Build a deck right off patio doors. Move the stones elsewhere if you

want to keep them, or just build deck over them.

If it's in the budget, find a local landscape designer to work with. I know that if you were here locally, I have some salvage resources where we bring in historic materials to tie old and new together on projects like this. You should be able to find someone with similar resources near you.

I'm in love with your property by the way!

If you are considering a gravel patio, I would take up and re use the existing stones as the border around a new expansive gravel patio.

Although this would be the cheapest way to do it, the site needs to be prepped just like any other patio with at least 3-4 inches of base and a weed mat then followed by 3-5 inches of gravel.

They have honeycomb grid bases for patios that prevent movement of the gravel to make it into a stable base.

There are tons of gravel patio pics on Houzz. The above are a few of my saved ones that suit your farmhouse style.

We can barely see the existing material and the patio layout. And we don't know how you're expanding it. Scratch out a quick, simple plan that shows your intentions. And show a picture of the existing patio, where we can see the total floor space (except what is covered by furniture. Show its edges.)

Following. Amazing property as I'm sure you know :)

@Yardvaark I added some more images of the existing patio. Also am image of the space I’d like the extension to go. Thanks everyone’s input.

Well how beautiful is that??!! I love the tasteful windows and roof you choose. Are you in the US? What state? The setting is just gorgeous.

I don’t have any recommendations as far as the patio, other than you need to expand it so you can make good use of it. Could you find some reclaimed brick (in a high-contrast color to your stone) to do the expansion? A skilled craftsman could make that work.

Pea Gravel

It works in Italy.

See, in the pictures, all those weeds growing up through the stones you have now? Those same weeds will grow up through the gravel, too. Gravel looks great in the initial installation, but 6 months later, it looks like a weed patch. This is true eventually for all gravel, even if it has a weed barrier. Why? Because seeds and stuff blows into the gravel, germinates, and lives long enough to make it ugly. Eventually there will be enough dust in the gravel to support weeds longer term. You'll need a good RoundUp sprayer to keep the weeds down.

Knowing that you are going to use gravel anyway, you should use chipped gravel rather than rounded pea gravel. Rounded pea gravel remains like quicksand forever. Chipped gravel locks into itself and can form a very solid surface, If it is tamped down with a vibrating "sheepsfoot" at the beginning, it will be flat and stable.

Follow Yardvaark's suggestion. It makes the most sense design-wise and will utilize the space most efficiently and economically. Save the stone for another purpose, perhaps a short walkway through another planting area.

"You'll need a good RoundUp sprayer to keep the weeds down."

Lots of alternatives to RoundUp exist that don't persist in the environment. Including flame weeders, boiling water, weedwackers, five fingers on each hand, chickens and other grazers, intentional ground cover plantings that suppress weeds.

Just saying, you don't have to choose between weeds and RoundUp, you do have other options.

Yup Lindsey was just going to say the same thing! I have a gravel driveway (not sharp cut gravel! Boy will you regret that!) and I only get a little bit of weeds trying to pop up – I use a solution of vinegar and salt in a sprayer to keep it down. Even that I only have to do once a year. With any gravel you'll need to replace bare spots every couple years. But your current patio is so small. I would think that you could either use it as a central design element and build another patio around it with another stone entirely, or, and this is probably the second cheapest after Pea stone, pull it all out and start from scratch. Masons won't want to work around someone else's handiwork and will charge accordingly. My only. concern with that much patio in Pea stone is wobbly tables and chairs and worse grilling area. This would be a great spot for a built-in firepit too. One you can put your feet up on and look at the view. .

Unless you replace the patio with a deck, you're going to have to figure out how to handle the grade change. A sloping patio isn't functional, so you'll either need to do some excavation or plan for a multi-level space. Good luck with your project.

I also like the idea of using the current patio as an "entryway" to your outdoor living space. Separate the spaces by a planting area and stepping stone in to the next "room"

i would want what I can't have on my deck. A hole(s) in the patio near the table where you can plant a vine to grow up and over an arbor over dining table. I would string lights or hang lanterns up on the arbor as well

Oh and I have your next project, a natural swimming pool-so get cracking!

I wanted to update my patio project. Instead of adding onto the patio we (I) pulled up all the weeds and cleared off the entire space. I replaced two of our 17 year old wooden Adirondack chairs with two Emmett Chairs from Loll Designs, via Room and Board. I purchased the Applaro table from Ikea. My husband built the raised bed behind the table and hopefully next year we will have more of a garden. I planted some veggies in there but its pretty late in the season and I don’t expect much of a harvest this year. I also purchased some flowers that like ALL DAY sun and they are doing well. I think the patio looks much better and we ate our first al fresco dinner last night. The clear chairs at the table are not going to be permanent. I think I’ll buy two benches from Loll Designs, just not sure what color. Thanks for all your help jogging my mind and helping me think outside the box. Happy Summer!!

Looks great. Enjoy