Ordinarily I would find myself in agreement with almost anything Gardengal would recommend, but not in this case. Setting concrete stones at or slightly below the level of existing grass is going to result in constant dirt washing onto the soil with a sandy soil mix, and in a high desert with the constant need for irrigation for a lawn, it will also tend to wash the dirt onto pavers. I personally wouldn't want all that lawn in a climate where it will increase your water bills so tremendously, but recommended mowing heights for a Tall Fescue/Blue Grass lawn mix will be 3 inches, so having it slightly raised about 1/2 to 3/4 inches isn't going to create problems for the lawn mower. Don't forget that when rain does tend to come, as infrequent as it is, it can be the season total all at once, again likely to wash soil onto surfaces that are set too low. As to a pathway set right up against the house, it is a more common design detail in contemporary as well as spanish influenced designs, and can be a classic Spanish/Californian design detail. A desert garden doesn't lend itself to the PNW garden style with tons of foundation plantings; more widely spaced plantings and more sculptural plants placed in a more architectural or natural to the desert way seems more sympathetic to the surroundings to me. I can understand the desire to have a large green lawn in the high desert, especially if you are used to British Columbia conditions, but it is not practical in the long run, and lawn substitutes make more sense. I guess you will have to suffer through ever increasing water bills and constant battles to keep the lawn alive and looking good to understand the potential wisdom of working with your climate instead of against it. A Kentucky Blue Grass lawn doesn't even make much sense here in the San Francisco Bay Area, where they tend to want to go dormant in the summer heat and take much more water and care to keep looking decent than other lawn grasses. I'd suggest that you look into real water miser grasses such as Buffalo Grass for the high desert. Admittedly it will go winter dormant in your area, but it fills in quite quickly with desert heat, and needs hardly any water in comparison to cool season turf grasses such as Tall Fescue or KBG. If your area has a good low water demonstration garden to visit, I'd recommend a visit. Most California Water Districts do have such a display garden to show the merits of plantings that take less water and care. There is a very nice Display garden in Las Vegas, which isn't exactly close, but is similar in climate to your conditions, and illustrates the wealth of plants that actually make sense in your climate.

We had aggregate at a prior home. It looked good until it began to break down after about ten years. Also, the wood expansion joints between sections rotted. At our present home we have a bluestone chip driveway, bluestone slab front stoop and blue/grey paver blocks for terrace and patio (side and rear). Roof is blue/grey slate look asphalt. (If you have children who will be riding bikes or rollerskating, you'll prefer smooth concrete.)

You have to imagine how you are going to use the space first. Do you like to spend time out side. You have lots of shade, so I imagine it would be pleasant under the eaves. Then, yes, set up a table and chairs to eat out side with a server. Conversation places, to lounge and talk, etc. Just as you would in a large indoor space. I love the look of the bertoia chairs, but I find them very uncomfortable to sit in for an extended period. A pair might be nice outside the master with a little table for a cup of tea in the morning or a glass of wine before bed and would be nice to look at otherwise. In a hot clime, I wouldn't want metal furniture because even the frames conduct and radiate heat. I'd look for teak or wood. In your price range you may be able to find an original designer who's work you like. Sometimes, for outdoors, all a wood indoor piece needs is a different finish, which you can order as for from a custom or original designer. There are thousands of brilliant furniture makers out there working in wood, Mark Tuckey comes to mind.

Hello, We’re finishing our concrete patio with a sand finish and deciding among the following colors (Davis Color). If you’ve completed yours with either of following could you please post your pics or give advise? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks so much ! Natural (no color) Silver Smoke Light Grey Pewter