What could I plant to soften new fencing and bare borders?

[SuburbanKel]

Hello people who know things I do not!
So not to drip feed:
My back garden did desperately need some work - however, in a standoff with my husband, that has left me genuinely upset, I'm left with something I'm really unhappy with.
ALL established shrubbery has been removed.
I insisted on the border even though he wasn't going to leave one.
Not my choices, so it is what it is - judge away but it's pointless :(

Before and after pics attached for you all to look at my new and expensive ugly fencing, posts and gravel boards and exposed lovely pebbledashed garage.

My question is - as I am no gardener - what would you reccomend planting in the border etc that might either be semi established, large and 'statement' or grow quickly.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

Apologies for the AI generated images - They are my own ideas, but a quick picture gives a clearer overall impression of the designs.

The first image uses climbers on the fence - Star Jasmine and Euonymus Fortunei Silver Queen.

The second image uses dwarf crab apple trees, with lower branches trimmed to keep the canopies raised, leaving space for under-planting in the border. Dwarf ornamental cherry or amelanchier would also work, but crab apples would provide some winter interest.

To enhance the space with added interest throughout, I've included -
Lighting to draw the eye,

Pots of various sizes (the images have a deeper border at the end of the garden but it could be adapted to suit the space);

A limited colour palette to prevent the garden looking too busy, but including soft colours to balance the straight lines - white, soft blue and a variety of shades of green. You could also add a soft pink or deeper purple for some contrast.

Vertical elements with the aim of not overwhelming the space available but still giving the impression of an interesting layered border.

We just had our garden paved with Indian sandstone too (though our overall garden is not as lovely as yours OP!), so I'm loving these suggestions 😊

I would also put some wires or trellis on the garage and grow star jasmine up it. It'll soften the look of it in no time and can usually be pretty much ignored and left to get on with it.

Along the fence border I'd put three or five evergreen shrubs for year round interest. Euonymous or Pittosporum that can easily be trimmed. Then get some plants in that will provide interest quickly like hardy geraniums or tall flower spikes like hollyhocks.

I'd also be tempted to dig in a border at the front of the lawn next to the patio and parallel to the garage and plant verbena bonareinsis. It grows quickly, just needs cutting down in early spring and will soften the view looking down the garden but can be seen through so doesn't block your view at all.

The look you have now is clinical although well done. It can easily all be softened with plants but it's only going to lead to more upset if your husband is going remove anything he doesn't like or 'prune' it. So who does the gardening? Because if it's him you'll need to work with him to choose plants etc. There's no point you aiming for a cottage garden style if he hates it and prefers something more formal.