I'm not sure what Goshen stone is, but I have a similar situation--a postage-stamp sized concrete patio, which I expanded with a gravel patio. The far edge of the gravel is edged in limestone, which I think connects it to the concrete at the house-edge. Plus, I've used periodic container plantings to help blur the edges, so to speak. It's not perfect, but was definitely easier than trying to rip out the concrete or expand it by laying another slab. Email me if you'd like me to send you a picture.

We just bought a house where the builder put an aggregate patio on the back and the next owner installed a pool with a regular concrete surround. We'd like to have it all match, plus the aggregate hurts our feet when barefoot. We've had a couple of quotes where they say they can coat over the aggregate (Cool Deck type of material) and match it all but i can't find anywhere on the web that confirms that it won't chip or peel. I hear also that it's all in the way it's installed and that they must use a 3 stage process to insure a good bond. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience that this will work? There are so so so many products and i'm having a hard time trusting the sales pitch without an unbiased confirmation. Thank you so much!

porcelain would be slippery we'd recommend Advantage Deck Tiles they are made from woods more durable than teak and do not require the maintenance of traditional wood. They snap together over old concrete and there is a pedestal system too.

All you need to do it make sure that there is decent topsoil in the planting space. The stone and sand will be unnecessary, since where would the water go after the air spaces between stone and sand is filled up? Don't create those air spaces to begin with. When you bring the level up to the concrete slab and plant it, drainage will not be a problem.