We need to replace the cracked cement patio in our backyard in addition to building a fence. For economy, we are thinking about installing cement pavers and an aluminum fence. Primarily we want to fence in the patio along with a few small beds. We are not going to change the footprint of the deck but are not adverse to moving the steps or re cladding the area under the deck (the posts are in good shape, but the cladding is rotten in places). We are flummoxed as to how this should all be laid out. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Jen
Here's some photos of how it currently looks:

Where is your property line? Is the fence to be on posts with pickets? Where does the drainage water move? Aloha

Lehual3--Yes we are looking at picket fences. We are thinking about getting a "puppy" fence like this because we have small dogs. (see link at the bottom of the post)
The water drains away from the house (we live on the side of a steep hillside). Our contractor talked about burying the downspout. I'm not sure as to why this needs to be done though. Our property line is just beyond the pathway. Our backyard actually goes pretty far back but it is steep and heavily wooded.

IdeasShare--Cool pic! Actually one of the contractors we talked to suggested replacing the cement under the stairs with a pathway. We were thinking it would be cool to have the pathway lead to a gate. The stairs are quite wide and long. It has also been suggested to us that we move them but we are not sure where we'd like them.

Jen