Many patios and walkways around the Eastern U.S. are built with bluestone. Bluestone is a favorite of both landscape companies and homeowners, thanks to its dramatic colors and unique characteristics. The steely grays of bluestone work well with both traditional and modern styles and naturally complement landscapes within the Hudson Valley and Tri-State Area. Pairing these stones with other colors and textures as accents and borders can greatly enhance the character of your landscape. Here are five low-maintenance options from our landscape supply to pair with bluestone in Hudson Valley, NY.
What is Bluestone?
Bluestone is a type of flagstone that originates in quarries found primarily in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. It is considered a historical building material that is perfectly suited for landscape construction in the greater Hudson Valley. You can purchase bluestone either uncut for a rustic look or cut and shaped for more formal spaces.
When it comes to complementary materials, both natural stone and concrete alternatives are low-maintenance, durable, and will highlight the inherent beauty of bluestone.
Contrasting Sizes
When determining how to pair bluestone with border pavers, one of the first considerations should be the aesthetics created by large or small format stones next to their respective accents and borders. Large format bluestone paving stones create excellent minimalistic lines that stretch across a hardscape for a clean, uncluttered look. Contrast the large size with smaller materials for borders and accents, such as clay bricks or natural cut limestone but be careful not to use colors that are too bright, which will visually shrink the space and feel very busy.
Smaller format bluestone could be paired with cobblestone-style concrete pavers, especially in a dark basalt color that will provide a more subtle border with amazing textural interest.
Color Pairings
Bluestone features the gorgeous natural hues of steely grays and, of course, blues. The color mix that you get with bluestone is part of its charm. Bluestone looks great whether in the gloomy dead of winter or the brightest days of summer, and a surface made with bluestone will be unlike any other.
One of the most popular pairings with bluestone is the rich, earthy hues of clay bricks. This just the right amount of contrast to add visual interest without making a walkway feel narrow or creating too much busy-ness in a patio.
Reds, yellows, and browns are fantastic choices in color for plantings along a walkway or patio to highlight the beauty of bluestone. Bluestone also pairs well with natural wood: a pergola, bench, or privacy fence - either natural or stained - is a great way to use wood and bluestone together in your landscape.
Carry the bluish tones throughout your landscape as accents on vertical elements (retaining walls, pillars, outdoor kitchens, fire features, etc.).
Texture Pairings
Bluestone features a subtle raised texture. You could pair bluestone with smooth cobblestones as an attractive border and further accentuate a bluestone surface’s beauty by featuring rounded decorative boulders in the landscape.
A retaining wall or other vertical feature could either complement the texture of bluestone (such as a stacked-flagstone retaining wall) contrast the texture of the stones with smooth, plank-style wall units or veneers. Both natural stone and concrete wall products could be used for this purpose.
Stepping Stones
If you like the idea of a stepping-stone walkway that meanders through your landscape, bluestone is a natural choice. A stepping-stone walkway could be as simple as setting stones in the grass; or, you could create a more deliberate and formal walkway by separating the stones with pea gravel or other small stones; or low-growing ground covers such as thyme.
Related: WHEN TO USE CONCRETE PAVING VS. NATURAL STONES IN BERGEN COUNTY NJ
