Come with me, as I search for alternatives to flagstone for a customer. In a last ditch effort to sell flagstone, let's show a few pictures and I'll tell you a bit about this project.
Flagstone.... we bid you farewell... :(
We are remodeling the exterior of an older, very modest earth home with the goal of connecting it seamlessly to its mature landscape which has a very earthy feel, and to a garage that was built just a few years ago that doesn't tie into the home at all. We had a plan but we have a very anxious husband and an extremely organized and efficient builder that we are trying to keep up with. :) And more compromises along the way than anticipated, as we try to balance low-maintenance products and everyone's personal opinions at every turn.
So the challenge of today is: no flagstone. The original plan was: flagstone.
Our goal: to create a space that has a little adobe flair, some zen elements, very modest but warm and inviting and timeless.
The focus all along has been to try to blend, while giving this girl a facelift. Most importantly, our aim was to make this transition/remodel/facelift "believable". Believable that all these spaces were created at the same time and that time was not today, off the home depot shelf. The house was built 30 some years ago and the couple, like the property, are very down-to-earth, modest, wonderful, quality individuals.
Flagstone was going to be used on the walkway up to the house and the patio areas shooting off from the walkways and at some places, connected to the covered patio that now runs the length of the house. The most important element of the flagstone was: character. The second most important element was that it tied in the tones of the stone we are using on the face of the garage to the rest of the property. The third most important element of the flagstone was its timelessness in nature - it wouldn't scream remodel June 2011. The fourth most important element of the flagstone was character. :) I know I said that already. Wanted to emphasize it in case you missed it...
So the challenge now is how to work with the materials the husband will approve while creating flow from the garage, through the grounds, to the house .... and having some character. I have been working on this and and have some ideas....
But just for one minute, let's all grieve flagstone... :) I call this "clearing the mechanism." Sometimes you have to work hard to let go of what you wanted so you can make room for what has to happen and stop resisting the change every step of the way.
Time to move on to a space without flagstone. :)
But a successful compromise is very different from laying down and picking something dumb because you didn't get your first choice. So, as we move forward in exploring alternative husband-approved options, we shouldn't compromise on: craftsmanship, character, pulling in tones from stone in garage and rusty roof, believability, timelessness. When at a crossroads, I'd rather see the homeowners pick something a little more old world than "new home depot". This isn't a new home and it's not a track home. She is just getting a little loving and a facelift. Back to how she was supposed to look all along... :)
Options:
Brick. Traditional, old-world, real live brick. Set in a herringbone pattern for the walkway...
... and maybe in a basketweave pattern for the patio areas:
But more traditional in color and grout like this:
An alternative option to real live brick:
Clay brick pavers. Brick pavers are made from a natural clay material that will not lose any of its color or finish over the long term. They are low maintenance materials and therefore would hopefully meet the criteria of the husband. They can be laid in a variety of patterns and it's in that craftsmanship and finished detail, every bit as much as the product used, that goes into a well-thought-out design.
I'd like to see them use something that doesn't look new so I would opt for something a little tumbled, a bit beat up, and maybe a non-traditional size (longer than standard) and definitely installed with craftsmanship like any of the patterns shown above. Traditional old grey grout will tie into the concrete walls and aggregate patio.
Pros & Cons:
Cons: It really would need to be mortared and I bet that negates the husband's desire to have a product that would be agreeable to addressing drainage issues should they occur. Also, it is not the traditional product that one would expect when creating a more adobe/zen style exterior.
Pros: If an older, traditional brick product was selected it would ensure that it didn't look "too new" or too "off the home depot shelf." The detail in the installation would create some architectural interest and craftsmanship. The rusty red tones of the brick, if not too red, would pull from the rusty tones in the roof and the stone on the garage. The old, messy, grey mortar would transition the walkway nicely into the aggregate patio.
An option, but not my favorite. So let's keep trying....
Another option:
Aggregate pavers. These are made out of concrete aggregate which we used under their covered patio. I believe a lot of the husband's concerns have to do with having a product "stuck" that can't be removed if there were drainage/water issues. At one time he was also concerned about ease of shoveling in the winter time though as well. The aggregate pavers could be installed as below with rocks and/or pebbles or with grass growing in between each one. This option feels like their house. It doesn't have the interest nor the colors of the flagstone but if using pebbles or sand or shale or grass in between the aggregate pavers - we could introduce some texture and interest and the aggregate pavers tie in nicely to the product we have already poured under their covered patio.
Another option:
Concrete pavers in a darker stain set in fractured shale. This gives me the depth of color I was hoping to achieve with the slate flagstone and some texture with the shale - and some definite character.
Love, love, love. But amiss. I see this as the walkways and then the patios being flagstone. Is that an option? A possible compromise? This is totally compatible with the look and feel of their home.
Another option:
Pavers with grass. This could be used for the pathways -- using the pavers as stepping stones -- but it could also be used as the patio material. The grass really softens the edges. Clean lines but soft edges. Nothing wow, but definitely zen-like. Attractive. An option. The patio areas would just be more of the same in a square or rectangular pattern.
That is absolutely all I have come up with for now... It's a challenge to meet technical limitations and requests while desperately trying not to compromise on architecture and design and interest. A huge challenge of this project was to tie three areas together - house, yard, garage. Unfortunately, the pathways connecting all three elements are a big part of that. So it needed to be addressed, in connection with the whole picture. Let's hope we came up with some options that would be acceptable to everyone involved. ~ Kristi
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