Few of us have the luxury, opportunity, or headache of designing a drive from scratch. My home was built in 1930, and had a gorgeous brick driveway; this became mine in 1994. Over the years the drive had heaved such I could only broom the snow-not a good option in Michigan. I took up the old brick, with the idea of replacing it with a concrete brick made by Unilock in a pattern called “Copthorne”- in exactly the same configuration and pattern. Unbelievably, there was a concrete foundation under that old brick-I still do not understand how it ever drained. The original garage is part of the basement of the house. I understand now why I have a huge steel trench drain inside the basement door, which is tied into the house drains. In order to insure good drainage to the street, I now have to take a step down into my garage. This I do not mind, as I love my old house from start to finish.
My driveway is a full 28 feet wide when it meets the street. In 1930, there was a fountain in the center of that approach. An owner in the 1940’s must have driven a giant Buick that he kept smashing into the fountain. I am sure in a fit of exasperation, he cemented over that “bollard in a fountain costume”. Whatever unknown great designer narrowed that drive to barely 10 feet halfway to the house, and then expanded it back out again near the garage, I salute you. I have an hourglass shaped driveway-why not? I am sorry I cannot say that I designed it myself. I have a lavishly over scaled welcome home feature at the street, and a narrow transition that requires careful driving to get through. I call that the “slow down, you are home now” checkpoint. This opens up again at the garage/basement entrance.
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Consult a landscape architect or landscape designer about the drive; be clear about your needs. Do you entertain frequently, and need extra parking? Do your kids need a place to shoot hoops, and skateboard? A driveway that doesn’t work well for you can be an irritation you have to visit every day. Once the plan for the drive addresses your needs, then you are ready to plan for a beautiful driveway.
Anyone who has come to Detroit Garden Works the past 15 years has probably dealt with Rob. He manages, buys, designs, arranges, and generally oversees the store. He does display, he pulls weeds, and waters. He arranges purchases from nurseries in Ohio, Tennessee, and Long Island, and every place in between. He buys for DGW all over the country, and in Europe. In recent years, he has made a concerted effort to shop our country. We two agree that every city, every region in our country, has people making beautiful work. We just need to find them. His latest purchase, custom made plant towers in a weather resistant acid washed finish that looks like lead. Many of them are his design, and they are being manufactured by a local ironworker.