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kitty_fra

driveway placement checklist?

6 years ago

Maybe I am not finding the right section of the site for these questions.


Are there standard questions to ask about siting a driveway? Even though we've lived in the same house for decades, we've never agreed on where the driveway should be. It is a country place so space is not a problem. It is a small cottage style house with a single attached garage that has been converted to a workshop. The garage is too small for a modern car. The new driveway will be gravel. I love the look of informal edges with plantings with the gravel. I also plan to use ribbon gravel going on back on the property to the sheds.


The home was built in the 1950s with the kitchen on the south. The original single, attached garage is on the north. The original owners came into the house through the only bathroom to the rest of the house. Really a strange set up! Early "mudroom" idea I believe, but that has all been closed off now.


What I am finding is a conflict between having clear views from the front of the house (both curb appeal and looking out at the prairie skylines) and having car parking close enough to the front door that my elderly friends feel welcomed and safe.


I think for my personal parking, I will continue to use the small drive and parking close to the kitchen door on the south side of the house. Currently, this is the only place with gravel, so everyone who visits tries to crowd into that small space and then comes in through my recycle, dog food and trash to get through to the kitchen.


Ideas? Is there a checklist of what to consider when sketching out a new driveway? I have very little money to spend on this. Mostly, I just want to lay gravel in the right places so that later I can add some hardscaping and more landscaping.




Comments (9)

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Maybe some drawings to show how the house sits on the property right now I am not getting an idea of that and IMO a driveway is part of a pakage taking you to the front door so I guess from what I see the driveway would make sense to run beside the work shop area.

    kitty_fra thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 6 years ago

    I am looking for the arial view. Will upload it as soon as I find it. Thank you!

  • 6 years ago

    Attached. The front door of the house faces Road K. You can see two "visitors" vehicles in the driveway area on the north. And my vehicle in the driveway on the south near the kitchen door. I like what has become a ribbon driveway heading back to the shop area. But, I've got to have a more cleanly defined driveway to encourage people to come to the front door.


  • 6 years ago

    With a prettier more defined walkway to the front of the house...then at the turnoff poi t....maybe a cute sign with “welcome to our home” or the family name?

  • 6 years ago

    Without being there it is difficult to tell exactly where the “parking area” should be...but the turn-in area i should be wider ...so entering is easy from both directions.... another parking option would be too just widen the road in front of the house so people could just pull in ...and park facing the house....with a defined walkway to the house...and a nice border separating the parking from the lawn area

  • 6 years ago

    It looks like you could do this to the right side of the driveway when entering as well ...that would preserve the lawn area..if it does not seem too far from the front door...

  • 6 years ago

    Like this?..either way

  • 6 years ago

    thank you. I will experiment with these ideas. I wondered today about adding a heavy solid bench halfway. so if someone were feeling like it was a long walk they could have a place to catch their breath. thank you again. these are good and doable ideas.

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