Hello! My design skills are pretty lacking and I would love ideas for redoing the deck under my the balcony in my backyard. I keep thinking how nice a stone patio would look but probably out of my budget so cheaper ideas -- maybe just wood deck? And if it were you, how would you design this area? It's a total mess right now. I'm going to rip out the falling apart patio that is there now.

My house is at the top of the hill so I'll need to tackle some sort of stairs next and a way to connect the patio to those stairs! Have a contractor to work with but he needs a concrete idea from me (obviously). Thank you!