It is all relative to the entire property, the house and the yard. Is this a part of the pedestrian circulation or a seating area? Are there utilities adjacent, is it in the front yard and viewed by neighbors, or part of your private space. Is it viewed from the dining/living rooms or just from the bedrooms. Will it be used by tricycles or just feet (no golf shoes please). In my experience, (don't you hate it when someone starts off a sentence in which he offers advice with that phrase), the mondo grass is too large for any pedestrian pavement. There are a large variety of more prostrate plants you can walk on at your garden center, I expect. Some can be walked on daily, and others less often. Some are evergreen, some have attractive flowers, some are into more gray or smoky colors than just green. You can mix them up, just as you do with groundcovers in your plant beds. Enjoy!

annb1997 - Yes, that is part of the reason I'm doing this project. The entire area will be lowered, re-graded and some drains installed (the garden edge is kind of temporarily in place for now, got a great deal on the plants so they had to go in). It's a bigger job than anticipated as it also means the air conditioners (x3) need to be de-commossioned and re-installed at the new levels. John, I like the idea with regard to the tank, but we get allot of bitey critters and I don't really want to give them anymore areas to hide out in.

Looking for a free program or suggestion on how I could plan the design for my paver area. I want to put a chess board in the area with pavers and need to plan it out. have been trying to use a word document but tedious and results are less than satisfactory. Anyone got a suggestion on how to design the on paper using an app or program. thanks

If you look at your inspiration picture , the door there is a similar tone to your timber , the stone is similar , the charoal trim and windows are similar . The render is lighter than Self Destruct , and appears to have an 'effect' so it looks aged and rustic . So personally I'd go lighter , but also ask your contractor if they can do the subtle rustic effect , using two slightly different tones of render , and some water and brushes .