Stepping out

This was the patio just a few months ago

Ivan relaid the flagstones but there weren’t enough for the whole area so initially we covered the rest with some gravel.

With the subterranean window removed it was possible to fill the shaft and make steps from the living room.

We couldn’t really decide on the colours which basically means it didn’t really matter and the grey tiles were available and of a good size. I don’t we’ll spend a lot of time looking at them, but having them will make a huge difference and open up this part of the patio.

Unfortunately, as it’s quite shady, we probably won’t have many breakfasts out here, but it will be good in the summer.

We couldn’t get anything like the original flagstones and, again couldn’t really decide on a colour but I thought it was important to have tiles of the same width to extend the existing rows. And, again, these light and dark grey blocks were available at our local builders’ merchants in the cheap and cheerful section.

Looking at the result, I think this was right: don’t overthink it. It’s a nice contrast with the tiles in the kitchen, where it was important to take time to get it right: we see these tiles close up every day. But the patio is going to take a beating from the weather. It’s been extended into the corner on the far side of the window as this is probably where the wettest earth is next to the cellar wall. We don’t like sealing over areas but that’s where there was some damp in the past and the run-off goes into garden.