I have a drainage issue that needs correcting and need to divert some water flow from beside my driveway to another drainage area especially during rain storms.

I want to keep this pretty simple and as wee as cost efficient, but it needs to look nice too. I considered using a catch basin and using 4" drain pipe to carry the water away, but I am concerned that this will not carry enough water during heavy rains. I really do not want to do a traditional french drain, but was thinking of just using an open drainage ditch filled with rock. My neighbor has just installed something like that and used river rock over landscape fabric. I would prefer something that looks a little nicer (which is subjective I guess)and I am also concerned that the river rock will wash away over time. So I am considering doing a drainage ditch and lining it with flat stones instead of the round river rock.

Could anyone offer any advice about a project like this?

Thanks very much