This one was in Lower Earley, a decent sized back garden where the client wanted to open the whole thing up. The area down the side of the conservatory was a raised deck, and the rest was a patchwork of gravel and stepping stones. She wanted a modern look and everything brought onto one level so the space actually felt like one space.

We stripped the lot out and started with a blank canvas, which is always the best bit of a job like this. Once the deck came up we found two manhole covers sat underneath that nobody had mentioned. Not the end of the world, but the kind of thing that needs working around properly if you want the finished patio to look right. We laid the whole area in Raj Indian sandstone, a colour I’d suggested because it sits nicely against the red brick of the house rather than fighting it.

She was over the moon with it. Six months later we were back doing her driveway, which tells you everything really.