It's not inappropriate, but remember that you get what you pay for. The advice found here can be excellent, it can also be really inappropriate.

Do post your photos, but also give some idea of what might fulfill your vision. Clean slate photos are difficult to work from unless the homeowner expresses some kind of "wish" list and "avoid" list, as well as information about climate, soil, orientation to the sun, etc.

Also tell us your needs and expectations regarding use of the space, amount of gardening and maintenance you want to do, and how much you want to spend.

Here's what you should think about in terms of wants and needs. Sorry for the quality of the typing it's copied from a word doc I use with my clients. I eliminated the household members/pets part because you already know that.

Checklist:

1. Use of the garden (circle preferences)
Weekends only Entertaining Cooking/Dining
Rest
& Relaxation Childrens play Gardening

2. Existing problems (visual and functional) Deer? Pets?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. Positive elements to be retained or enhanced
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Desired character of site (formal/informal, woodland, etc.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Favorite plants (if any, include color preferences if known)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Planting effects
Emphasis on foliage Flowers for cutting Year round interest
Specific seasonal interest spring summer autumn winter

6. Hardscaping material preferences (circle all that apply)
Belgian block brick concrete
gravel iron pavers
stone (type?) wood other (rock, iron, etc)

7. Client requirements (circle all that apply)
car parking area sitting area terrace/patio/deck
barbeque entertainment area pool/poolhouse
play area/toy storage greenhouse/coldframe vegetable garden
herb garden fruit orchard/garden flower cutting garden
utility area
bins: trash recycling
clothes line tool storage shed/potting shed/bench compost heap
8. Other elements to be included (circle all that apply)
lighting irrigation furniture
water feature (type) ornaments/sculpture planters/containers
pergola/arbor/trellis/gate fencing (wood/iron) sculpture

9. Client expectations for time to complete project:
10. Budget
Initial costs
Client level of involvement in maintenance high moderate low none
Annual maintenance costs
Other budgetary considerations

NOTES:

Awesome! thanks for the responses. some forums are more friendly than others.

I will post some photos soon and try to give an accurate discription of what we are looking for.

thanks again

"some forums are more friendly than others"

Exactly! Stick around and you will find out why everybody calls the Landscape Design forum the friendliest place on GardenWeb!...at least I think "friendliest" is the term that they use. ;-)

- Brent

Very funny Brent.
Actually I think the idea of using a well proven checklist as a starting point for defining a plan is one of the more practical and helpful ideas I've seen posted here. Thank you Miss R.

Here's the next step after the checklist. Use the plat you got when you bought the house to figure out N-S orientation.

1. Approach to house
Size of street
Traffic intensity
Primary orientation of property
Front to back (north to south, etc.)
2. Architectural characteristics of main structure (if any)
Type of structure
Age and style
Condition
Location of doors and windows
Dominant color scheme
3. Outside services
Location of downspouts
Outside lights Sockets
Electric meter Gas meter
A/C unit
Taps
4. Hard landscaping
Condition and materials of walkways
Steps
Walls
Deck
Other Structures

5. Views to and from house
To front right house from street
To front left house from street
To front boundary from house
To back boundary from house
To side boundaries from house (left and right)
To house from boundary
6. Sounds or smells

7. Microclimate
Orientation
Areas of shade in mid-winter
a.m.
p.m.
Areas of shade in mid-summer
a.m.
p.m.
Prevailing wind direction?
Frost pockets?
8. Level changes
Front of property
Sloping ground?
Areas showing erosion?
Areas showing poor drainage?
Wall heights
Height of steps
Back of property
Sloping ground?
Areas showing erosion?
Areas showing poor drainage?
Wall heights
Height of steps
9. Soil
Type(s)
Depth of topsoil

10. Existing plants
Front of property (location and condition)
Trees

Shrubs

Foundation plantings

Back of property (location and condition)
Trees

Shrubs

Foundation plantings

Side yard (location and condition)
Trees

Shrubs

Foundation plantings

Special Site Considerations

I'll say that's a good checklist, Miss R. I can't believe you found something about it to apologize for when you posted it! But Daaw, don't feel you have to answer ALL those questions in your question. I don't know about others, but my friendliness might not survive being asked to consider where to put your clothesline :-)... although, that is something I have wanted for 15 years and might finally be close to finding a place for. It's tougher than you might think.

thanks Miss R, your list printed fine. There is a lot more to consider as karin1 pointed out. For the record, I won't ask about clothesline placement until I get to know everyone better.