More seating and color can make yard come to life

We get together with neighbors and family frequently but our backyard lacks the inviting party atmosphere. Our wish list includes:

• Lighting. The only light by the step is blinding and it is dangerously dark everywhere else.

• Ambience. There really is no ambience or color and the surrounding plants are just green.

• Mosquitoes. My husband is a mosquito magnet, so once they start he loses his desire to be outside. We cannot afford the three season room he dreams about, so we'd love an alternative.

• Step. The step to the house is in disrepair with the wood disintegrating.

• Patio bricks. Moss, weeds and grass has grown in between the pavers.

I lost my job a year ago, preventing us from doing home projects. We would appreciate a little help from the Daily Herald to make our yard the special place we could enjoy.

Design by Northwest Metalcraft

Budget: $2,000 or more

More color is needed to liven up this space.

Suggestions:

• Additional seating and tables. Northwest Metalcraft offers a wide range of seating arrangements. We could help you choose from a table and few chairs, to stackable chairs, to a deep-seating sectional. Square or round chairs could add to more seating and does not necessarily have to match in order for them to complement each other aesthetically. We carry a wide range of tables in size with a seating capacity of two to 12.

• Add shade. A colorful umbrella could go a long way in livening up the space of the patio and bring a distinct flare to the atmosphere. For a more organic solution to providing shade, you may wish to go for a more natural look and install a trellis along one side of the patio and grow ivy up along the trellis. Northwest Metalcraft sells several trellis with various designs from which to choose.

• There are various ways to address your lighting needs. Some electric lights from Tiab provide an old-fashioned look. You can place stakes in the ground around your patio for string lights to rest on. Old-fashioned string lights provide a good sense of ambience.