Paving with antique stone:

Sometimes the best help I offer clients are subtle details that no one will ever see from a photograph.  Here, it was convincing them that the final grade for the new patio should be 12-18" higher than they first wanted.  After the house was built, the sub-grades were low, but the site needed to be raised up, even thought access was not so good.  I eliminated 2 of the 3 steps that would have been needed which gained them more space on the long but narrow patio.  The patio now blends in with surrounding grades and looks like it has always been there.

Before: 
The site looks fairly level, but it is low.

Before:
Old sandstone lines a gravel path.

In Process:
The grade has been brought up above the
adjancent gravel path way (left).

Natural stone is un-graded (of varying thickness)
material, andmust be set by hand.

After: 
A planting strip seperates the gravel pathway
that leads to the gardens.

Note the sandstone wall and "riser" made
from the old edging that was on site.
New varigated bluestone landings blend with the
antique pavers.