B'ski,

Im in the no-gate camp on this one. What you have there looks so nice and clean, no obstructions...seems like a gate will change the whole character.

If I had to do a gate, I would put it out at the entrance to the deck area so it would blend in better.

Would a sign work for instead?

- Smoke 'em if you got 'em

[Linked Image from i4.photobucket.com]