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House and home

Naff or not?

(88 Posts)
shysal Thu 25-Jul-19 10:53:58

My patio badly needs re-pointing. I have the 'brush-in and wet' stuff and plan to do it when the weather cools down.
I have had the idea of setting in an occasional shiny bead, making sure they are not a slip or trip hazard. My garden is quite feminine, with lots of flowers, fairy lights and metal sculptures of peacock and cats.
What do you think of the idea and how could I make it tasteful rather than tacky?

lemongrove Thu 25-Jul-19 15:33:19

Your garden looks great shysal and I like the bead idea.Just make sure it’s sunk below the patio stones, so you won’t slide on them.

suziewoozie Thu 25-Jul-19 15:43:20

There’s no such thing as ‘naff’ - just what you like.

Beechnut Thu 25-Jul-19 16:57:56

You have a lovely garden shysal. I like your idea, ok for me to be a copy cat ?

PamelaJ1 Thu 25-Jul-19 17:05:50

As everyone says do what you like, if you have small grandchildren they will love it.
I’ve always wanted to plant tiny plants in between some of our slabs to soften the look but I’m not allowed!

Coolgran65 Thu 25-Jul-19 20:04:16

I think it would be quirky and fabulous.

My patio area has a memory tree. It is our Apple tree and I hang thing's on it that have a memory. A bell I bought in USA, a wooden heart from my dgd which is now green and mossy and beautiful. They have now expanded to the plum tree beside it.

We have a fence that screens the bins. I bought a bag of marbles and yesterday dh put them into the fence where the light shines through. Gorgeous.
Then dh decided that it would look even better if the fence was covered in artificial ivy leaving a marble window. He is just finishing as I write this. He loves it. I think it looks what it is, artificial ivy and just a tad tacky but it might grow on me...... However, dh is always willing when I fancy something different so it's only fair I go along with him sometimes. I'll add a picture later.

Point in making op is go for it. It's all fun.. smile

Tangerine Thu 25-Jul-19 20:45:09

I think it sounds like a good idea. If it makes you happy, do it. Less can be more so I suppose you don't want too many beads.

FarNorth Thu 25-Jul-19 20:55:21

I think it sounds lovely.
Maybe you could set some beads in place before actually fixing them in, to get an idea how it will look.
I'd definitely go for coloured ones, not subtle.

shysal Thu 25-Jul-19 20:56:32

My garden is very steep beyond the patio and my RA means that I would be safer with a handrail. When it has been added I shall jazz it up in some way!

Mapleleaf Thu 25-Jul-19 20:59:46

Shysal, your garden looks lovely, and I think adding a few beads within the patio stones will look very nice. It’s what you like that counts though, not what anyone else likes. Post some photos on completion.

Gonegirl Thu 25-Jul-19 21:01:44

I think broken coloured glass would look better than beads. Of course you would have to make sure it was well bedded in.

crazyH Thu 25-Jul-19 21:05:56

Lovely idea...I'm sure it will work

Coolgran65 Thu 25-Jul-19 21:19:32

Shysal your garden is beautiful.
I suggested earlier that you should go for it.
I also wrote about putting marbles in the 5' fence that hides our bins. I was happy with the marbles but dh wanted to add artificial ivy. This is the end result. I think it's a love it or hate it with regard to the ivy. My dh was so excited about the idea of the ivy that I couldn't not agree.
And these things can always be changed.

Go for it with your glass pebbles. The sun will shine on them beautifully. See how it shines through the marbles.

Willow500 Fri 26-Jul-19 07:22:23

Your garden is beautiful and I think the idea of the beads in the pointing is fab - good luck with it.

We've spent the last two monthss renovating the garden in a bungalow we bought last year. Husband and BIL made a brick paved patio and this last couple of weeks have built a large planter and a small deck with decking boards to fill in a very large deep trough we inherited (we've no idea what it was supposed to be). I too love solar lights and anything pretty like beads. He brought home a large stainless steel dish from work and we've made it into a pebble pond so those beads would look lovely in that too!

shysal Fri 26-Jul-19 07:35:14

All these other ideas are very exciting! I must be careful not to go overboard. Years ago I put a large pitcher on its side in my front garden amongst the gravel and had glass beads in watery shades spilling out of it. The local children loved it and so did my GD.

Auntieflo Fri 26-Jul-19 07:49:05

Shysal, I love your garden, it's beautiful.

Purpledaffodil Fri 26-Jul-19 08:03:50

What a beautiful garden! I’d go for it with the beads. We’ve just had new Indian sandstone patios laid as part of a major project and although lovely, they are a tad dull. Yours will look fantastic!

Purpledaffodil Fri 26-Jul-19 08:20:07

And how about a solar fountain too? DH incorporated one in a just completed rockery. Under the more is more principle it incorporates lights?

Luckygirl Fri 26-Jul-19 08:59:58

When house-buying I once visited a house where they had painted the patio flagstones bright pink! - as were all the walls (inside and out), the carpets, sofas, bed covers, lamp shades, the lot!

Glammy57 Fri 26-Jul-19 09:25:31

Very pretty garden!

BladeAnnie Fri 26-Jul-19 10:16:20

Definitely do it - will look gorgeous ?

Tigertooth Fri 26-Jul-19 10:23:21

Ooh - I live your garden - that’s how I want mine to be when it grows up??
Yes to the hidden gems but then I’m such a magpie - if it sparkles, glitters or glows then it’s a yes from me.

shysal Fri 26-Jul-19 10:38:43

Coolgran65, I have a bare portion of fence so have copied your idea and ordered some flat glass pebbles, but without the ivy. How did you stick yours on? I have a glue gun which will probably do the job.
Note to self - STOP, remember less is more!

Pudding123 Fri 26-Jul-19 10:44:08

Your garden looks lovely,I think the beads would enhance the paving.I have geraniums thyme and Alchemilla mollis growing through my paving which really soften it.Please keep us posted.

Pippa22 Fri 26-Jul-19 10:46:15

Personally I think your garden looks naturally stunning and for me adding beads would cheapen it. You could always just place some beads where you think and see if you like the effect but it is easy to keep going and spoil the look.

Gizmogranny Fri 26-Jul-19 10:59:29

I think it would look lovely - and it’ll be unique. Your garden is beautiful.