I may not be following right, but if I am you're putting just regular concrete (brushed finished) next to the stamped concrete..with your colors in your stamped and standard concrete colors I think it would look nice to use a limestone/river rock/sandstone color paver to separate the two

[IMG]http://www.casertalandscaping.com/images/london.gif[IMG]

Not sure if I inserted that rightly...but something about 8-16 inches in width that would border it then you could use that limestone elsewhere in your design as an accent....I think that would look nice!

Tara

Okay I see.... so like a band of pavers seperating the two... that would be nice.... Thanks Tara!

I am wondering if the pour can be done to leave space for them ???

I am certainly not an expert on concrete, but couldn't you put an expansion strip up against the existing deck and meet up to it and just have the other 3 sides square (or freeform if you prefer)? Then put the poolhouse and do the same stamp around the outside of it. It would look like an extension of the current deck with the poolhouse on it and you would only have to do 15% of it in stamp to match and leave inside the poolhouse raw concrete (or a coat of simple stain to match)? All depends on the look you are going for...

Quote: "Oh & we are not doing stamped again because 85% will be under the poolhouse unseen... so it's a waste of $$.... "

They don't have to do the whole slab stamped & stained, they can just do the area between the poolhouse & existing deck. That's what I would suggest doing. It will probably be separate pours anyway because the slab under the poolhouse will be structural (6" thick with a perimeter grade beam) while anything outside of the poolhouse will be flatwork (4" thick).It shouldn't cost too much to do a matching infill, and it will look much more integral.

Thanks for the responses...

I know the right way would be to just stamp the perimeter like T-Rex & Tresw said... the price added is the question... I'll have to find out, & if this mason does the stamped. I want it done right & it would have to match my existing... (the pool contractor for the stamped said the job was too small for him) It's only about 400 sq ft, or it would have been easier... I am already spending $3000. just for a slab you basically won't see.... That kills me ! That's why I was hoping there was a way I could blend them together w/o having to spending more..

Thanks again!

Do you really prefer them to blend as in kind of matching? Not sure what the rest of the area near house looks like....but what about something like pea gravel or river rock with large flagstones for stepping stones bridging between the decking and the pool house door? Or pavers set on sand? Idea is to do something completely different on purpose and then it won't be troublesome if the stamped pattern or color is off...would also look just fine with the curved edge....good in fact.

I think it would look fine to do the two different finishes...trying to match a finish that has years of wear/weather under it is going to be very tough....here is a picture of limestone pavers between concrete...
It's about the 8th one down...
http://www.asapmasonry.com/Photo_Gallery.php

It will be easy for them to leave the gap, especially for such a small area as you're doing. Good luck!
Tara

Quote: "I am already spending $3000. just for a slab you basically won't see.... That kills me !"

I have to say that having worked with hundreds of construction project clients over the years, I have never once heard someone say a slab is a waste of money, LOL! That is a bizarre attitude to take. The foundation is the basis for the entire structure, the structure above is no better than what it sits on. Think of it as the most important component of what you are building (because it is).

I think the above ideas are really good ones. If you can't match it then don't try to get close to that finish, do something that contrasts but compliments it. Another option is to landscape between the poolhouse and existing decking and just have a path connecting the two.

Good luck!

Briosfarm~ Thanks, Yes, just to blend them should look nice, & I agree with you about the curve looking good with something like flagstone, or a natural stone, but there are two doors in the front and a 6' bar window as well, so the walkway idea doesn't really work, especially for the bar area.

I need to find a thin freeform tile type stone to lay perhaps.. that does not get too hot. :)

Tara~ Thanks, for the site... I think the limestone stays cool too ?? I wonder if they have a freeform type piece.. I have an idea in my head now that I am going to try to find a photo of... Thanks !

Tresw~ The thought of spending $$ on something you don't see is bizarre ???? Ok.....but that is really how I feel in this case...

Obviously it's important for my poolhouse to have a foundation... I don't want to be drinking my Pina Colada's sideways (though it may feel that way after a few) but I do think that $3000 is alot of money to spend for concrete that you will not see...

& what kills me even more.... is the structures sqft just misses the "townships requirements" to use a rock base, which would have only cost me $1000. I haven't planted my money-tree yet, or it would not bother me as much as it does... :)

Here is a photo similar to what I am having built.. the only difference is the right side will have one french door on the far right, and then a six foot bar window in between that door and the gazebo portion...

Thanks again for the ideas...