Never having designed a garden from scratch I'm probably the last gardener to ask about how to do it...Mmmm, maybe not, I've seen some professional jobs' I could improve on, however, for what it's worth, I firmly believe there is more to garden design than ending up with something 'pretty.'
By all means plant and design to your hearts content so long as you're happy with the end result, but in your design I would ask that you consider others....no, not the person next door or the local chief of the 'Best Lawn Society,' I'm asking that in your design you consider that which is not only natural but beneficial too. I'm talking wildlife.
The very fact that we build our homes means that we take away natural habitat from the animals and creatures that once used to live there. Isn't it right we should give a little back?
Bear in mind that just about every species can help you in your new surroundings. Try putting up the odd nest box, especially for blue-tits which are great bug hunters. A flat nest for the robin...the earliest bird up in the morning and the last to go to bed after searching your garden all day long for baddies. Don't forget a winter bird table and somewhere for them to drink. ( Don't feed birds in spring.) They will reward you when you look through your window from your warm home and watch their antics in the snow.
Mr and Mrs Hedgehog, probably the best mobile anti-slug killer on the continent, will visit and may even stay if you give them a nice untidy pile of logs to over-winter in. A rival to them when it comes to snails has got to be the thrush....but they need a large stone or two lying around to drop the snail onto.
Cleaned out Bamboo canes are great for predatory beetles and parasitic wasps which will reduce your flower bug infestation dramatically. Easy to make and all you do is hang it on a nail on your shed or wall...and don't for goodness sake rip all that ivy off the wall in autumn...tut, tut!
So, if you have created a nice garden area and you need some help in keeping it in good condition.....well, your friends are willing to help, but they aren't going to bother if you don't help them a little.
Go-on, help them help you, you know it makes sense.
Advice in building, erecting and siting homes for the helpful is available here. All you have to do is ask!
PS:...And don't kill shrews....they're friends...!
