See How 3 Patios Ingeniously Mix Pavers and Pebbles
Designers show there is more than one way to execute this popular material pairing
Paths and patios made with concrete pavers and pebbles are known for their many benefits, including their versatility, permeability and overall attractive, natural look. But design dilemmas persist with this popular pairing, particularly those about keeping the pavers and gravel in place.
The following three patios feature this tried-and-true material combination, each creatively solving some of the pairing’s common concerns.
The following three patios feature this tried-and-true material combination, each creatively solving some of the pairing’s common concerns.
Moore used different gravel sizes to suit different needs in the design. “The larger gravel is used to ensure that it more effectively stays in place in the paving gaps through the primary circulation zone. The finer gravel is used in the patio area to create a softer patio lounge surface,” he says.
A western red cedar fence and gate frames the front yard, forming a border that feels private yet welcoming. (The fence is finished in Messmers UV penetrating oil in gray).
New and existing plantings, as well as a small recirculating fountain, enhance the feeling of privacy for this yard on a busy street, without completely closing it off to the rest of the neighborhood.
See more of this urban front yard retreat
A western red cedar fence and gate frames the front yard, forming a border that feels private yet welcoming. (The fence is finished in Messmers UV penetrating oil in gray).
New and existing plantings, as well as a small recirculating fountain, enhance the feeling of privacy for this yard on a busy street, without completely closing it off to the rest of the neighborhood.
See more of this urban front yard retreat
2. They Only Look Like Pavers
Designer and contractor: Chris Corbett Design
Location: Davis, California
Size: 324-square-foot (31-square-meter) patio in a 750-square-foot (70-square-meter) backyard
Materials: Poured-in-place concrete slab inset with river pebbles
Designer Chris Corbett created a new outdoor space for the owner of this home in Northern California, replacing a dilapidated deck and tearing out a thirsty lawn. The redesign drastically reduces maintenance and water use and sets up an existing mature cherry tree to thrive.
The main patio area is a poured concrete slab with quarter-inch joints (the thinner lines you can see on the surface of most of the concrete). The surface has a lightly washed sand finish (lightly washed and swept with a broom to expose the sand).
The day after the concrete patio was poured, Corbett used a handheld grinder and a diamond blade to create the design you see in the foreground. He cut along surface joints, then removed the top 3 inches of concrete along those cuts, leaving the bottom 3 inches intact. The concrete is still one solid slab, with the pebbles covering where the concrete connects. The concrete looks like separate tiles, but it will never shift.
Designer and contractor: Chris Corbett Design
Location: Davis, California
Size: 324-square-foot (31-square-meter) patio in a 750-square-foot (70-square-meter) backyard
Materials: Poured-in-place concrete slab inset with river pebbles
Designer Chris Corbett created a new outdoor space for the owner of this home in Northern California, replacing a dilapidated deck and tearing out a thirsty lawn. The redesign drastically reduces maintenance and water use and sets up an existing mature cherry tree to thrive.
The main patio area is a poured concrete slab with quarter-inch joints (the thinner lines you can see on the surface of most of the concrete). The surface has a lightly washed sand finish (lightly washed and swept with a broom to expose the sand).
The day after the concrete patio was poured, Corbett used a handheld grinder and a diamond blade to create the design you see in the foreground. He cut along surface joints, then removed the top 3 inches of concrete along those cuts, leaving the bottom 3 inches intact. The concrete is still one solid slab, with the pebbles covering where the concrete connects. The concrete looks like separate tiles, but it will never shift.
Raised beds made from three-eighths-inch plate steel frame the patio. Corbett used several applications of muriatic acid to remove mill scale (flaky oxidation on the surface of hot-rolled steel) and induce rusting. This gives the steel an almost Cor-Ten appearance and requires no additional maintenance. (Hire a professional if you intend to work with this acid.)
A built-in corner bench made from plate steel and cedar and a custom fire pit made with precast concrete and rusted steel anchor the corner of the patio.
See more of this simple and sophisticated backyard
A built-in corner bench made from plate steel and cedar and a custom fire pit made with precast concrete and rusted steel anchor the corner of the patio.
See more of this simple and sophisticated backyard
3. Elegant Entry Plaza Blends Driveway and Walkway
Designer: Homeowners Gerry and Lonna Peters, in collaboration with MEC Urban Developments, Norm Friesen and Teer Landscape
Location: Langley, a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Size: The house sits on a third of an acre
Materials: Sealed concrete pavers and loose stone
The owners of this home in Vancouver, British Columbia, wanted a low-maintenance entry that would also allow guests to linger on their way to the door.
The driveway and entry walk are both poured-in-place unstained concrete pavers and loose stone, blending to form a seamless landscape feature. A sealer protects the pavers from oil and surface dirt. Washed round river rock fills the gaps between the pavers.
Designer: Homeowners Gerry and Lonna Peters, in collaboration with MEC Urban Developments, Norm Friesen and Teer Landscape
Location: Langley, a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Size: The house sits on a third of an acre
Materials: Sealed concrete pavers and loose stone
The owners of this home in Vancouver, British Columbia, wanted a low-maintenance entry that would also allow guests to linger on their way to the door.
The driveway and entry walk are both poured-in-place unstained concrete pavers and loose stone, blending to form a seamless landscape feature. A sealer protects the pavers from oil and surface dirt. Washed round river rock fills the gaps between the pavers.
Poured-in-place concrete walls frame the path from the driveway to the bright orange front door (painted Sharp Cheddar by Benjamin Moore).
Drought-tolerant perennials and grasses frame the walk and soften the mostly concrete front entry. “We wanted a no-mow front yard that requires minimal watering or chemicals,” Peters says.
See more of this clean, contemporary front entry
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What to Know About Installing a Walkway of Pavers and Pebbles
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Drought-tolerant perennials and grasses frame the walk and soften the mostly concrete front entry. “We wanted a no-mow front yard that requires minimal watering or chemicals,” Peters says.
See more of this clean, contemporary front entry
More
What to Know About Installing a Walkway of Pavers and Pebbles
Find a landscape architect near you
Designer and contractor: Ian Moore Design, which also provided all custom concrete work, metalwork and woodwork
Location: Berkeley, California
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters)
Materials: Concrete pavers and two sizes of gravel
Landscape designer and contractor Ian Moore worked with a family of four to turn an underused piece of their front yard near downtown Berkeley, California, into a welcoming front entry and garden that offers both privacy and community connection.