You may have noticed a trend away from huge lawns (which rarely get used) toward smaller lawns and expanded outdoor living spaces that meet the needs of modern lifestyles. Brick pavers are often the top choice for many homeowners who are looking for the ideal mix of aesthetics and functionality. To help you with your patio renovation project, here’s how to incorporate brick paving into a current landscape in Grosse Ile and Flat Rock, MI.
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First, brick pavers are so much more than the classic brick shape that has been used for millennia; and, they aren’t all reddish. Today’s brick pavers can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes, along with contemporary blended colors and finishes.
Of course, if your preference is toward traditional brick, your patio will automatically have a timeless appeal. But if you want an outdoor space that feels more at home in its surroundings, choose those that
1. Colors
Whether your patio is one single space or you prefer a multi-level approach where each activity zone has its own distinct presence, the main way to make your patio fit right in is with the right color choices.
Choose brick paver colors based on the dominant colors of the home as well as any prominent natural elements such as a dense stand of evergreen trees or a rock outcropping.
In general, mid-range natural colors will give the most pleasing result. Mid-tone earth-tone or grey pavers are easier to complement the home and blend in with the softscape. Here’s why:
While light colors such as sandstone or a light grey are used to make a space feel larger, they can also stick out too much from the natural surroundings. If you want your patio to stand out yet complement the surroundings, then light colors could be a great choice.
Dark colors could be a better choice for integrating your patio into a lush, green landscape; but be careful in choosing dark colors if the patio is located in a sunny spot, since the pavers could get uncomfortably hot.
The classic “brick red” could work in many instances; but if your home features brick siding, this could feel like overkill and won’t give your patio its own presence.
2. Textures
Classic bricks have a smooth to moderately dimpled surface texture. You can also find pavers that are inspired by the look of natural flagstone, which will have a more pronounced texture; pavers that are inspired by tumbled quarry stone, with their antiqued, weather-worn texture; or pavers that are inspired by polished stone such as marble (yet with a secure non-slip finish).
The most natural materials feature irregular shapes and textures. If you want to embrace this look, then consider brick pavers with a flagstone texture. Or, choose sleeker textures to provide a contrast with the randomness of nature.
Textures combined with the paver colors are a start to a beautifully integrated patio: but there’s one more element to consider: laying patterns.
3. Laying Patterns
Traditional brick laying patterns such as herringbone, basketweave, or running bond are distinctly manmade, and yet because traditional bricks are made with clay, they fit right in with the surroundings.
Pavers that come in random bundles of three or more shapes and sizes, could offer the most natural aesthetic: the laying pattern most often used with random-bundle pavers is called Ashlar, which produces a very random-looking patio that is in fact precisely laid.
Related: 6 PAVER PATIO TRENDS THAT WILL ENDURE IN TRENTON, MI
