Hi Zara! I love the idea of adding a vertical garden to your outdoor space.. and making it more convenient so you can take full advantage of your garden! This article show the different types of vertical gardens there are to choose from: http://www.countryliving.com/outdoor/how-to-plant-a-vertical-garden#slide-1 Here are a couple vertical planter options for sale that could work well with your space: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/307991/?catalogId=8&sku=307991&bnrid=3120901&cm_ven=Google_PLA&cm_cat=Agrarian&cm_pla=Vertical_Gardening&cm_ite=Free_Standing_Vertical_Garden_%7C_Williams-Sonoma&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=27-280278456-2 http://www.monticelloshop.org/040342.html?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CMClmPOxwrwCFUhgMgodcRYA6Q

How about a horizontal weave-style fence for privacy, plenty of seating for dining and relaxing, with separate sections for each function. Moving the trees is a good idea, to open up the entire space.

I've heard that Ponga Fences' will thrive in shady conditions, but if you put them in the sun, you have to water it every few days for a few months so that the roots take hold. I hope you ended up doing it and your Ponga Fence is thriving!

I think the most impact would come from a well placed, well sized Acer. You can get them grown fairly tall already, Tamata have them and I'm sure there are other places. I'd get one that grows to no more than 3 metres (although check this against your property as scale is hard to gauge from photo), and has changing colours of leaves/bark. I'd place it towards the left of the property, looking at it. That will give some balance to the windows, provide some privacy but not obscure light. It wouldn't be a cheap option but cheaper than painting the house, and would need almost no aftercare. Then some easy care phormiums in the border underneath the windows. Both phormiums and acers come in a range of colours- limes, bronze, purples, oranges, dark reds etc, so choose what you like. The acers are soft and provide movement and variety, the phormiums sharp and provide solid consistent structure. This echoes the plants that can be seen already behind and at the side of the house and should make the hour 'sit within' its environment instead of bing perched on top of it. Also, the edge of the driveway- I would dig a border to just beyond the seam of the gate, lay down a weed mat, and put some stones in there. The garden centre has a range of them, in several colours from white through green red greys and blacks. If you chose reddish (or reddish and lime/orange) tones for your acer/phormiums, I would prob buy a large specimen plant in a pot for the top of the driveway, at the eight hand side of the garage, to link the colours. And maybe paint the front door and have some pot plants there that tone in too, especially in the area near the path that can be seen from the street. For a cleaner line I'd consider painting the lower part of the decking (the vertical frontage) to tone in with your house.