Buying patio/flagstones

[BoutrosBoutros]

We inherited a large patio with our house last year, but it's made of horrible old concrete slabs and is getting very overgrown. I'd like to rip the lot out and put down some nicer real stone slabs/flags as the house is 200 years old but all the stuff the landscapers keep suggesting looks really modern and is in those little patterns, whereas I think I'd prefer big flagstone slabs. Any suggestions for good places to look? I've been looking at Mandarin Stone and London Stone recently which seem nice enough? Can't afford reclaimed stone unfortunately!

We've got a lovely London Stone patio in the house we're in the process of selling - it's Tumbled Indian Sandstone (in "Mint", so it has a mix of colours). The slabs are irregular sizes laid to fit and I'm not sure if this constitutes what you call a "pattern", however they have lots of options. Our local showroom was very helpful and supplied a number of samples and good advice about what would suit our space. We've been pleased with it and I would go with London Stone again, if that helps?

Somewhere like this www.gardenstone.co.uk/product-category/natural-stone-paving/

We have a black limestone. At the yard they were laid with all the sizes jumbled in a pattern. I only wanted the large stone for my patio and porch and they sold me just those rather then a mix.

They haven't stayed very dark though even though we did what was advised and sealed them. So are a much lighter grey now.

I have read somewhere that one should use stone from your area/country as it wears better in it's home country so to speak. My local stone was about 4 times the price so Indian black limestone for us!

Thanks for the replies! Caroian London stone does look nice - we're not near a showroom but might call for samples. nosleep that website looks good too thanks.

Almond think it will be Indian stone for us too, it's a big space and will be eye watering enough as it is! It's the all different sizes I'm not keen on so being able to pick out the big ones would be good! I went to our local supplier but wasn't blown away. Maybe I need to go back.

Also think how you want it laid. My patio man laid it with a little space which he filled with this cementy sand stuff that sets hard which is fine but had I given it more thought I would have had the stones set tighter together.

My stone supplier had no problems selling me just the sizes I wanted.

Also when having it laid be specific how you want it down. My guy started from the side so it wasn't centred with my doors. I'm a tad particular. The sliders close in the middle and I wanted the line of the stone to match the line of the door. Luckily he hadn't laid many. Also do you want the little cobbeldy ones around the edge? I didn't as i have a v modern house.

I drew my patio and porch with and without and you get an idea of how busy or clean it will look.