Back garden / yard ideas....

[MariaAngustias]

Some very helpful person suggested I post on here because I need help and advice for my very boring back garden / yard. Moved in 3 years ago to a lovely victorian end cottage - and I have turned the front garden into a cottagy feel garden. Sadly, the previous owner destroyed the back cottage garden and paved it with expensive paving laid on concrete base and hard core. Much as I would love to dig the entire thing up this is just too expensive and also my DH is not in favour. We have no kids at home and travel a lot so leave the house. We already have a watering system which we can alter and incorporte into the new back.

So what I am thinking is - lighter colour on all of the wood fencing, a wooden traditional table and chairs and a pergola where in front of the patio doors with lots of climbers. Get rid of the pots and replace with a lot of raised beds - so around the grassed area, both sides of the step area and someone suggested some sort of focal point at the end. I would love any suggestions re colour of fencing, flowers etc. I love the tradional cottagey garden feel - herbs, few random veg maybe, some roses, sweet peas... peonies and lots of bees. Help me turn this space into a pretty and inviting area where I want to sit and drink wine :))
PS I put a pic of front to give an idea of my style and the type of property I am talking about Behind the fence where the bird table is there is a little snicket so we can do what we want with it. .. I will try to post some sketches of what I am thinking later.

more pics... my camera on phone is on the blink so they are a bit blurred sorry

pics

I would turn the lawn over to a really large bed with lots of shrubs and perennials. Then add raised beds on the other side, and maybe some sort of arch or pergola structure about where the step is. With a wisteria on it, or honeysuckle. Perhaps a few additional very large pots with small fruit trees.

Your front garden is lovely! I presume that you want to re-create that feel of lushness in the back garden.
In the front, you have that area of pebbles fringed by greenery on the left. At the back, you have that (very dry looking!) lawn on the right so presumably the sun/aspect is similar therefore you could create something similar. The pebbles are a nice textural contrast to the paving. Let the planting creep over the edges of the paving, to soften the edges.
On the other side you could have large, luscious planting in big pots (the bigger the pot, the less watering is a problem) for example fatsia / castor oil, something from the laurel family, rhododendron. At the moment you have dry-climate plants which only add to the feeling of aridness. I think lots of darkish green will offset the lightness of the paving.
I don't think that you need a lighter colour on the wood. The paving is already very light so you need a darker and/or richer colour to contrast. Make it something to complement that gorgeous old wall. Surprisingly, a charcoal colour can work well (look at that panel above your front door).
Don't do a pergola in front of the patio doors because it will steal light from the room - do it further up the garden. It will be an excellent introduction of height, which you are currently lacking. Talking of which, grow something(s) up the garage/shed to hide it.