Well the house project continues… This week I had to finalize my pool decking and coping materials. Since my house is lime washed brick that leans to the gray side, I didn’t want the stones to turn creamy or yellow which many do.

When I first was looking at inspirations for my pool, I was really drawn to the ones that had a coping detail and grass.

The large inset stones into the grass are my favorites!!! I wondered how furniture would set up around them and if it would be hard to places since the legs may be at different levels. At my shop we used air conditioning pads at 40$ each to create this look around the back patio.

I even considered doing brick coping and lime washing it like my house! I really like the look here with inset stone with grass in between! It is also very cost effective. Two drawbacks with this for me–the first is brick does snag the girls’ bathing suits if they are sitting on the ledge of the pool.  And secondly,  I have tried to keep grass up in between features like this before but I think I just don’t have a green thumb.

Soooooooooooooo……….after going to many really wonderful stores and seeing so many beautiful options……

I settled on some quartzite options from Thorntree! Budget friendly and beautiful, I narrowed my choices to Keegan green quartzite (below) and white quartzite (shown above), I was torn between the two! Quartzite is the most durable surface and can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use while maintaining its pristine look. These two particular versions are much more consistent in color than some of the other options. I really wanted consistency in color.

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This picture and the one below looks like Pennsylvania Blue stone, or Belgium Blue stone, both more expensive options, but so lovely!!!

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Established in 1980, Thorntree has two locations in Houston! One is at the Houston Design Center, and the other at 10105 West Gulf Bank is their remodeled 60,000 sq. ft. full-service showroom and warehouse facility, where you can see an extensive collection of slate, quartzite, granite, limestone, glass and porcelain. For everything from backsplashes to fireplaces to pool coping, they have a broad array of ideas to fit any need, whether you are building a new home or remodeling an existing one.

Here is the Keegan green quartzite sample at their showroom.

Here is the white quartzite. Always wet your outside surfaces to see what they will look like–Around a pool they may look wet more than they do dry!!!

I have seen these tiles that look like wood at so many homes I am working on right now!!  They look so real when laid, and are so indestructible!!!!

How fun would these be laid either in one color or mixed to make a pattern!!! I had such a great experience at Thorntree and was so surprised at the many different options and surfaces they had displayed.  Their staff was so nice and helpful and now I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!!! Although they have two locations in Houston i know they sell products around the world!!  I hope everyone has a wonderful week! We are off to Boca Grande Florida for work in an historical home there. Can’t wait to share what we did!!!  xo  Leslie