Design Tips

I have been spending quite a bit of time looking at natural stone paying over the past 2 weeks so I thought I’d share my top tips for choosing:

1. Get samples

All stone companies will be more than happy to send you samples of their paving.  Ideally get as many as you can so that when you return home, and look at them in-situ, you have a few to choose from.  Many stone companies have display areas which is really helpful.

If you pick the samples up from a yard, sometimes they’ll have some larger pieces or broken slabs that you can take away.  Once you’ve got the stone home, place it in-situ and see how it fits in with the colour of the house wall and any other materials in the garden.

Be sure to look at the stone when it’s wet as well as dry…it can change quite dramatically.

2. Smooth or textured

Riven stone tends to be cheaper and will work in most situations as long as you choose something with the right tone.  If you’re going for a slick contemporary look then you might want to choose a sawn stone which has sharp edges and a smooth finish.

If you go for a smooth stone make sure you do your homework first because some need to be sealed after they’ve been laid to prevent staining and this usually changes the colour.

3. Thick or thin

This very much depends on where you’re going to lay the stone.  A lot of the budget stone only comes in a 25mm depth which is fine for foot traffic, but it won’t withstand vehicular use.  If you want to lay stone on your driveway then you’ll need something that comes in a depth of at least 40mm.

4. Concrete or natural stone

For me it’s natural stone all the way but there are concrete products on the market that offer better value for money.  If you do use concrete products then make sure any cuts are placed so that you can’t see the edge of the stone….the inside of a concrete slab is concrete so won’t look very pretty.

5. Texture and interest

It’s sometimes nice to define areas within paving, a seating area for example in a large expanse of paving or smaller paths leading off a main pathway.  Some stone, sandstone for example, is available in tumbled setts so you can add interest and texture without compromising on colour.

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I went to a seminar yesterday and when I mentioned what it is that I do for a living, the lady I was speaking to said “I have a huge garden but I’m just not really interested in gardening!”  This got me thinking about why it is that so many people don’t really maximise the full potential of their gardens. Read more

If you’re a keen gardener I’d expect you to be tuned in to the plants in your garden.  No doubt you’re out there doing something whevener you get the chance, and I’m sure that you love to watch and nuture your plants as they grow, but what about the basic structure of the garden?  Does the thought of planning the layout of the garden ignite the same passion in you? Read more