A deck & patio combo was a practical choice to connect this home to the backyard sloping site.
Photo by: Randy O'Rourke, Deck Ideas that Work, The Taunton Press
down from small deck to patio
Connecting to the backyard, easier, small scale
I like the small bump out down stairs with the balcony upstairs
wood deck with addition of slate patio
either a deck or a patio, but not both. Not so, says Jeswald. A deck and patio can work very well together, especially on a sloping site, or when you want to make a graceful transition between inside and outside with a few feet of height between the two. In this example, a small deck area with a broad
garden, a small deck provides a transitional space between a house's architecture and the yard. Leave enough room for an Adirondack chair or two so that you can lounge a few feet above the rest of the yard and enjoy the view.