I am in the middle of finishing a similar project on a smaller scale. 350 sq.ft.
I only had a 10x10 concrete slab, came w/ the house.
1) From there I've painted the concrete slab a kakhi color
2) Extended the 'patio area' to 27' x 14' by digging out around the slab down about 4"
3) Had a pergola put up to 'cover' the 27' x 14' area (pergola/arbor: free standing structure mainly for shade and apperance reasons. It's very cool looking and you can get the builder to design it any way you like it. I designed mine to look like this: l=l=l=l=l
l=l=l=l=l
l=l=l=l=l
****Imagine you were looking down on it
The square will be covered w/ Solar Mesh, product takes out 85% of the UV rays keep it nice n' cool in KC 105 degree summers w/ 50% humidity (no dry heat here)
4) The area that is not painted slab will be filled w/ pea gravel 3 1/2 tons to be exact. Within this area I have built individual foundations from pavestones 18"x7.5"x5" and secured them w/ sand grout and leveled w/ sand. This is where the bbq/smoker will be placed.
I have split the area in half one side for cooking/prep the other side for lounging/entertaining. The products that are out there today are so amazing and the cost to make an outdoor living space isn't as much as people thing.
MY Costs: Concrete acid/paint: 40.00
Pergola/Arbor:1100 materials/labor ( I found cheap labor a couple guys were framing a house down the street and I asked them if they wanted to make some extra $$$)
Pavestones/Sand: 60.00
Pea Gravel: 3 1/2 tons = 200.00 delivered
Solar Mesh: 18.00 @ Lowes 48" x 100' ...just staple it down
Outdoor Rug: 80.00 Lowes
TOTAL: 1500.00 a steal when you realize how much you can enjoy it when your done. Now your cost of course will inflate 10x when you buy your furniture/grill/smoker, etc....to make the space 'yours'.
Have fun. Do a little hard work you'll enjoy it more.
Sorry so long..but I'm finishing the grunt work tomorrow on this project so it's all I've been thinking about for the past 2 weeks.