfortable in the yard.

That looks like a wonderful, cool little oasis for a warm day. I love little "rooms" out in the garden.

What do you think? I might put an annual pot at the grass end of the brick wall, and perhaps a matching one across from it, highlighting the entrance to the garden, but I think I'd leave the wall unadorned.

Could you use the bench in front of the foliage plants opposite the wall, at the edge of the patio, kind of beyond the new location of the table and chairs? If you don't use it for seating, it might be a nice perch for some annuals, if you are inclined. You have such a nice mixture of shrubs and foliage plants, not sure you need additional flowers.

eta: I'm trying to figure out what bugs me about the table and chairs and I think that from the house their angle makes no sense and you look directly at the back of the chair. From the patio, it looks like there is an angled wall there, so it fits, but I think I might try moving the table down, even partially in front of the steps, perpendicular to them and tuck that chair over closer to the angled wall, with the other facing it (if it doesn't block too much of the steps)?

Wowza! Is that half circle brick part in the corner a planting area/raised bed? Is your patio more or less oval shaped?

The only thing I can add is you might want to create an area of seating around an outdoor fire pit. There are so many groovy ones available. I have a simple one that is a glorified trash can lid turned upside down, but there are many types that would match your style. We just love ours, so nice to have a little campfire now and then. But I dunno, maybe you live in an area where fires are restricted?

Is it buggy where you live? For a focal point, I would add a swing with an awning. That way I would be reminded to spend some time lazing around outside. And yes, cool urns with colorful annuals. You might even consider one of those colorful outdoor rugs to create an sense of different areas or rooms in the space. We have an outdoor rug and love it on the feet. It's no trouble maintaining it either, the newer plastic ones are easy to sweep and keep clean.

Claire, Oly, I will look for long low planters for either side of the first set of steps. Here is a different arrangement, which I like when I'm sitting outside, but it ruins the view from inside. Also, the concrete bench now is with the chairs in the back of the garden, to serve as a coffee table when we sit there. (Please ignore the mattress pads that are being laid to expand to their thickness.) Thoughts?

Well, I thought the arrangement on the porch was fine as it was (although you didn't have optimum view of the gardens when seated) and would not like to have my windows blocked like they are now - but you're the one who has to like it. The bench looks like it will work with the other seating, too.

I think we all see and like something different about your patio and garden. To some the space is an empty room to fill, but to me it's just perfect with little or nothing on it day to day, almost sculptural, so I just want to push all the furniture out of the way so I can see beyond it! For me, it would be mostly empty but saved to use with more "stuff/furniture" for entertaining larger groups on occasion. It's so peaceful and restful in that very first pic from your living room, with nothing but the garden to focus on. But maybe I'm being impractical for your lifestyle and use of the space.

I wouldn't do long, low planters, as the view to the gardens is quite expansive, so I'm afraid they would be dwarfed. If it were me, I'd do something tall and dramatic, more on the order of this on either side of the top step area (but off to the side a bit) of those first steps to the lawn:

Oly, I too don't like the visual obstruction as you look on. I'm going back to the original arrangement with the sofa against the side wall and the two chairs facing it. I don't like the sofa crowding the view from the living room. Thank you for your patience!

I like the original arrangement with an unobstructed view.

Me too Sabbath! Thanks for helping me from second guessing myself.

Pink, forgot to answer your question about the raised bed. Yes, tars what it is. It has a curved wall that is parallel to the wall you see in earlier pics. Overall, the open patio is irregular in shape and kinda diagonal in flow. Here is a pic, not a great one but you se the shape. I use that bed for herbs,

I agree, the sofa does obstruct the view too much in front of the windows. The only thing that might work is to put the chairs at an angle in front of the windows (sort of where you have the one chair on the right now) and the settee off to the side at a 90-degree angle. It might be too long for that though. I would just to make one 'conversational' space in that area and add the colorful pots of ferns and some other accessories. Less is more.

I like the table and chairs on that side better but it's too close to the steps and the planting bed. I didn't realize you had a small herb bed there. I would bring it out more into the open and away from the steps and put a 4th chair there. The examples of nice, tall colorful pots Oly posted is exactly what I was envisioning for the area by the steps to the grass. You want something to draw the eye outward towards your gardens.

Love the little secret spaces out in your garden. Perfect spot for the concrete bench and a little statue or something with some shade plants. I would leave the upholstered pieces up near your porch or just store them away. They will get pretty messy out in the wooded areas.

Could your small 2-seat piece be moved to where the cushions are piled up now?

The furniture doesn't block the view of the foliage, just the view of the patio and the wall. Since you have nothing there anyway, no loss. With a set up that gorgeous, you almost can't go wrong. I'd arrange furniture for maximum comfort and for how I use the space, and where and when I either want to be in the shade or in the sun. I love a sunny spot in the morning for coffee, but in the evening I want shade to escape the heat of the day, etc.

Your gardens and patio are beautiful. They look like a perfect retreat to relax. A few options for the furniture if you are still playing.

First thoughts for the patio furniture on the higher patio. Embrace the sofa in front of window. It keeps your pathway from door clear. Place the coffee table so that one can reach to place a drink. Place the two chairs on each end facing each other on the short ends of coffee table.

There are two thoughts for placement of the table and chairs on the lower patio. Pull the table out from the herb garden wall and turn the table so the short end follows the line. I can't tell from pics but that wall might make a nice seating area too if needed for the table.

What is the cream/grey item behind dining chair on right side? Does it stay there?

The other option is to put the table in the center area of patio. You mentioned not wanting to block the view but since the window is higher it might just work. Place it long ways to help the eye follow right out into the yard.

For the space out in the yard (3 chairs shown there now) some outdoor curtains or shade cloth would make it even more private. The love seat could go there with 2 chairs again placed on each end.

Good luck with your space and arrangements.

Outside, pink and beaus: thank you! I will pull the table and chairs on the lower open patio a little away from the herb bed. As for the covered upper patio, I can't bring myself to leave the sofa in front of the windows. It ruins things for me. So it's back to the side.

Are you sure? What if the you couldn't see the sofa from inside, even if it was still in front of the window? I'm picturing a row of potted indoor plants in front of those low windows, either tall enough to obscure the back of the couch (palms and such) or potted plants set on a shelf, bench or console that could screen the back of it from view. It could even be just a bench with a few accent plants, like so:

Laughable (love your name), great suggestion. Unfortunately, the back of the sofa being visible is not what I'm trying to avoid, but the sofa blocking the view of the garden. It's hard to explain, but as you enter the house, the patio and the garden are in full view (see the very first pic on thus thread). The upper covered patio Is designed such that feels integral to the open patio and the garden. The sofa in front of the window somehow interferes with how the outside is meant to be experienced from the inside, if that makes any sense. But I will keep your suggestion in mind if I want to pull the sofa in front of the window. Thank you!