If you want to create little nooks for a glass of wine after work, places to dine al fresco in the summer, and places to host your youngest daughter's engagement party, then a deck or stone patio is invaluable. With that being said, I've got my design eye right now on multi-tiered decks, floating decks, and stone patios because who knows what our first house will be able to accommodate.
Multi-Tiered Decks: These are a pretty significant cost investment because of the planning required, which makes them unlikely for a starter home. I'm a big fan of the way that they create distinct and unique areas in the backyard. Maybe you BBQ, dine out, and drink all on different levels with their own slightly different themes and layouts. And the difference in levels doesn't need to be too dramatic.
Floating Decks: I see the most potential in a floating deck, because as the name suggests, they have incredible placement flexibility. Just choose an open portion of lawn without worrying about the level that your back slider meets the ground at or about complicated attachments. Plonk down your deck in one weekend and save money by using wood over stone.
Stone Patios: I'm obviously just a loser, but these always feel insanely European to me. I love the idea of assorted bricks or flagstones laid out with moss growing between them. I don't have any interest in a perfectly square layout, but I think a stone patio with a more organic, rounded layout would be a perfect feature. Plus, it's more eco-friendly than having another 30 square yards of lawn to grow and maintain! In a perfect world, this is definitely the way that I would lean.
Does your family have a deck? How much use do you feel that you get out of it, and what would you change if you could?
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