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- Terra Cotta / Ceramic Tiles
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 Terra
cotta tiles, whether authentic clay products or good concrete
imitations, add a
Mediterranean flavour to a garden and work particularly well in
enclosed 'courtyard'
settings.
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- Indian Stone
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 Indian
stone has become increasing popular during the last 10 years or so.
The best known are probably the 'fossil mint'
variety, whose colours vary
from creamy white to a deep rust. The name derives from the fact that
some of the slabs contain fossil imprints. The 'mint' part of the name
is a bit of a mystery! Other popular colours are the 'Raj Green', 'Buff
Brown' and 'Midnight Blue', a slate-like limestone. The stone is supplied in a range of slab sizes and also as setts
(see 'Setts' below).
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Imitation York Flags -
 Genuine,
old, York flags are very expensive, very heavy and often difficult to
obtain. Top of the range, concrete imitation York flags are a practical
alternative, where a mature, mellow appearance is sought. These are
generally available in both grey (old looking) and yellow (not-so-old
looking). Prior to the wide availability of Indian stone we used a lot
of both types. Today it is difficult to justify the use of the yellow
variety, since Indian stone has a more interesting appearance, is more
resilient in the face of a pressure washer and, not surprisingly,
looks more authentic. However, there is still every justification for
the use of the grey type and we continue to use it to good effect.
- Budget (but not ugly) Flags
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 There
are many many concrete flags, riven this and Cotswold that, that are
meant to look like
real stone, but really, really don't, and we can't see any reason to
use them. There are, however, a number of cast concrete products which
have no such pretensions, but which look fine in their own right - in
the right setting. Marshall's Saxon range (and the numerous
equivalents from other manufacturers) are an example of such a
product.
- Crazy Paving
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 Much
neglected - maybe too many 70's associations - but we love it! Perhaps
through its continued, wide-spread use in the Mediterranean
(Spanish villas etc), it'll enjoy a renaissance in this country.
Crazy paving, as well as providing a way of using up a pile of
irregular stone, can be an attractive and informal form of surfacing
for both patios and garden paths.
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Stile