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From eco-friendly permeable surfaces that contribute to sustainable water drainage to smartly designed layouts that maximize parking space, we present ideas that combine form and function seamlessly. We commonly see different shades of gray being used for driveways whether they are concrete, gravel, or if they make use of pavers. This modern home’s white exterior lends itself to a bolder, yet simple look for the driveway. Choosing to incorporate black for the driveway brings contrast in an unexpected place and ties in with the black accents on the face of the home. In this before-and-after, our designers wanted to keep the integrity of the wraparound driveway but enhance both the layout and design. The brick pavers bordering the landscaping within the arch help accentuate the shape.
Gravel With Steel Edging
If your garage has an automatic door, skip hardware for clean, sleek exterior. Altogether, the driveway and garage will blending in nicely rather than dominating the view. This long gravel driveway has a skinny drainage grate to help control water and keep the landscaping looking manicured. Architect Stephanie D. Poole turned this driveway into a bocce ball court, combining fun and functionality. "It creates a usable recreation and social space in an otherwise passive space," she says. "The driveway is lined with an edible garden for color and interest. A trio of palm trees provide shade in the warmer months."
Asphalt + Crushed Stone
The right shape can complement the house’s architecture, improve traffic flow, and enhance the landscape, making the driveway a key component of the property’s overall design. Straight and curved driveways benefit greatly from regular cleaning and the removal of weeds. For straight driveways, ensure that the path is clear of debris to prevent surface damage. Curved driveways might require more attention to detail, especially along the curves, to prevent the accumulation of leaves and dirt that can lead to discoloration and surface wear. Straight driveways are the most economical option, offering a straightforward design that minimizes materials and labor costs. Their simplicity allows for a quick installation process, making them an ideal choice for homeowners seeking efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Basement In-law Suite (Design Tips & Ideas)
Block paving can be laid in different patterns and formations to suit the style of your home. It’s made from concrete, clay bricks or natural stone and is available in various tones and textures, from greys and blacks to sand and red brick hues, with finishes from smooth to sawn. The blocks can vary in size from around mm and are a budget-friendly option. As the sunlight dances on the stained surface, the dusty red tone takes on a life of its own, intensifying your home’s curb appeal. For men with an eye for uniqueness and artistic flair, the stained driveway idea embodies creativity, engaging the senses, and painting a vivid portrait of the homeowner’s style.
Asphalt + Belgian Block Edging
Any large, existing trees that you need to work around may also play a part in the layout of the shape. First, you'll want to decide on the shape and size of your driveway in relation to the rest of your front garden ideas. Visit this page to see our gallery of modern driveways for more design ideas. A dirt driveway will turn into a mud driveway when the rain starts coming down which can cause and issue for small vehicles.
Curved and circular driveways present unique challenges, primarily due to their intricate shapes and the precision required in their layout. Accurate measurement and careful planning are essential to achieve the desired curvature without compromising the driveway’s functionality. This might involve using flexible materials or custom-cut pieces to accommodate the curves, ensuring a seamless and aesthetically pleasing result.
This design, sometimes referred to as a "marlex elbow configuration" allows for the heads to sink when heavily compacted, rather than break. For better protection, set a "turf block" or standard cinderblock over a 4-6 inch gravel bed and set the pop-up sprinkler head just below soil grade. The grass blades will hide the block from view and it will protect your sprinkler heads from wayward drivers. Most of the time this can be avoided with proper grading and drainage to reduce the pitch of the drive at the final approach. The addition of curbing or small retaining walls along the sides of the driveway can almost always eliminate this problem.
Consider adding a gate
Keep in mind that weeds and grass can grow through gravel fairly easily if landscape fabric or some other underlayment is not installed. Also, if your driveway is too sloped, gravel may not be ideal because it will slide down. And if you live in a colder climate, plowing snow from a gravel driveway can be a hassle. Many home-owners have problems with broken sprinkler heads directly adjacent to their driveways. It seems that sometimes people backing out of the drive occasionally run over a sprinkler head and crack the pvc water line below. Teenagers get blamed for this most often, but I think the damage is more commonly caused when visitors and service people veer off the drive, being unfamiliar with your particular driveway.
Upgrade Your Driveway, Boost Your Curb Appeal - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal
Upgrade Your Driveway, Boost Your Curb Appeal - WSJ.
Posted: Thu, 30 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You should leave enough room for washing and/or charging an electric car at home, putting the bins out, accepting fuel deliveries if your heat source is oil or biomass, and other such activities. Often with these, there will be a height restriction for hedgerows and fences adjacent to the driveway entrance to ensure a clear line of sight is retained between driver and pedestrian and vice versa. Try and position your entry point onto your planned driveway so as to maximise that first view of the home. You will also need to work out the vehicle journey from entry point to parking zone, then finally the pedestrian route into the home.
Long, straight driveways can also be very attractive if they are lined with trees and frame the property as you approach. Often times home builders and designers place a walkway at the top of the drive. I believe this is a mistake, and find walkways placed at the car door exit point to be much more convenient. In most of my designs I will add a wider landing at the end of the walk off the mid-point of the driveway to allow for easier entry/egress from open car doors. If space allows, use wider spacing for easier walk-about space between vehicles, the driveway, and the sidewalk, and the vehicles and the garage or house.
To ensure that your concrete driveway will look good for many years to come, there are important specifications your contractor should follow during installation. How well your driveway looks and performs long-term is largely related to the quality of workmanship and materials that go into it. To help ensure a problem-free driveway, use the following list for information about proper construction. Selecting the ideal driveway shape requires careful consideration of various factors to ensure it complements your property’s aesthetics, meets functional needs, and stays within budget.
However, if your intended surfacing is not porous, such as non-porous tarmac, and the area is larger than 5m², you will need to apply for planning permission. Gates can really help to finish a driveway — and might be essential for safety and security, particularly if you live on a busy road and have a young family and/or pets. There are other criteria that may also be required to be met, so always work with your architect and designer on this at an early stage if you're building a new home.
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