Can landscaping focus on the area immediately outside my back door?
It can. Show the door position, the current surface and the surrounding connections. Even a limited terrace improvement may involve levels, water movement and access, so those details should form part of the assessment before a finish is selected.
Can a narrow terrace feel more useful without making it much larger?
A compact garden benefits from agreeing what each part must do before adding features. Check the occupied furniture layout, storage access and the route from the house, then remove unnecessary divisions. One usable terrace or clear path may be more valuable than several small decorative zones. Keep the proposal grounded in the actual dimensions; a photograph of a larger space may communicate a style without providing a workable plan.
Should borders be left between every hard surface?
Not necessarily. A planted gap is useful only if it has a purpose and can be cared for. Consider access, planting needs and the resulting edge detail instead of adding narrow borders simply to separate materials visually.
Can existing paving remain beside new work?
It can be assessed for retention. Condition, level and the visual relationship need consideration. The quotation should explain the join and any repairs rather than assume a new surface can meet the retained area without additional work.
Can I keep the far end of the garden unchanged?
Yes, if the revised area can connect to it sensibly. Mark the exact limit of the work and identify any existing path, drain, edging or planting crossing that line. Agree how the join will be finished and whether temporary access will disturb the retained area. This lets the quotation describe a finished first stage while keeping later work optional rather than leaving an accidental unfinished boundary.