A couple of points about pavers versus stamped concrete (I've built 2 pools and am building a third right now in Sedona, Ariz - - the other 2 were in Wash DC and San Diego). I've used stamped concrete and pavers and am going with pavers this time (although, i'll be honest and say i'd be hard pressed to decidedly pick one over the other. Stamped colored-concrete, which i used in Wash DC was perfect for the application we had, near a river, and lots of trees and the contractor applicator sprayed it down with just a bit of black-rustic paint inside the sealer giving it a fair cobble-stoning texture of shadows on the surface. Sure there were cracks that developed here/there and he told me there would be - - but with the light application of black paint in the sealer, cracks seemed to blend into the whole application. As for pavers, i would suggest you be much more picky. Why? The colors they give you to choose from WILL vary from mixing load and groups of pallets to mixing load and groups of pallets. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE MANUFACTURER TELLS YOU - - I've visited the plants in Phoenix (43rd St.) for Pavestone and Belguard (in Atlanta). Trust me and go there and challenge them to give you (in Pavestone's case) a true 2-tone brown paver from an Adirondeck paver model and hold it up to say a 2-tone brown from a Villa paver model (nearly identical paver models - - except Villa is a fraction of an inch thicker). The colors will be different!!! And the brochure colors (they will tell you - - "well that was with a mix formula we were using several years ago."). Lessen? If color means a lot to you (as it did me) - - i drove to the plant (in one case) narrowed down the color and paver model and then told the plant foreman to "freeze" 25 pallets and i'd put my order in for them. Phoenix was a 4 hour drive for me - - but i got what i was looking for and made personal time to visit friends while i was out there. If you're in Raleigh, I suggest you visit the Belguard plant in Atlanta (or if you want the textured surface, find the nearest Pavestone plant (i think there is one in Charlotte and you can freeze your pallets and place an order in from your closest Home Depot who is a Pavestone - - they're all Pavestone dealers. Get someone you like at Home Depot; tell them what you're going to do, and then drive down to Charlotte to decide which product and color you want - - obviously take all the samples home with you that you want. Lastly, you may look at a Riccobene product (similar to a flagstone look a like) made out of New Mex - - but dealers around the country. I think i'm going with that for the Sedona house. One last thought: Do not under-estimate the amount of heat those pavers (if they are even slightly dark - - like a flagstone) will generate on your feet if you're barefoot on a bright sunny day. Lay down your samples in the middle of the day when there is sun and then stand on them (i did this test before choosing my last model). Believe me they get hot - - and i didn't want my kids hopping foot to foot (like i'd seen them do at other folks' homes). Might not be an issue in Raleigh - - but it's an issue out here. White pavers are clearly the best for staying cooler. (Also i saw someone talk about sealers above. I love the "wet" look and it looks great on stamped concrete. My opinion though is that it doesn't get the same effect on pavers. If you happen to be in Sedona, i can give you an address of a house that has a huge amount of pavers down a long driveway. Stop in front of it and you'll be shocked - - he sealed the entire length and it just looks plane ludicrous - - some sort of slip-and-slide from Whammo! Sealer looks great on stamped concrete (and i use it) - - it doesn't carry the same effect on pavers. Maybe with the right model paver - - but every time i've seen some one do it - - well Whammo! Looks cheap and unreal.

"Flagstone" is not a geological type of stone (like granite, limestone, sandstone, etc.) It's a catch all term that generally describes the shape and form ... any relatively thin, flat, broad stone. Round river rocks, or any type of boulder or blocky stone would not be considered flagstone. Think flat and thin ... like a flag. Stone types that cleave naturally into layers make flagstone. Generally, it could come in a variety of thicknesses from 1.5" or so, to 3" or 4" for some types of large pieces, depending on the type of stone and where it comes from. The larger the stone is, the thicker it needs to be. Large, thin stones break very easily. The way it is used is similar to the way tile is used -- to cover an area as a surface, as opposed to being used structurally, (though this is not impossible.) So, there are LOTS of different flagstones with varying characteristics. Some are very popular and shipped across the country. If one happens to be far from where they are quarried, their cost will be high. Usually, because people are most always searching for lower cost, there is a tendency to use flagstone that comes from a nearby source. One must have familiarity with the specific stone type in order to know its durability. A cheaper stone could be more durable than high priced stone as durability is likely not the prime pricing criteria. In landscaping, flagstone is popular as a DIY material on account of its rustic looks and ease of use when laid on a sand base. If mortar is used, it is usually laid by a pro or a dedicated DIY homeowner. IMO, what makes a big difference in the quality of the finished product of flagstone is the joints: tight or narrow, uniform joints look much better. Wide, irregular joints look much more amateurish. Making good joints requires more work/time as edges must be cut or chipped in order to fit next to edges of adjacent stones. That would be a big part of the cost of an installation. I would be willing to guess that such a specification is not included in your proposal so as to hold the price down. Many people do not pay attention to edge detail so wouldn't know the difference anyway. Regardless of the details of your installation, one thing I would never do is install a walk like this without FIRST GETTING SAMPLES! And comparing them on site to other elements and the surroundings. Doing so would answer your primary question about what the overall character of the walk is going to look like, especially color. IMO, blues, greys, taupes, etc. go well with most surroundings and lean classy, whereas yellowish or orangey tones seem less classy. But this depends on the colors of other things, like the house. Color is one reason someone would be willing to pay a higher price to have stone shipped across the country.

I can’t comment on whether it will look good, as that’s subjective. I can show the white Hillstone against a clay colored window and the white stucco against that same color window. Hope that it will help you make a decision. The bricks will look different up close as river rock is more rounded on the corners. From our road to the house (70’) it isn’t as noticeable as our neighbors that have river rock. I guess the difference in mortar and brick will make it more noticeable.

K Laurence: "I have Belard”Catalina Grana ” pavers at both of my homes. They are ADA compliant , which I prefer, smoother to walk on, and a simpler look that I prefer . I’ve had them for years, they still look like new. Mine are ”Rio”, but they come in several colors. You might like ”Victorian”, it’s a mix of warm / cool colors. Mine were sealed, however, they didn’t look much different after." Thank you, K Laurence for this input! It's good to know that the pavers stay looking new over time and that sealing doesn't affect the look too much. Because we are concerned about fading and staining over time, we will probably stain them. I agree that ADA compliance is a factor to consider, especially as my husband and I are aging in this home! But it feels like a very modern look to me, and I'm concerned that it doesn't fit with the bungalow/cottage vibe of the house. Since I first posted, we are leaning in the direction of the tumbled pavers. We found a source for a more affordable tumbled paver than Belgard, so we are looking into that. They are flatter than the cobble (something along the lines of what Chispa shared) and I think we would like something more understated than the cobble I shared above, and let the landscaping be what draws the eye.