Thanks JPK Designs! We will most certainly be having some form of raised patio area and the picture you have supplied looks great! We would probably position the kitchen doorway somewhere else or remove it all together (regs permitting) Friend and family are 50-50 on the internal steps issue so any extra info that can help us decide before this week is really useful. Pros: higher ceiling in extension, zoned purpose to the old dining room, allows for differing floor treatments. Cons: potential trip hazard, may get annoying if we have children, less flexibility to layout furniture differently.

If you're laying engineered boards you'll find that some manufacturers make them in a couple of different qualities and thicknesses. If the top finish of two thicknesses was similar you could mix and match and use a spot of screed to make the adjustment. If it's also in front of a doorway still, could you use a doormat to hide any discrepancies?

Hi, we've recently purchased a new build house and we're struggling a bit with how to configure the garden due to the way it slopes. It's essentially just a 10m x 10m square at the moment with a few squares of pavement, and a slope from the top left towards the house and to the right fence. (see pics) We're trying to work with the level as much as possible to reduce the cost of levelling, and we're thinking of a deck in the top right (sunspot), and a raised lawn in the top left, with some steps and sleeper beds / steps around the garden to support it. (see drawing) Does anyone with any garden experience have any thoughts on how feasible something like this would be and how much it would roughly cost? Or any alternative ideas for the garden? We have a dog so a lawn is essential, and a deck or patio in the top right is pretty much a given for us. Any ideas/design tips would really be appreciated! We're looking for something quite modern, ideally with levels to create interest and reduce the levelling costs (if this even achieves that?)

Split level might be an option but I was rather concerned that we might end up with being restricted on what goes where based on the available area of each section. Again, there are not many photos on Houzz if split level patios (although as arc3d demonstrated there are rather more of decking). Different options are going to cost differently but would rather have something that works than the cheapest option. I don't think there is enough slope on the garden for it to be hidden behind a higher patio. Some of the height is just because the original house was built up a bit. from ground level.