If it were mine I would incorporate those basement stairs with the deck. Basically just extend the deck to the right side of those existing stairs and add a couple of steps right at the top of them that ended up at deck level. This would necessitate extending the existing porch railing out a few feet as well, which I think would look nice.

Great idea! Thank you!! That wouldn't really be that much extra lumber either :)

Can someone look at my Profile pic and tell me what tree will go where the Oleander is? Thank you not quite sure how to post a question on this site!