What colour/finish for a new patio?

London_Town

I'm planning to have a new patio put in next Spring and I'm starting to think about what I actually want. While I appreciate that these things are subjective and it's my home, I'm keen to make sure I don't make an expensive mistake.

Is there a certain type of colour or finish that goes with a particular house style or brick work?

I particularly like the cotswold type stone which is very light, but feel that a slate grey may be a safer bet. My house is part rendered and the rendering is currently white but will be a warmer colour when I have it repainted. Should I look to be making the patio suit the rendering or the brick work on the lower half of the house?

Alternatively, are there no "rules" on this sort of thing and you should just choose what you want?

Any constrcutive comments or experience on this sort of dilemma would be appreciated!

Thank you.

Owain_Moneysaver

Go with something that harmonises with the age and style of the house as originally built. I would probably suggest brick paviors with dwarf walls and planters rendered.

Cotswold stone looks great in the Cotswolds.

Ectophile

If you're using paving slabs or similar, you could always go for two (or more) colours in a pattern. Even a simple chequerboard pattern would break up an otherwise "flat" area of one colour.

London_Town

Thank you for the replies. Paviors is something I hadn't considered, that could look really nice. Is it normally more expensive then having patio laid?

Yes, some sort of pattern in a patio is another option. I've seen those circle designs on websites like B+Q which could be an idea too.

MX5huggy

Have you found http://pavingexpert.com/home.htm This site covers everything about paving that you could ever want to know and a whole lot you will never want to know.

You may want to consider local stone or stone that looks like it is local at least, Cotswold stone, york stone etc where are you in the country?

Hintza

Something that will stay clean and/or is easy to clean and/or doesn't look too drastic when it isn't clean (unless of course you have staff )

London_Town

Thanks for the link MX5huggy, I'll take a look at that when I get home. I'm in the West Midlands so I don't really think there is a local stone as such. Although the house was built in 93, it was done in a very traditional way with dorma windows and rendering on the top half of the house.

This is why I want to keep to something that flatters the house for want of a better expression. Also, my taste is very traditional, so I wouldn't want anything too modern. Although Cotswold stone is lovely, it probably isn't the right look for me on reflection. I think Owain Moneysaver is right, it's best in context.

I take your point about having something that's not too difficult to clean Hintza. Unfortunately there are no staff at London Town Towers! That said my partner has promised to come over and jet wash the current slabs to improve their appearance until they're replaced.