What purpose will the backyard serve? No kids? If you have plenty of seating on the upper deck, do you need more seating down there? I would just use one type of material for the patio if you feel like you need a patio down there. I like the blue fence, why are you replacing it? You can always put a coordinating blue area rug in your seating area. What shrubs and plants do well in your location? Azaleas would be nice.

I have young kids so need to slightly level out a spot for a trampoline. The fence along the retaining wall at the back is only 3 ft high and I want to extend it higher because I have a big dog. Good idea I like Azaleas!

Some inspro