It seems like you will need some on-site professional advice. I'm no where near that, so can just add some reactions. Your home appears large and a large financial investment, so you want to keep things appropriate for the setting and not tacked on here and there. The low level by the basement is not very easy to "connect" well with the high deck so as to have the 2 spaces function really well together. The other side yard that is a higher elevation seems the most natural area for spillover from a large gathering and I would be tempted to develop that space preferentially, even if it requires some privacy screening from the front view of the property. However, if the basement room--whatever you will be making that in to--is a key action zone that will be highly related to outdoor activities, then maybe you do want to develop that walkout area more. A hot tub under that deck doesn't seem very appealing. So, to come up with the best design, you may need to flesh out your activities and traffic flow a bit more to see what is most rational from that standpoint and then factor in the $$ cost of various solutions. Also prioritize--you are trying to do this--decide if pleasant seating out of the rain is most impt, or heating in cool but clear weather, or being in hot tub, etc. I'm not sure you can build a fireplace on the deck proper, if that's what you meant.

Thank you @HU-257553069!!! :) By 1/3 you mean all same size slabs but all set subway tile style to every third? just trying to make sure I understand what you describe... I looked at Permacon too but the Colors were busier and not as light (the ones in the display).. I thought lighter would look nicer. There’s the Blu smooth in Beige cream too but I wasn’t too sure if there was actually too much yellow for the cream/grey/orangy/browny colour of the house. yes was thinking of adding a sectional in the top Right corner with a table and high potted planters. i Also want to add 2 lounge chairs, and a fire pit... not sure where to put everything. the hot tub will be on the left as pictured. There will be 23 feet of interlock up to the first column (from the house). After that 4 feet from the column (as it is right now). The set up is stressing me out too. Is it okay to have more than one seating area? And to have areas that do not necessarily face each other? finally, not sure if you have an idea but I was going to do a 3 post pergola over the hot tub (with a bar facing the river) but I am thinking the post near the corner sofa will be in the way (Of people in the hot tub, on the sofa or sitting at the bar). What about a half pergola (only 2 posts on the Left, facing the left neighbo)? it would give some height, some warmth with the wood and something to hang lights to. Apologies for the really long post!!

"Problem is finding a good paver "setter" who has a bit of creativity & vision." It's a mistake to think that paver installers are the ones that should be responsible for designing the project. Installers are primarily interested in installing the maximum square footage of patio that you will buy, and could probably care less about the layout, other than that they would prefer you provide a good one so they can walk away with pride and end up with a decent project for their portfolio. While they will design it by default, if you don't provide a design, the quality of their ideas will be on on you. If you don't have the design skills (alone or in conjunction with this forum) to design the patio, then you should be consulting with a LANDSCAPE DESIGNER, not a paver installer. Get the design done first, and then find an installer to place it. If you don't have a design (on paper) then you have nothing to bid on. In that case, every contractor you talk to will recommend different things and the pricing will be all over map. You'll have bids you can't compare with other bids because they'll all be for different things. As far as 12' vs. 14' depth, I would consider 12' the absolute minimum usable dimension. A designer would want to know the exact furniture that you're placing on the patio, and the contingencies for when you want to set up for the occasional larger group for special occasions, if that ever happens. Even if it never happens for you, it would be typical of most households. If resale (ever) is a concern, I wouldn't make the patio the absolute smallest a person can "get by" with. One that is of a size usable for a typical "family" with your size house in your type of neighborhood, would be a better choice. Rarely does anyone make a patio that they think is too large. Usually, they're wishing they had a little more space. I suggest figuring out your furniture and all uses and make the patio comfortably large enough to accommodate everything with a little extra room added. There's little point to building something new that you regret soon after you start using it. The difference in cost between barely-big-enough and comfortable is not that great. Buried utilities rarely limit a patio's placement. Water, sewer, gas, electricity are (should be) deep enough to be well below a patio. They might warrant some caution in excavation, but this is nothing to be fretting over. Irrigation lines might be shallow, but still probably won't be a problem. In the worst case scenario, if they are very shallow, they can easily be rerouted. (Some reconfiguration is likely anyway, since you don't want to be watering your patio.) Cable and telephone (if anyone has that any more) tends to the shallowest. These can both be rerouted to a lower placement or different route. Whether you abut or space it away from the structure, in order to make room for foundation beds, make the patio length (its longest dimension) be parallel to the home, not perpendicular to it. (Something said earlier made me think this was possibly going wrong.)

You have a great space to work with and lots of options and depending on budget. I would agree that the side yard would probably not be the best spot for the fire pit but you could go more towards the middle of the yard. As thus would be your lower level less maintenance would be composite lumber ir patio stone. The fire pit idea you had would look great towards the middle of the yard just consider wind in your area and if a wall for wind blocking may be needed. Adding some other inspo pictures for you including side yard (think entrance to your backyard space). The one with the all stone backyard think the main attraction of the fire pit in the middle and thou could keep grass in any of the other areas you want. Take favorite design and functional pieces and mesh them together to something you love is the thought and tweekig colors etc to keep them coordinated. Can't wait to see it and let me know if you want any further inspo or input!