Rethinking garden layout

Niv

I have quite a large garden and am looking to refresh some areas and change the layout around a bit. Does anyone know of good sites etc to help with design and plant selection etc? 

One area is a bit shady so would like to find some plants that are good with shade, another area is the wildflower area which is just overrun with buttercup.

When it comes to picking a good selection of plants that complement each other (colour / flowering times / sizing) I fall down also. 

I am quite adept at 'gardening' in its purist sense but the creative bit is not really my strongest point

Any suggestions welcomed. 

TIA

twopenny

Creativity comes with trial and error.
Browsing nurseries and garden centers, photograph colour combos and see how they look in situe.
It's largely a matter of personal preference. 
I'd also get names of plants suitable for a situation then use a book to research them. Online and tv  is always subject to promotion and advertising where books tend to be by people who have experience and love their subject.
The net is a good source of reference but poor on reliable information.

Brie

I think it's like changing one's hairstyle....get some magazines (gardening ones in this instance!) and see what you like.  Or some landscaping books from the library. 

If that doesn't work for you why not try hiring someone to offer some designs?  Just be upfront with them and say you're after ideas/design only, not hiring them to do all the dog work.

goldfinches

As a way of building on 2p's and Brie's suggestions one thing you could do is to visit some gardens and specifically look for beds in the sort of situations that you are hoping to have and once you find one that you really like you could mimic it. 

twopenny

Just what I did today gf.
10 gardens I walked around this hot afternoon. All different, all fascinating. I asked permission and took photos of bits and pieces that I thought might suil areas I wanted to improve.
Lots of shade lovers and owners on hand to ask questions of.