Our overall idea was to create as little lawn as possible, and to use shrubbery and perennial plants instead.  Integral into this design is a south facing patio, which serves as both a decorative cover for the concrete rainwater tanks and a outside room.  Since we are trying to minimize rainwater runoff, we will add a pervious element to the patio, although at this point we have no exact plans.  We also decided to build a low brick wall along the patio and adjacent areas to provide enough privacy that we didn't fell like we were practically out in the street (since in fact the patio will go close to the sidewalk, although it will be about eight feet above it), but not so much of a barrier that people can't see us.

Beyond that we don't have much of plan; we will just design and build the landscape in an organic process (which is another way of saying "keeping the principles in mind, we're gonna invent it as we go).