The thing about landscape improvements is that most people who buy a house expect it to have at least some landscaping, and certainly expect a sidewalk, so they will not pay extra for it. Kind of like a roof. They expect a serviceable roof, so while they may deduct for the cost of replacing a bad roof, it doesn't necessarily mean you can add the replacement cost to the sale price if you do it ahead of time. In addition, a new owner will probably have her own ideas about what kind of landscaping is suitable, and tear out and replace much of what you've done, unless you are putting in a really spectacular, high end job that's so wonderful that they wouldn't want to change it. You don't give any hints as to your location, but zone 6 gets snow, and you'll have to be able to clear the walk in winter. Stepping stones are OK for a casual secondary path through a garden, but the approach to the house, especially for strangers to the layout, should be as direct and clear as possible, and hazard free. The minimum width for walkway should be 4 feet, IMO, and 5 is better if you have the space. It's unpleasant to have to go to the door in single file, and a problem if Aunt Bessie needs someone offer her an arm on the way in. You end up looking something like a conga line. I would forget about a flower bed against the house, and either plant groundcover or a few annuals at most. Anything tall will fall over onto the walk, especially as it leans out for more light. Shrubs will require constant trimming and will end up looking nasty. The cost of installing a new walkway depends on materials you choose, the size of the project, how much grading/prep work is required, demolition of the old walk, and the skill level of the installer. An experience artisan will cost more than a guy with a pickup truck and an account at Dome Heapo. Add the cost, if any, for dumping the waste you break up. You must be young folks, because I wouldn't want to demolish a concrete walk and install a new one without outside help.

Until the influx of concrete paver products, most homes in the northeast had asphalt driveways with poured concrete walks. Exposed aggregate is a ook that conjures up shopping malls or office parks in these parts, so they are not generally wanted on a residence. Since most driveways up here are asphalt, any walk connected to it looks normal simply because it is normal. Red clay brick, bluestone, concrete pavers, natural irregular shaped or rectangular stepping stones in the lawn, the same are often used in contiguous walks are all common and normal from most driveway types to most types of steps. Budget sounds like a big issue to you. If it is, why not use large flgstyones as stepping stones until you get it figured out? It is easy and the stones can be re-used later. Tumbled Bluestone Rectangular Bluestone (not the best picture, but a very elegant walk when well placed using 24"x36" with a gentle curve) Irregular Bluestone

I have seen people use the brick you describe. As wit anything else the quality of the job will be dependant on the base beneath it. As far as the look a chevron loo is very nice with the small brick. The flat roof tile may work as well but you should lay a few out first to see how they will look and not have little toe trippers on the surface. The barrel type could be used up side down as drain tiles on the edges of flower beds. Of course you would want to cut them to only have 1 reverse barrel running down the gutter. With a little creativity you could use all 3. Brick with flat roof tile inlays and barrel tile gutter edging. ( cut the tile between the barrels and form an s shape,lying on it's side. The hump forms a curb and border for the brick, rolling into the gutter.) The biggest problem I foresee is getting the colors to work out if using all 3. Some contrast can work as well. Just use your imagination and do a little trial and error.

Basically, I don't know what I want, other than to fix the drainage issues. I'm just not sure logistically if option 2 is even an acceptable/appropriate option. I basically have been asking people what they would do to fix how it's settled. Budget is on the basic side as we still have to regrade and replant the front and fix the leaking cracks in the basement. I don't really want to excavate the front and reparge the foundation wall because we're in a townhouse, so that gets really complicated. And there's not enough leaking to need an interior French drain. Was hoping that regrading the walkway and the dirt/plants would be the first thing to try as it's not crazy expensive. I could wait on the walkway and just do the regrading and plants, but that seems a little silly.... The whole row of townhouses has had water issues this past year and no one has excavated anything. Companies want $20k to do that. The HOA is working on implementing some kind of drainage solution for the entire row, so I also don't really want to excavate till we see if that solution helps our basement. I hate basements. :-\