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crushed rock
Renewing the Gravel Paths of a French Country Home

June 24, 2020
Eve Hart
by Eve Hart

Joe and Kirsten Bisacca chose their home because it’s unlike any other house in the Seattle area.

A French Country-style residence, it features formal gardens with mature boxwood hedges, espaliered apple trees, and stone paths throughout. The exterior of the home features a gravel patio with a killer view of the Puget Sound.

After settling into their new home, the Bisaccas got to work on improving the grounds. The 25-year-old garden paths were worn thin and composed of an inconsistent variety of gravel types. Kirsten gave Joe the mission of finding something to blend the colors together. During his hunt for the perfect rock blend, Joe came across Washington Rock Quarries.

Washington Rock provided the gravel to replenish the Bisaccas’ garden paths: crushed drain rock. Washington Rock also contributed 1½” drain rock to top off a French drain.

I interviewed Joe about his experience working with Washington Rock.

The back patio looks out onto the Puget Sound. Gravel is incorporated throughout the patio and the paths to the bottom of the garden. Photo by Stuart Isett.

Q: What unique challenges did you face when looking for the right rock?

A: Finding the right color and shape of stone was a huge issue. We did find the shape, but that classic blue hue was elusive. Washington Rock was the only place we found to have it. It really has the classic French garden look.

The Bisaccas loved how Washington Rock’s ¾” crushed drain rock was a mix of colors with a bias toward blue tones. Photo by Stuart Isett.

Q: How did Washington Rock help you in your quest?

A: Sales manager Sam Martinson came to the house with a best guess and discovered that our pathway gravel was more or less a blend. He matched that blend for our order, and everything went in seamlessly. That includes the larger, rounded stones for our French drain.

Q: Now that the rock is laid out, how does it improve the feel of the garden?

A: Now that the rock is laid out, the home looks really put together. It’s a real pleasure to walk the gardens now.

A gravel path winds through a quiet grove filled with rhododendrons, ferns, and other shade plants. Photo by Stuart Isett.
Boxwood hedges border a gravel walking path. Photo by Stuart Isett.
The country-style gravel contrasts beautifully with surrounding plants, like this heartleaf bergenia. Photo by Stuart Isett.

Q: What do you like about the look and feel of the rock?

A: I keep going back to the color of the rock. It really hits the mark. It’s beautiful in the sun and darkens in the rain, making the gardens feel like they’re always changing. The gravel is very comfortable to walk on too—it doesn’t slip or move around.

Q: How did replenishing the drain rock improve the feel of the yard?

A: The drain rock was a big issue. We needed to level the French drain with the grass to make it look right and to allow more filtration for water going into the drain line. The new drain rock really makes that line between the grass and the drain look tight.

A new layer of 1½” drain rock brought the French drain level with the grass. Photo by Stuart Isett.
Looking up at the house from the French drain. Photo by Stuart Isett.

Q: How do you plan to continue improving the gardens?

A: We’re going to continue rotating and shaping plants. We may install a fountain possibly.

Q: How was Washington Rock able to meet your needs during COVID-19?

A: We had no issues working with Washington Rock during COVID-19—they were great at social distancing and wearing facemasks!


Thank you to Seattle photographer Stuart Isett for capturing our rock’s romantic side. You can view more photos of this residence on its project page.

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