Large blank slate garden - totally overwhelmed

[Morningtime8]

We got a large section of our garden cleared because I was sick of looking at weeds but now I'm hating looking at the empty space! We had a gardener lined up to plant it for us but they've now pulled out and I could cry.

The section gets the full sun and has a slight slope to it. I've ordered a bunch of periwinkle to provide ground cover and I want to plant some trees. Any suggestions for what might look nice alongside the periwinkle? Should I plant a border up along the front or just have the periwinkle? Any suggestions also for shrubs to have down the back?

Photo, an idea of which way it faces, and an idea of your soil type (if you know) would really help. I'm gathering you're not a big gardener?

I'm not a gardener, although we have got one section of our garden looking lovely. The soil is slightly sandy but most things seem to grow very well.

I'm too embarrassed to post a picture as it looks dreadful at the moment!

The garden is south facing

Would you look at the Beth Chatto garden, she created from a blank slate. Chatto had a theory about the triangle between, sky, eye-level and ground. There's a documentary on YouTube. I would think about structural plants, creating an overall framework, with trees and shrubs. If you need privacy screening, plant evergreens. It's a process, but an enjoyable one l hope.

Have a look at this thread for some inspiration. The OP has totally transformed her garden.

PICS Complete novice with a blank slate garden http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/4009836--PICS-Complete-novice-with-a-blank-slate-garden