My client down South has been so much fun to work with, and has actually taught me a thing or two during our extended project. From Chinoiserie to choosing a deer head for her mantel, playing with palettes in hot pink, magenta and everything in between, it has been a wild but fun ride so far.
When we had settled on a fabric for her ivory tufted living room sofa, it was she that urged me to do the Perennials “wine-dipping test”. Now we are considering doing the sofa in an off white chenille you’d swear was a pricey Schumacher, and it is actually indoor outdoor fabric that her big shedding dog can jump on and upon which she can drink Pinots until the cows come home….
Recently, she asked me for advice on her soon-to-be-constructed terrace– advice on her hardscaping material selection. Both her husband and I agreed that we preferred a natural stone, perhaps Bluestone or even Travertine. Sure it was costly, but the look was timeless, the result would last a lifetime and it would never look dated or out of fashion. It would fit in seamlessly with her neighborhood: a mix of older stately homes in a historic section of a Southern city.
When she mentioned the potential choice of pavers (much to her husband’s chagrin) I almost fainted. Pavers? In that home in that neighborhood? Pavers, in a historic renovation? Pavers?!?
This woman, being the strong willed and educated consumer I know her to be, convinced me to take a look at Peacock Pavers, and I must tell, you, that what I saw online was downright good looking.
Now, I have NOT seen them in person, but from the photos they look like travertine, and they even do my favorite French Laid pattern. Could it be? A paver that is a dead ringer for Travertine? Plus (for those of you who care) they are made of recycled materials therefore making them eco-friendly, and cost FAR less than their Travertine counterparts. This client is one smart cookie, and I am lucky to be learning from her as much as she is from me. Eating my words… not so fast, but let’s just say I will take a taste and see of I like it enough to eat it… What do you think?
8 Responses to “THE VIRTUES OF BEING OPEN MINDED”
It appears to look very beautiful from the pictures. I wonder how it feels to walk on?
They seem to be tremendously popular in the south…and for good reason. Bobby McAlpine listed them as one of his favorite resources here:
http://www.veranda.com/designers-ideas/bobby-mcalpines-secret-sources-0412
worth a try I’d say!
I love these for the south… but not for New England. These take on a Spanish/med look that just doesn’t fit up here. I wish they had a really good looking bluestone. I checked on the cobblestone pavers but I don’t like it as much as the travertine idea.
I hear what you are saying. I do.
But they can also be very classic looking, especially if you don’t lay them in a random pattern as shown.
Even in the Versailles pattern, I still think you can get away with it in most places.
Yes, Bluestone is classic new England and always works, as do cobblestones. But it’s not a mistake to go another route as long as it’s classically applied.
I always consider alternatives like good looking pavers, but my gut tells me it’s too good to be true. You always get what you pay for. Right??
I am going to look into peacock pavers, we are planning a new build starting this summer and by the time we are finished I am willing to bet our budget won’t allow for very expensive hardscaping materials. Thank you for the tip!
I am impressed! Please tell us if you go ahead with using these, I am VERY curious…..
We are looking at using them and they are used in all the Southern Living and Coastal Living homes and they are all over Rosemary and Alys Beach in commercial installations which showed me just how durable they are. I have the samples and they are great looking…it’s not about trying to copy travertine or bluestone, it is a look all it’s own and it is very pretty. They are affordable but what’s wrong with that? It’s pretty snobby to think that just because something is affordable that it isn’t a great product. Pro-Peacock here deep in the South!