If you can afford to employ a landscape designer, then all reputable companies will have a portfolio of the work they have previously done. There are sites online, such as The Ground Control Group, that can also give you some ideas. To plan for your own area, and if you have a creative flair, there is a software package called 'Real-time Landscape Design'.
The best one-source place to find patio deck ideas and designs would be to look www.hgtv/patio deck and design ideas. They offer videos and pictures to help you with the project.
Consult your local deck and patio contractors. Also check Angies list to find out what people have to say about those contractors and to compare prices.
There are many books available on patio and deck design ideas that can be purchased from amazon.com. I would recommend searching ideas online or other sites as this information is free and you will find a lot of sources to refer to.
You can go to your local home depot store, they should have tons of magazines and books and even someone in that area would help you out with any questions regarding deck and patio ideas.
Eplans website is a great resource to help you with backyard deck and patio ideas. The website will also calculate the materials needed to build the deck.
The internet is an amazing resource and has multiple options for patio deck designs. Some of the sites you may want to look at are the HGTV site as well as DIY and Youtube.
A great site I found to find browse deck and patio models is merchantcircle.com. Here they have multiple lists of patio and deck merchants in Philadelphia who will help you browse patio and deck models
Eplans website is a great resource to help you with deck patio ideas and designs. The website will also calculate the materials needed to build the deck.
To find ideas to start building your deck you could first try www.deckplans.com. They have a wide selection of free deck plans along with great tips and ideas on how to build your deck.
When you are thinking about renovating your outdoor area for grilling and summer dining, it's tempting to do it yourself. Fortunately, there are many sources for patio and deck design ideas, and you can assimilate many different ideas to personalize your own project. Lawn and garden departments are great for providing ideas related to materials available for your area. Home improvement stores and websites provide software, books, and magazines dealing with patio and deck design ideas.
It can become costly to order books and software or to pick up magazines that provide ideas for creating a great patio deck. You would rather spend your money on the project, after all, not on ideas. One of the best ways to get ideas is to drive around and observe what other people in your town have done. As you see interesting patio deck ideas, take notes. Pursue further information online. Browse the library for patio deck ideas that match your vision.
You can get patio deck designs from private contracting companies that are local to you. You can also get design ideas from several library books on designs.