I like the idea of different mediums. I like mixing material types. I understand the idea of making it very uniform but I really like the mix of grass/stone/wood. It has a contemporary modern vibe?

It can also look like somebody did not have any money to work with and did it on the cheap.

Thats true. It is very hard to look at a piece of dirt and see anything beyond that. But done with attention to detail it can look like something thoughtful. But I agree with what you're saying. We already spent 15k on the retaining wall, its not about the money. I want it to have style and look classy. Maybe that would be classier..... I wish I had visual software to visualize it.

I have a beautiful book from Mutual Materials upstairs in my office. It is about 1/4” thick, and has so many great designs to copy from. Your hardscape is only part of the finished product. The plantings, especially the flowering plants will be the stars of the show.

Dont even get me started on the plants!! I am so picky about plants and hard to please.

OK now I am thinking what if I make the middle "walkway" area that ties into the yard all grass- so its all grass- and flows through on the middle layer.

I hired a landscape architect to do a big commercial job I was working on. She had an idea I just loved. She used liriope (low maintenance) and mixed in daffodil bulbs for spring color. The foliage is similar and they blend well.

Heres an idea... When you mentioned making the stairs stone I thought it over and your probably RIGHT. And then I got to thinking, what if that middle area tied into the grassy area and was ALL grass?? I redrew my idea- the black line is where my original drawing was-- this time I included the rest of the yard. hmmm...... thoughts?!

Love it! Soft, organic, and appealing!