i've had a thought re my future back garden...

I have just looked through all your photos again. I think the mistake you made in the back garden is putting in the path first without thinking it through. The pink path dominates and I would suggest until you take it up and start again you will never be happy whatever you do.
The decking and raised beds area is lovely and as it works so well why not try something similar in the other areas to give a flow to your garden and a feeling of space and with less intrusive pink paths which is making the area look smaller than it is.
One suggestion I have for paths is bark with or without stepping stones as this drains well, looks good and gives a feeling of more space as it tend to suggest their is more soil than there is.

thanks, Drc726, you're absolutely right about the pink path...i had the slabs from my old garden, and was trying to save some money, but not just the colour, but also the shape doesn't work here...i am now in the process of removing the pink, and will go with grey/white squares to match the patio..i would love to have a natural path, with or without the stepping stones, but unfortunately i am very unsteady, and have to have a solid hard footing underneath...it would be great to have decking all around, i think that's the best idea yet, but it's very, very expensive for me, and i'm afraid i'd have to win the lottery...i just might check with the contractor, see what he would charge...really like that idea, the ramp feels so good to walk on...thanks for your imput and thoughtfulness....

In my experience coloured slabs tone down after a couple of years of weathering.

On a much smaller scale I half buried small terracotta pots in bare patches in long troughs which are similar to raised beds......in my case it was to prevent rabbits digging the bare areas(worked up to now)
terracotta does allow water to seep through , I do find that I have to water them at times though and here it was mild last winter so they didn't get a real freezing test....protected my heucheras though!

Dianebulley, i've noticed that, also...the pink does soften to a lovely warm shade after awhile, altho' it does hit you in the eye at first...thanks for that thought, one thing about the white/grey that troubles me....my eyes are becoming sensitive , and that garden gets full sun..very glaring to me...

Pamg, terracotta pots crack here over winter, i was thinking of using plastic and planting them up with those plants that don't like too much water.....i enjoy hand watering and my hose is easily adjusted to spot watering, so i could have plants with different requirements in the same bed......might be a pipe dream, tho'.....fun to try..great if it would work...did you plant in the pots, or fill them with water...i could use that idea in my new beds now, the squirrels are driving me round the bend with their digging and i don't want to buy more plants right now...thanks for such a great idea!....

I put compost in and a viola as it was last autumn, it looked quite pretty

Pamg, oh, that sounds so nice...clever you!