Looking at the picture it appears that the whole staircase and wall are both skewed thus causing the very awkward angles involved. Clearly a major rebuild would be the perfect answer but I have a simple solution that will cost little and might be a temporary fix. Simply make the bottom step into a two thirds wide step (measured across the stair width) giving the full tread depth but only 66% of the width. To reduce the step height, make it two steps but you would need to be careful not to create a trip hazard from the downstairs doorway. You might consider adding a short extra handrail on the stair wall to the left looking up the flight. In fact just this week I saw a house with a very steep loft conversion staircase that had the full flight done in half steps so that you climbed each with a left/right/left/right step movement and it was called a "Hit and miss" staircase. I am not saying it looked a good idea as regards safety etc. but at least it got a staircase into a position where a conventional design would be even worse! As I said....a full rebuild is the best solution but the above might help short term and be better than trying to cope with that very narrow/disappearing first tread.

Last one. Bit more formal but in a modern way. Deck and gravel area are raised up a little with a step for the change in levels. Would need a little more working out I think but definitely achievable. Small strip of planting area between trampoline and gravel area I was thinking could be trellis with some climbing plants such as clematis. Doesn’t have to be too high just enough to cover the view of ugly trampoline legs 🙂. Water feature could be something very modern looking but you could just use a planter with some topiary perhaps to keep costs down. For the base of the play area you could use bark chips or I think you can get recycled rubber chippings, not sure how much these cost but bark chips are readily available. Anyway hope this gives you something to think about. I think first thing to do is get the fence replaced then get a few quotes in for patio as this is likely to be the highest cost. It’s possible to diy paving but you do need to make sure that the drainage and levels are correct. A big job best left to experts I reckon but do ask landscapers if there are ways you can help to keep costs down.

I would definitely recommend removing the dated brickwork, we have done this quite a bit with various properties our recommended installation teams have worked in. Would recommend the Gazco range as mentioned above, the Studio range they are very good quality. Gas is great as you have a 'real' flame, electric is also quite popular now, as not everyone needs the heat so much - check out the Gazco eReflex for electric, or the British Fires New Forrest - we have both of these live in our showroom, they look great! You can look through our website for more ideas if you want.Pure Stoves & Fireplaces - website link Hope you get on okay, it will be a very clean, fresh, different look for you!

Just think in 50 years time that surround will be a wonderful period feature!! I ripped our equivalent out took a whole day to do it. It was built onto a heap of building rubble which I dug out. I had to add extra pieces of joist and about 10 lengths of floor board to fill the gap. The boards needed lengths of hardboard packing pieces or similar as the new ones are slightly thinner than the original imperial measurements ones. We put a gas fire and commercial fireplace in now 30 years old and this is starting to look dated itself now!!