Are you in acreage? It looks rural in your picture. If not, what does your neighbors have around you... how much land do you have to work with... budget, schedule (can you work on it for 4-5 years or do you need it done in a season), and what climate are you in? Realize if you do heavy landscaping you may have issues with having to install irrigation....

Is there a chance you can have deer, bear, jackrabbits, mountain lions, or bobcat; visiting?
(deer eat everything, bear are very strong and if they think they smell food they can be quite destructive, jackrabbits can mow off your bulbs and shoots as soon as they think of starting (I have a friend who had to put her flower bulbs in a steel fencing cage and bury it 2' deep along the edges so nothing could dig under, or she had to keep her bulbs in pots on the sill indoors) mountain lion or bobcat usually are just a big scare)

It's a little over One acre lot. Suburb of Omaha, Nebraska.

http://www.houzz.com/projects/289222/Design-Project

http://www.houzz.com/projects/341621/Cool-Springs-Farm-PL-Project

Good Luck!

Address the front with two sided distinctive garden areas and a large paved walkway leeaaadding people to the front door . Do you have the guts to PAINT yr front door an exciting color ? The backyard would depend on how many people come over when you entertain ? Where are you ? Add some distinctive rocks or walls or stone bench areas to invite persons to sit in nature ... I love yr blank slate .... What age are yr family members & visitors?

Work with that & yr climate

Take a look at my Houzz profile for 3d pool and landscape designs for some ideas or visit www.artfulpools.com for more information.

what geographical area are you located?

thanks

Mark

A pool and some sort of patio might be nice, somewhere to put a table and/or some outdoor seating. Also fire pits are always nice and fun, even just something small with a little bench by it. Lots of ways to just make a spot for people (family, friends, kids, whoever) to hang out outdoors and get together!

This project we completed, started just like your backyard. In addition to the outdoor kitchen area and large pool/spa combination...they have a half court basketball court for the kids!

Adding in fire features and water features to the pool design, will continue the ambiance from your home design.
Also, we always suggest implementing rain barrels for rain harvesting--get started on your own garden close to the house. TreePeople.org has great information on rain harvesting and water saving tips.