Ideas & past work
Paving and pathway ideas, Brisbane
Sandstone and bluestone crazy paving, travertine, cut stepping stones and hardwood sleeper runs bedded into mondo — laid to fall, laid to last. 15 photographs.
How Duncan designs it
No two the same.
Paving is the part of the garden people walk on every day, so it has to work before it can look good. It has to fall the right way in a summer storm, sit flat for a chair leg, and lead somewhere worth going.
Duncan designs paths and terraces from the way people move through the block. A straight run to the clothesline can be plain. A path to the fire pit can wander. Crazy paving suits a garden with curves and boulders; travertine and limestone suit a cleaner line near the house; sleepers set into mondo grass slow you down on purpose. Stone is chosen from samples in your hand rather than a brochure, and the joints, edges and steps are worked out on paper with the rest of the garden.
That is why no two of the paving jobs below look alike. The same sandstone gets laid as a crazy-paved courtyard on one block and as thick sawn steppers in black mulch on the next. Every one of them was designed to the client’s budget first, then laid by the person who drew it.
01Crazy paving and stacked stone retainingSandstone crazy paving runs beside a stacked stone retaining wall, with lavender spilling over the edge.
02Sandstone crazy paving pathA sandstone crazy-paved path curves between boulders and garden beds rather than taking the shortest line.
03Bluestone crazy paving to the poolDark bluestone crazy paving laid right to the pool edge, a cooler-toned alternative to sandstone.
04Paving, screens and rendered wallA stone paving path beside a white rendered wall fitted with decorative screen panels.
05Sandstone slab stepping stonesThick sandstone slabs used as stepping stones in black mulch, with planted feature bowls alongside.
06Crazy paving to a sawn stepCrazy paving finishes against a sawn stone step and a smooth paved landing, so the change in level is clear.
07Crazy paved entry courtyardA crazy-paved entry courtyard leads up to a stone pillar and gate.
08Sandstone terrace and stepsSandstone crazy paving on a terrace and steps, held by matching stone retaining.
09Sleeper path in mondoRecycled hardwood sleepers set into mondo grass and mulch make a path that slows you down.
10Sleepers and mondo grassHardwood sleepers laid with clumps of mondo grass planted between them, softening every joint.
11Stepping stones in black mulchPale stepping stones in black mulch, with clipped planting either side to keep the line crisp.
12Travertine terraceA travertine-paved terrace against a brick wall, sized for a bistro table and two chairs.
13Entry steppers and aggregate driveConcrete steppers set into lawn beside an exposed aggregate driveway, leading to a battened entry gate.
14Limestone paving with patterned feature insertsCream limestone in a random pattern, broken up with blue and white patterned tile inserts.
Next step
Like what you see? Make it yours.
None of these get built twice. Read how Duncan approaches paving and pathways in Brisbane, or tell him about your own space.
Start here
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