Your in Michigan? You definitely need a fireplace area. Arborvitaes are a popular choice for fast growing, height, dense, privacy type plants. I don't like them personally, but I do have to admit that they are great in certain areas.

I don't know if you have kids or what kind of things you and your partner like doing, but I think some questions you should ask yourself is how much work are you willing to put into maintaining and keeping up the looks of the yard? What would you like using the yard for? Do you like entertaining? if you have kids, maybe a little play area. Perhaps a in ground wading pool about ankle deep. Sand pit? Do you have dogs? With a yard that size, I see you have plenty of leaves; do you have any ride on equipment to pick up those leaves or a leave blower and are you willing to deal with them. If you don't want to deal with the leaves, you might want to ask yourself how fancy you are going to want to go.

My husband and I love our hammock, so a little pagoda with a hammock addition. I see some river rocks along edging instead of the lava rocks, just to modernize it a bit. A boulder water fountain near by the back porch area. maybe with some nice boxwoods here and there.

I don't like chain link fences. Instead I would say to update it and put in a vertical type fence. Its modern, updated and can add the privacy you will want in a newer interesting way.

I hope this helps some.

I planted a knee high lilac last fall in Moscow and I have flowers this year. The Deutzia I planted a few years ago bloomed the first year, too. Large, mature shrubs are expensive. You'd probably be better off with fast-growing evergreens in back with the flowering shrubs in front. Forsythia is practically a weed (it doesn't have a neat habitat, though). It can be a big much close up, but at that distance, it would be pretty.

Shrubs · More Info

These are the plants that will grow super tall and depending on how far you space them, will give you the privacy you want.

Horizontal Wood Fence · More Info

this style of fencing. Doesn't have to be this type of wood or color. But you get the idea.

Full Slatted Enclosure · More Info

backyard retreat in town Atlanta · More Info