Pebble and Gravel

We're right in the middle of a pebble revolution! Pebbles and gravels are still used in the traditional way on driveways and in Japanese gardens, but they're also being used as paving, garden mulch, and even as feature walls. Now Rita Hill has taken these versatile materials one step further. Here are some of Rita's ideas on using pebbles and gravels as fabulous indoor decorator items.

Tray elegant

Fill a deep rectangular wooden tray with brown gravel and arrange three rows of tea lights in the gravel. As well as looking good, the gravel stabilises the candles in the tray. (Tip: to make your tray look even better, float a candle in a bowl of water in the middle.)

Glittering light

Place a tall cream candle in the centre of a large chrome platter, and secure the candle underneath with Blu-Tack. Using pale green glass pebbles and fragments, fill the square around the candle. Use a different coloured gravel around the sides for contrast. (Tip: Be careful not to mix up your gravels; it's best to keep the arrangement simple.)

Silver incense bowl

Fill a long silver and chrome dish with grey slate-like gravel to create an ideal incense burner. Just slide the incense sticks into the gravel and light them. The dish will collect the falling ash and the sandalwood scent will waft through your living area.

Pebble towers

Pebbles on their own can look very effective in a bowl. For something a little more unusual, stick some pebble towers together using a hot glue gun.

Pebble potpourri

Pebbles can be used to dress up potted plants or as part of flower arrangements (succulents look particularly good used in this way). You could also try mixing pebbles with some pods and cones from the garden. Add some scented oil and you'll have pebble potpourri!

Getting started

Bags of pebbles and gravel are available from landscape suppliers. We paid $10 per bag, but prices vary depending on your location. Smaller bags of pebbles in uniform sizes and colours are available at homeware stores, again for around $10 per bag. Craftware and candles are available from Lincraft stores nationally. Phone: 1800 640 107. Pebbles and homewares are available from Target stores nationally. Phone: 1800 814 788. Decorative pebbles in varying colours and sizes and vessels to put them in are available from Freedom Furniture stores nationally. Phone: (02) 9882 9000, or outside Sydney, 1800 811 955.

Further reading

See Rita Hill's article 'Precious Stones' for more ideas on decorating with pebbles. It's in the February edition of the Burke's Backyard Magazine, available at newsagents for $4.60.

Copyright CTC Productions 2001