[Scoobs]

OK...just came across this forum recently in an attempt to educate myself and to be sure I do some things right. I'm a do-it-yourselfer with too little time to "do it myself". Since I know I won't be good at just hiring someone and trusting it is done right, I still need to go through the education process.

To get to the point: I have many questions...
Can anyone recommend any sites where I can view various completed jobs using stone outcroppings to get ideas and in order to communicate to whomever I hire the "look" I am trying to achieve?

Secondly, are there any recommendations for a patio area that would compliment such a look? I have a lower level to my home with walkout where I have little pitch available to maintain needed drainage...so I don't think it would be wise for me to do stamped concrete which would ultimately push all rainfall 20+ ft. away from the home and make my backyard a wet marsh......so....if I used lannon stone type slabs to create the patio area, what material could I use between each stone that would not only lock things up......but also become somewhat hard (I hate it when people use loose stone and it gets kicked all over), and still allow water to naturally drain through it?

Lastly, how do I go about assuring that I get a contractor who knows what they are doing.....is going to do it right....and be competative? Or does it come down to pot luck?

Thanks,
Scoobs