Given carte blanche to design and build a large patio? Not every landscaper would be comfortable, but GFX Ground Effects leapt at the chance. Take a look at how our stone brick pavers played a starring role.

Patio wraps around rear of house with low brick walls, firepit and light-coloured paving
Tyler was given free rein to design a light-coloured patio that stretched across the back of the house and chose Egyptian Beige limestone pavers and Faro porcelain paving.

Working out the design

"It was all very relaxed," says Tyler Jackson, owner of GFX Ground Effects, based in Preston. "We normally work with garden designers but here we had no guide or form of design."

The owners had moved into a house with an extensive lawn, but where the patio was crammed into one spot at the rear. They wanted a large entertaining area that stretched across the width of the building and made the most of the multiple indoor lounge and bar areas which give onto the garden.

It was an enormous blank canvas in which Tyler fitted a hot tub, seating area, planting and water feature. "We described and drew as much as possible," adds Tyler, "and they were all over it, loved it."

Choosing the paving

Faro porcelain paving between raised deck area with hot tub and pergola and edge of Egyptian Beige stone brick pavers.
The Faro porcelain paving creates a calm transition between the textures of the stone pavers and the decking that surrounds the hot tub.

Although the house is fairly new, it still has a cottagey quality to it, so grey and dark paving didn't feel suitable. Tyler plumped for Faro Italian porcelain paving, one of the most popular colours in our range.

However, a large area like this can suffer if only one type paving is used, as it can make it feel too big and featureless. Looking for an option that didn't dampen the light, fresh feel of Faro, Tyler paired the porcelain paving with our Egyptian Beige limestone brick pavers.

Illuminated night view of fire pit with in-built seating and Egyptian Beige stone paving. House behind.
The herringbone pattern of the stone brick pavers creates a rug-like effect to the cosy seating area.

"The earthier tones have a soft, warm feeling," explains Tyler, "but they're still modern and uniform." The stone pavers provide a neat edge to the whole patio, are placed as edging at the main sliders onto the patio and are the main paving in the seating area around the cosy firepit. "We laid them in a herringbone paving pattern. It adds a spin on a traditional vibe." It also creates a carpet effect under the seating, adding to the cosy ambiance.

About our Egyptian Beige stone brick pavers

Illuminated night view of fire pit with in-built seating and Egyptian Beige stone paving. House behind.
The herringbone pattern of the stone brick pavers creates a rug-like effect to the cosy seating area.

Sawn on all six sides, Egyptian Beige is just one colour option in our range of stone brick pavers. Their slim outline is softened by tumbling. Versatile and contemporary, they offer plenty of stone paver design options, as a useful alternative to the more traditional-looking clay pavers. We recommend that, just like all our sawn limestone paving, they are sealed to repel stains and making cleaning easier.

Quality service

Man with glasses and partly bald head against evergreen background.
Oliver Bowyer, one of our helpful, experienced Landscape Consultants

Tyler was looked after by our Landscape Consultant Oliver Bowyer. "He's a brilliant help with selection of materials," says Tyler. "He's not trying to sell something for the sake of it. His advice is always good. And when we needed a few extra pavers, he prioritised them to get them out quickly."

Quality materials

Tyler hadn't worked with Egyptian Beige stone pavers before, but he and his company, GFX Ground Effects will be seeing quite a lot of them in future. "Since this, we've got three or four projects lined up. Because of this project, clients have seen them and like them a lot."

Overhead viiew of large patio of Faro porcelain paving and Egyptian limesotne pavers across width of property in big lawn.
The light-coloured paving made an attractive foil to the rich colour of the brickwork, which was repeated in the low walls of the firepit area.

Tyler also has a very soft spot for our Italian porcelain. "There's nothing worse than when a client likes something that's going to be a nightmare to clean and profile," he says. "Some porcelains on the market don't cut as well. Premium Italian products perform a lot better. Installation and cutting are quicker, and you don't have to deal with loads of chips. Faro comes from Caesar, a top Italian producer, and it's really solid and cuts well."

Do you like them too?

Egyptian Beige stone pavers and Faro porcelain paving are two very popular choices, and it's easy to see why. Why not visit one of our showrooms to see them in person. If, like Tyler, you're near Preston, you could take a trip to our Manchester showroom, where you'll find a weather-proof indoor display of all our products, with free refreshment and expert advice from our experienced staff.

Alternatively, visit our samples page, where you can order up to three samples to be sent free of charge.