I have the same problem. My front porch concrete slab is about 2 inches higher than the front concrete walk. There is a strip of about 2 feet of soil between the porch and the walk. For many years it had some junipers growing there, so the low soil level was not a problem. Finally took out the old junipers (they had gotten old and ugly), and the resulting soil bed washes out onto the walk. I have been looking for something that would edge the walk, build up the height, and yet not take up too much of the 2 feet of planting area. It has to be attractive, as this is my front door. I was in the local big box home improvemnt store (you know the one I mean)last week. They were getting in shipments of stone items for the spring. One really caught my eye. It is a man made flat stone with all edges smooth except for one edge that is rough. The shape is rectangular, and the stone is only about 1.5 inches thick. This stone is designed for stacking to make a retaining wall. I am going to make a narrow trench along the concret walk, level sand into the trench. Then I will place these stones with the rough edge up at a height that will make it level with the opposite concrete porch slab. I plan to then use metel edging along the inside of the stones to help keep them in place. The edging will be low enough to be barely seen, or at the soil level. I think the edging is going to be important to keep things from moving around in the future. This will give me a smooth edge of stone exposed from the walk. This is good for sweeping and snow removal. The top has a rough look that I like. The stones are thin enough that I am not giving up much planting area. Go to the home improvement store and look at the options. Look at all items, as you may find something that is designed for another use that will work for you. They also have precast edgers that are okay. I will not do my project until next month, but will let you know how it comes out. D

Stones would look great at first but would gradually be home to weeds and then you'd have to move the stones to get the weeds out. Nope not my cup of tea. Edge with your pressure treated wood. Lay down a thick layer of newspapers over the weeds and grass that is there tucking it under the wood and put wood bark or chip mulch on top of the paper The paper and mulch will kill off anything under it. You will have to do this every couple of years because the paper and mulch will rot down but it's better than digging weeds out of rock

That is beautiful Cameron!!! I'm going to try this here with my beds!! I'm not looking for a perfect edge either, I'm rural as well on 15 acres and taking in land as I put in landscaping. The actual "lawn" area is small (I only had about 50 to 75 feet from the house cleared), I prefer plants and trees to grass to mow. Not to mention all the money I will save and can spend on plants by not buying a bunch of stone or brick to put in for borders!! :-) Hubby LOVES the idea of being able to run the mower right up to the edge of the bed for help with the maintenance. John, how well I know what a pain the weeding is around borders. On my last house (subdivision) I found some absolutely beautiful terra cotta border. I've never found it again, but my fescue crept right into the beds. And I made a beginners mistake of putting in Mint in my herb area. Controlling that was a constant battle!! Where I have the brick now is exactly where I wanted it. I didn't have any sidewalks put in either, I hate concrete poured sidewalks. So I'm putting in one very functional red brick sidewalk to the door we use the most. These beds with the brick border line that sidewalk and give the definition I need to the walk. I want to use stepping stones for the other walkways. Now, what kind of shorter plants would look good at the edge of the beds? That is and do well in full sun? LOL my last house had a lot of shade too, and I'm learning full sun plants now. I'm going to look into some of the mini lillies!

This is the fireplace from a distance. The floor is travertine. The other picture is the view from when you walk in the door of the back of the fireplace.