When it comes time to actually design the deck, here are some resources to consider. Taken together these have tips about planning, designing, building, maintenance, etc. (Sample: know how big your table will be, then plan at least 4 feet of deck space around it. Neat.)
A lot of these are unfortunately listicles where you have to click for new pages every time you want to see something new. Ugh. But the information is useful.
DIY Network: 10 Tips to Know Before Building a Deck / 10 Things You Must Know About Paver Patios
HGTV: Building Tips and Design Trends for Patios
This Old House (YAAAAS! My dad watched this every Saturday when I was a kid. So many warm and fuzzy memories.): Read This Before You Build Your Deck
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