A Brookstown Full Range hardscape blends clay pavers, stone, and reclaimed brick in an established Greensboro neighborhood
Residential hardscapes often begin as a blank canvas, with open space, straight lines and right angles.
But sometimes they are a little funkier, and creativity matters.
William Brady encountered that challenge at an older home in Greensboro, North Carolina. The sloping backyard patio was in disrepair, and the owners were ready for a transformation. As owner of Brady Landscapes, Brady was tasked with reimagining a hardscape that would connect existing paths and a wooden deck, complete with stairs leading down to a patio below grade.
The homeowner, a musician, also envisioned something more than a backyard patio. He plans to convert an old shed into a stage for neighborhood concerts. That meant creating a smooth, level surface that could accommodate gatherings, seating and live music.
The homeowners wanted a couple of places to sit, and they were talking about turning an old shed into a stage.
Above, click to see before-and-after. The old shed has seen better days, but soon it will transform into the homeowners’ performance stage, with plenty of standing room for guests. Below: bluestone merges beautifully with Brookstown Full Range pavers. All-natural!
Recycling materials, preserving character
“The homeowners wanted to approach the project from the top down, redoing an existing brick walkway, which was in bad shape,” Brady said. “They wanted a couple of places to sit, and they were talking about turning an old shed into a stage by taking the walls off it. It still has electricity, and the flooring is solid.”
A legacy paver patio had to be removed. Rather than discard the materials, Brady carefully cleaned the old brick and reinstalled it on a freshly graded base. For the new patio area, he needed a paver that would complement the reclaimed materials. He found the right fit in Pine Hall Brick’s Brookstown Full Range clay pavers.
“They’re a pretty close match to what we found,” Brady said. “It was good that we didn’t have to mix pavers, because the old ones were slightly different sizes, a little thinner, and maybe a quarter-inch shorter.”
The Brookstown clay pavers provided color consistency while delivering the durability required for a high-traffic outdoor living space. For landscapers and homeowners looking for a product that blends with older materials, Brookstown proved to be a natural choice.
Precision installation around existing features
The new Brookstown paver patio extended under and around the base of the wooden steps leading from the deck. Brady’s crew carefully cut the clay pavers to fit tightly around the stair supports, creating a clean, original look.
Clay pavers are especially well suited for this type of detailed work. Their size and workability allow installers to navigate tight angles and transitions without sacrificing aesthetics.
Existing paths and steps along the sloping yard were preserved using recyclable Pennsylvania bluestone and flagstone, along with bluestone inventory Brady had on hand. The combination of Brookstown pavers, reclaimed brick and natural stone created visual continuity across multiple elevations.
Above, click to see before-and-after.
A 650-square-foot setting for musical gatherings
The finished hardscape encompasses roughly 650 square feet and includes attractive stacked stone retaining walls that frame the new patio. The result is a cohesive outdoor living space that connects the best of the old with the crisp lines of the new.
For homeowners, the project demonstrates how Brookstown clay pavers can anchor a multi-material design while honoring an older home’s character. For landscapers, it shows how recycling legacy materials can control costs and elevate craftsmanship at the same time.
Now the final act remains. Once the shed is reconstructed into a stage, the owners can strike up the band on a balmy Saturday night, welcoming neighbors to a revitalized Brookstown-inspired space built for music, memory and community.
