Any ideas for borders?

I have agreed to help a friend out in her garden next weekend. She has a small garden with an existing border. There is a bay shrub, buddleia and a few other plants. My plan is to straighten and widen the border a little, dig it over and replant it for her. I have spent many years on my own garden, but now it has come to doing someone else's garden I feel it necessary to seek the advice of more experienced gardeners.
The border is in the sun by about 10am and falls into shade late afternoon. My borders are filled with a few shrubs, with perennials in between. I also add annuals as and when. Please could anyone suggest any shrubs that they think would be suitable and also perennials.
Could I also ask...the border has not been dug over for many years and so is probably quite poor. If I was to dig in a couple of bags of general compost and maybe a bag of manure, would that be suitable? Many thanks.
My plan is to remove the buddleia and maybe the bay shrub but I probably won't be able to get at all the roots as a new concrete base has recently been put in so I don't want to disturb it.
Many thanks.
One of the photos is my border at the moment. As I have said, I have been a novice gardener for years and basically my rule is, 'if I like it, it goes in'. However, when it is someone else's garden, I don't want to let them down! :-)

 

I'd dig in some manure, maybe some bonemeal and topsoil or john innis no3 to enrich the soil and look for plants that are suitable for the aspect. In your photo it looks as though it's getting full sun. Having said that, your borders are great so do whatever you've been doing to your own!

 

Your border looks lovely so as has been said carry on as you have been doing. I'm sure your friend will be very pleased. Lavender would look nice and maybe some perennial wallflowers like Bowles mauve. Hebes are nice too.

 

Thanks...I appreciate that. Well I have just been out there now looking. I am definitely going for lavender and I love the Bowles mauve. I also have a couple of astibille growing which are great perennials. I think my biggest 'problem' is knowing which shrubs to grow. I am thinking that I could squeeze in maybe three. In my garden I planted a sambucus nigra but it is very big! So if anyone knows of shrubs that flower but can be easily managed, I'd appreciate opinions on those. Thanks. I used to have a gorgeous shrub which flowered in early spring: very small white flowers all along each branch and smelled really nice. Just can't think of the name of it.

 

Well I did it . I took your advice about the manure and soil improver and went to buy the plants that I thought best. Got three nice shrubs and plenty of perennials. Was a brilliant day, even though it rained .
With any luck, the garden will be looking fabulous by summer...should we get one

 

I'm sure your friend will love it. It is so generous to give your time, a gift which is rarely requested but always appreciated.

 

I'm sure she will where in west wales are you by the way? Am from that way originally...Tenby way. My parents now live in wolfs castle.

 

Further north, on the Pembrokeshire border.

 

Another west Walian here - born in Haverfordwest. Left when I was 18 months old but do plan to retire there one day. One of the most beautiful parts of these lovely British isles of ours

 

What a great job you've done Marky

 

Thanks.. It really was a good day! I'm becoming a bit obsessed with gardening. I went to the garden centre today for some pea sticks...just pea sticks and nothing else. I don't have room for any more plants. £70 later, I'm walking out with ferns, annuals, pots, a knitting book (?) and an ice cream...ha ha
Then spent the afternoon cutting the grass, potting on my cucumbers and about a thousand sunflowers.... It's been an amazing day...what a shame I have to go back to work tomorrow... ;-)