We painted them with multiple coats of grey textured masonry paint. It gave the steps a much more professional and neat look than just the bare concrete as after angle-grinding them, they were still uneven colour.

Hi Kanye, Here are your design challenges: 1. The decking area has a variety of colour - red brick garage, pale deck, wood fence. 2. The fence isn't straight, but slopes to different levels. 3. The area is very open, which isn't conducive to spending time in. People typically prefer to have some sense of enclosure in outside dining/seating areas. 4. The garden itself is plain lawn, sloping up to the patio area. This area has become a focal point, so needs to be both inviting and offer interest. In other words, you want to be intrigued to get from your house to this area. Design solutions: Without knowing a full brief, this is educated guesswork, but you may consider: 1. Adding a perception of depth by surrounding the sides and rear of the space with a hedge, climbers and trees. Pleached is design classic. Look at trees around your property for clues. Privet is thirsty, so you may consider hornbeam/yew hedge, clematis/ivy and repeat hornbeam pleached or fruit trees. Bring hedge/pleached trees around the front of the deck, to create an opening entrance to the deck. 2. You might consider adding a pergola over a proposed dining area. 3. Consider extending this hedging/tree pattern in the rest of the garden. Why not create an orchard area with path moving through it taking you to the deck. . Also plant beds etc... Kit

Hi Emmeline, We completely agree with Aye Gardening. Softwood requires maintenance, and if you do not have the time to keep it good looking, we recommend you go for composite decking, such as Millboard. We have also seen some amazing transformation with Millboard Composite Decking, as it requires very little maintenance, it has good slip-resistance, it doesn't age, and can be used in damp areas as well - such as pool surrounds. Have a look at more photos here: https://www.houzz.co.uk/ideabooks/81725744/thumbs/how-composite-decking-can-transform-your-outdoor-space  Kind regards, London Stone

The design strips can make it look more authentic if you choose the right tone strip. I thought you meant do the floor in a straight lay like a ships deck. I think it also depends on the actual floor chosen ,I personally don’t find that they match in terms of what looks realistic