GORGEOUS IDEAS FOR A COBBLESTONE PATHWAY
Admin • October 30, 2018
If you want to make a pathway in your yard, you should consider using cobblestones. Check out this blog for ideas to make your pathway beautiful.
When you think of cobblestone, you probably think of old-world European streets. That image is pretty accurate - cobblestone is a small, round stone that was historically used to cover road surfaces. Your mind may picture gray, rounded stones, but cobblestone can come in a range of colors and be flatter than the slippery surfaces found in Europe.
If you're ready to put a pathway in your yard, consider using this historical material for its beauty and durability.
CLASSIC STYLE
Your cobblestone pathway can adhere to the classic style. For this effect, you simply order the needed amount of stones in the general color range you want. As mentioned, cobblestone is often gray, especially in northern countries like England. However, if you head to the Mediterranean, you find warm shades of yellow, orange, and peach. You can choose whatever color you want in your residential pathway.
Old-world cobblestone pathways also often featured stones in a range of sizes, meaning some were a little smaller. Therefore, paving them either required fitting the stones together like a jigsaw or using extra masonry to fill in the gaps. With a classic style pathway, you can include a border made of more regularshaped cobbles or leave the edge natural.
MORDERN STYLE
Cobblestone doesn't have to be mortared at all, or even laid. What's more, you can mix the material with another material, such as concrete pavers. This mixing allows you to create a modern style pathway.
One option for this style of pathway is to lay geometric pavers in a straight line, which adheres to modern design principles. You can fill in the gaps around the pavers will loose cobblestones, which also makes the pathway permeable. If you don't need the drainage, though, consider laying the cobbles into grass or another groundcover to add some color to your walkway.
FORMAL COBBLESTONE
Cobblestone can be used in more formal walkways, which tend to be straighter and wider than an informal garden path. Homeowners often install such walkways as the front entrance to their house. In this case, you'll choose a selection of cobbles that are mostly the same size. You also want to choose a color range that's similar to any hue in your house's façade.
The laying pattern for a formal walkway will be more regular than the old-world style. Cobblestone patterns are similar to brick patterns in that you can do a classic running bond. The classic cobble pattern resembles a Flemish bond, which features both square and rectangular cobbles. However, with cobblestone, you can do a European fan as well, which consists of a series of arches.
Finally, with a formal walkway, you can also include other features. For example, you could widen part of the pathway into a circle, which is called a rosette. The center of your rosette is a space where you can add beautiful landscaping. You could also install a water fountain to add water music to your guests' arrival.
COBBLESTONE BORDERS
As noted, you can border any cobblestone walkway with more cobbles. You can also choose other materials, such as brick, to create the border of your walkway. Choosing a material such as brick allows you to create a straight, raised border. When choosing the bricks, choose a color range that either matches or complements your cobbles.
Plants can also provide a less formal border. What's more, plants encourage visitors to stay on the walkway, which is ideal if you're installing a curving path. Naturally, you can utilize classic border plants such as box hedges or symmetrical plantings of flowers. However, if your pathway is meant to be casual, consider a selection of native plants that simply hug the path border.
Cobblestone has long been used for paving because it's an attractive, yet durable material. Consider utilizing cobblestone for your house's pathway. Visit The Rock Garden to discover a wide range of natural stone products for your hardscaping.
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