I can't read some of the drawing.

Without having any idea of the site, it's hard to know if this is a good response to it.

What is the thing in the middle by the chaise lounges?

I would want things having to do with food prep all in one general area that has some proximity to the kitchen access.

You are expecting contractors to create the plan? As this is not a bid-ready plan.

Thanks Yardvaark. I uploaded the wrong version. I had everything labeled! Apologies. I’ll upload in the morning. But that’s the spool :) And all kitchen is together except pizza oven which can’t be next to house. I have 2 options for where that can go. Plus that would get added later.
Thanks!

And this is just an idea to get a rough estimate. The pro will draw up a plan.

And I forgot to mention, we don't know what's existing and what's proposed. If the walk is proposed, I'd move it farther away from the house, so that you were leaving at least 6' for any foundation planting.

The deck or patio is two levels separated by 6"?

Your plan will be much easier to read if you don't add scribbles. Labeling an area "grass" is sufficient. For landscape bed, just show the outline of the bed edge.

Ok I re-drew it. Hopefully this is better. :) The version I posted originally was really just me playing with the space so understandable that it wasn’t clear! Patio is all 1 level. But not sure if spool should be raised or flush. Also, FYI- latest sun due to slope and trees) is basically where it says ‘covered patio’ and those 2 lounge chairs. That’s where I’ll be!

A few questions.. do we have good patio space for room to move? Good placement of spool and fire pit? Good placement of dining and conversation areas or should these be switched? Any other thoughts or ideas welcome!

Thanks in advance!

Pointing out a few things I think need tweaking.

Yardvaark, thank you!! That’s exactly what I was hoping for. Yea, I threw in the wavy path bc I thought we needed some curves. I originally had it straight. I do plan to add planters and pots. I love plants and flowers.

And I definitely like 2nd option with fire pit so we have our view. Here’s my view from my current inflatable hot tub on our current patio (basically where the convo area is).

Great point about equipment. Behind the pizza oven should work!

And good point about the dining table. I forgot that a post would be there. Plus it’s in front of the fixed part of a slider so not sure about that. I could swap the dining and convo area?

Thanks again!! Really appreciate it!!

The best ‘view’ is really from where it says ‘grass area’ on the left. But don’t want to bring the spool and fire pit closer to the house. We don’t want things to be cramped! Thx!

Made some edits. What about this? Spool equipment will be somewhere behind the pizza oven.

Question re: pizza oven location: is this too random? Or could we make it a focal point? It’s also far from the kitchen area but it can’t be close to house or blocking view. Any other ideas for it? Thanks!!

Ok, apparently had the depth of our yard wrong. Re-measured and brought things a bit closer to house. Also swapped dining and convo areas.

Thoughts anyone? Would welcome any advice! Thx!! :)

Ooh great idea! Love it. I feel like we need a bit of curves. Thank you!!

Do you think the pizza oven will work there? And the pool equipment maybe next to it behind a short wall?

Thanks!

And so again we have a curve when everything else is straight. Only this time instead of two related curves it's one curve by itself, with a right angle corner opposite. Instead of a related curve forming a harmony with the main curve. Making the resulting space look like a piece has been cut out of it.

Embothrium, I’m not sure I’m clear on your comment. Do you have any suggestions or ideas? Thx!

All: is it better design to have all straight edges or mix in some curves? Thanks!

I like Yard's last rendition with a gentle curve. It doesn't have to relate to anything more than the shape of spool.....which it does.

Straight or curved is your choice. And valid arguments can be made for either. One does not necessarily make a "better design" than the other. It ls how it relates to the whole.

There is nothing necessarily advantageous or better about having straights or curves. You just need to make them all work together in the end.

In the prior iteration, I'm addressing fitting the circular element in with straight lines in a more flowing way. I didn't address tweaking other areas to that change because I don't know the site particulars (whether the level change is a step up or a step down.) The circular shape does invite/suggest that nearby corners, underneath, be circular, too. Adding a radius to the "planting bed" is no problem. But because of furniture in the lounge area, there's a conflict. It might be eased if you can expand the area near the house by another couple of feet, as it seems tight overall.. (Another issue I have in exploring this further, is that I don't know what is proposed and what is existing.)

Thank you gardengal and Yardvaark!

Everything that is existing will be torn down. It’s awful. So starting with a clean slate! All flat, one level. We can definitely extend the patio cover out further. I like the idea of curves around planting beds. This was the back of the house when we bought 4 years ago. Grass does not look like this!!

The pool equipment will work there if screened (hopefully by something that shields sound.)

Now that I see the house I'm wondering, can't the pizza oven go somewhere toward the side yard? I would like it better if it was closer to the outdoor kitchen cluster ... especially if at least some of the patio cover can extend to it.

I’ll have to see how far it has to be from the house. I read 10ft but not sure. We don’t have that on the side yard. Plus we like the access to be able to bring a vehicle to the back. We have a gate. But I love that idea.

What about if it were near the fire pit by on the other side closer to the house (back of fire pit to the shed)??

Maybe fire pit here instead? A little closer to the house/kitchen.

You know things that we don't know. Apparently there's a reason the pizza oven should be closer to the firepit than to the outdoor kitchen. I just don't know what it is.

Hi Yardvaark,

3 reasons: 1) my understanding is that a wood burning pizza oven has to be at least 10ft from the house. 2) our side yard is narrow but enough for vehicle access. We don’t want anything in the way. 3) We might be able to put it under the patio cover but we also don’t want to block our view (city/ocean). Right now, I can see the Pacific from our patio. We don’t want a big pizza oven on that side to block our view.

So I think either along the back fence or on the other side with back to shed. We’ll see what our builders say too!

Thanks! Here are some photos.

Well. Darn it. Unfortunately, those are all legitimate reasons. :-( Then, one must keep plugging away, trying to hash out the design until there is bliss.

Yes exactly!! It’s tricky! But it will be soooo much better than it is now, it will be paradise :)

Thanks for all your help!