Here's a pic of the front of the house (this is an old photo--the tree is dead and gone): I don't have a pic of the back of the house but right now it's just a narrow deck with an awning that is about 1/2 the length of the house. After we get the kitchen remodeled this is our next project. We plan on ripping the deck down and replacing it with a screened porch (our house overlooks a swath of public forest, which is beautiful, but buggy). The patio doors will open onto this porch. I think a nice dark color would be nice, but should the color of the door match the rest of the windows? If you click the link you can get to a set of inside pics. It's completely open now. Thinking about painting it Elephant's Breath by Farrow and Ball. Jen

Semi-transparent stain generally isn't very durable as deck stain. It's most often used for vertical surfaces. It also isn't very long lasting on sunny surfaces. If you are going to stain the deck, your best bet may be deck stain!

https://www.allmodern.com/furniture/pdp/raelyn-reversible-sectional-a000607490.html?&experiencetype=1 I would get a sofa with a reversible ottoman. So, it feels like a chaise, but can be moved to either side. You could move it to either side, depending on the situation. Either way, I'd keep the front end of the chaise behind the slider door (as in my floor plan). I'd get 2 chairs for either side of the tv on casters. Finally, I'd set up console table with stools behind the sofa. If the sofa is 36" high, you could add a counter height console table with counter stools, If 30" high, table height stools. This will give you a lot of seating flexibility when guests come over. Here is a design I recently created for clients with a very similar setup. I rarely recommend a sectional, but for your situation, I think it is also something you could consider. I'd choose a lower height sectional.

I think a wood deck would look nicer. Concrete can be stark. Don't paint the brick. Paint the windows to match the stone sills. Where the stairs should be depends on your approach to the door. You don't want people to be weaving through seating arrangements to get to the door.