What do you think of these stone flags ?

[masochists-r-us]

We've had these flags for a while and we're just about ready to lay them, but I'm having doubts. They are York stone and have lovely smooth faces, but they're just so grey and cold looking and if I'm honest they remind me somewhat of paving slabs. On the basis that once they're down, they won't be coming back up again soon I'm interested the views/experiences of other forum members re the following questions:
Have we bought the wrong type of stone or the wrong colour ?
Are they missing a finish that will bring the colour out and if so what is it?
Am I worrying perhaps because flag stone floors are a bit of an acquired taste and I'll just get used to it over time ?
Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[LadyArowana]

We've had these flags for a while and we're just about ready to lay them, but I'm having doubts. They are York stone and have lovely smooth faces, but they're just so grey and cold looking and if I'm honest they remind me somewhat of paving slabs. On the basis that once they're down, they won't be coming back up again soon I'm interested the views/experiences of other forum members re the following questions:
Have we bought the wrong type of stone or the wrong colour ?
Are they missing a finish that will bring the colour out and if so what is it?
Am I worrying perhaps because flag stone floors are a bit of an acquired taste and I'll just get used to it over time ?
Any thoughts appreciated.

You describe them as having smooth faces and I wonder if that is the problem rather than type of stone/ surface finish. I have slate in my kitchen and selected a "riven" profile rather than a stone that had been cut and polished completely flat.

 

[chuckey]

"York stone" seems to be a bit of a general tag. I think limestone flags would be a better description of what we all imagine. Round here (in Yorkshire) there was a quarry at a village called Burterset which produced a black flaky shale flag with tiny little silver bits in it. Its rubbish (only good for cheese room shelving).
Get on you hands and knees and give the flags a good scrubbing and see if anything magic happens. Proper limestone flags are basically cream with brown markings like the top left hand side in your pic. There are also unaffected by cement cleaning acid and patio sealer. Inferior flags darken and go shiny with patio sealer.
Frank

 

[JoceAndChris]

I like the smooth profile. It's a fairly cold grey, but if it's in keeping with the rest of the property and regional stone then I have no problem with that. If you'd like to warm them up, add red or orange in flashes round the room - a red rug on there would be stunning.

I can't speak highly enough of the Liberon system to bring out a glow and richness in stone.

http://www.liberon.co.uk/flooring/stone,434,464.html?args=Y29tcF9pZD0zMDQmYWN0aW9uPWZpY2hlUHJvZHVpdCZpZD0xNTQmfA%3D%3D

(It goes on after the sealer) I've done mine, it looks great though I do say so myself- you can see the effect of wax on the first page on this thread (Ancaster stone, not York though):

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11123

Most of all, just remember that things are very often a shock at first but they soon become very familiar.

 

[Wren]

The stone flags may look a bit cold and grey just standing there, but think about the whole picture...

I personally think a really strong yellow can look amazing next to stone and greyish colours.
Go to this web page:
http://www.francescaspaint.com/gallery.html
and then scroll down until you get to the pictures where they have used a colour called Yellow Pepper (Hanham Abbots, Bristol) to get the general idea.

Or alternatively you can go for neutral colours that are similar to the stone. Same link as before where they have used a colour called Mughal Earth offset by darker accents.

Pink (warmish pink, not too cool) can look surprisingly good in an old house e.g. in a kitchen.

Pale sky blue (with just a hint of green). Sorry can't find a link which shows what I mean.

Someone I know has decorating a living room with three walls left white or off white except for one painted a darker greeney-blue (similar to Farrow & Ball stone blue or chinese blue). Looks very nice (especially if there is an original stone fireplace in the middle of the wall which is painted a darker colour).
(Or try the same trick but mixing slightly darker off-white/pale neutral walls with one wall painted Farrow & Ball Brinjal).

Quite a dark red can also look good, but only if you are happy it is right for the room and won't make it too dark.