Front walkway ideas - urgently need ideas
Amber Jo
7 months ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
Amber Jo
7 months agofreedomplace1
7 months agoRelated Discussions
Need front walkway ideas, advice, and pics
Comments (19)Brent, This is an excellent question that has many answers. One needs to look no further than directly above in this thread to the posting of the photo by Prairie Love to garner an answer. It is always a little disconcerting to me that this is a forum where we have the opportunity to explore the issues of designing landscapes. Yet, just by the realities of the inescapable human element, we spend an inordinate amount of time not discussing design per se but rather the all-too-frequent real life situation of: I inherited this mucked-up mess... Now what do I do? Quoting Thomas Church, "Landscaping is not a complex and difficult art to be practiced only by high priests. It is logical, down-to-earth and aimed at making your plot of ground produce exactly what you want and need from it." If you are familiar with my writings over the years, you will recognize that I encourage people to use their minds. I really do have an abiding faith that the average person is more than up to the task of designing a pleasantly functional landscape if a bit of time is devoted to both study and thought. Sure abilities and results will vary. Joe and Jolene Average may never have the skill set to handle complicated, high-end projects. However, it is easily within Joe and Jolene AverageÂs abilities to avoid the common design blunders that we repeated time and time again on this very forum. If they need some further inspiration, they should not be afraid to consult a pro. As a society, we have largely abdicated our vital role in the decision-making processes of residential living. We have stood by on the sidelines, refusing to get involved until after the fact. Much of the siting and design decisions have been sloughed off to some contractor whose skills lay in pounding nails. When things really get bad, government gets involved and ordains codes where Âone size fits allÂ. All that one really has to do is go on some of the model home tours and you will quickly and objectively begin sort the wheat from the chaff. I suggest not doing this when you are actually in need of a house. Remove the pressure of time constraints. This exercise is best undertaken as research, not selection. Pretty soon you will find yourself asking; ÂWhy in the world did they do that? Or; ÂIf they would have only done it this way, then You soon begin to see what works smoothly and what doesnÂt. Magically, good design will rise to the surface like cream in the old milk can. As I have already stated, Brent, there are many answers to your question. Of course, each of those answers is site specific. Quite frankly, for many of the existing homes already mucked up, there remains no cost effective solution at this time. Throw enough money at it and most any problem can be made to go away. However, the law of diminishing returns soon kicks in. Problems are often cheaply avoided but can quickly become prohibitively expensive after the fact. For example, just down the block from me, a new home is going up on a corner lot that is almost of mirror image of my lot. My wife and I settled for nothing less than a corner lot. It is the only way to get away from the ÂWelcome to my garage" look with the typically small lots available today. Here was a perfect opportunity. The spec contractor just slapped the garage on the front of the house out of habit. The cost of the house would not have been increased a single cent to implement this bit of design forethought. It is too late now! IronBelly ...Nice job, Linlee....See MoreFront Walkway Ideas
Comments (9)It usually presents a more stable looking picture if the house face appears to be on level ground, especially at and around entrances (garage and house door.) I would recommend creating a retaining wall that extended far enough to the right so as to appear to support the windows right of the door. (I'd get rid of the evergreen there. It is overwhelming for the space.) Then, the bulk of the walk could be supported by slope. (You'd need to bring in some fill and blend the slope smoothly.) Presently, the walk cuts across the front at an angle (which always looks bad.) Bring it straight off of the porch landing (which should be extended forward and be larger) and blend it into a circular turn to the drive. Circular turns don't look good if they contain angles or flat spots. The walk should meet the drive edge at a 90* intersection, the same as it left the porch. More accurately, I mean the walk CENTERLINE. With a curving walk (and probably a curving drive edge) is not possible to have all edges meet at 90*. Just focus on the centerline and blend the side edges in a pleasing, consistent manner....See MoreBest rose (or hydrangea, or other idea) for front walkway hedge?
Comments (87)A look at the rose garden in my circle drive, year 2. The anise hyssop shot up and almost completely obscure my fountain, so I've begun transplanting them elsewhere. On the left is a new bare root Apricot Candy rose that's still small. Le Petit Prince on the right is fabulous, so I'm considering buying a second and relocating the Apricot. Earth Angel Margaret Merril Celestial Night These knock-outs were the only roses when I bought the place and they looked awful. I pruned down to three canes almost to the ground in March and they are doing amazingly now....See MoreIdeas for mulched walkway and landscaping in front of house
Comments (18)As far as the damaged tree, I don't think you can do anything about it. First it looks like the tree is mending itself. Second which you sort of confirmed the tree is in the easement for the street and technically is not yours, but belongs to the city. So the city will decide if it stays or goes. It looks like that it is far enough from your home that even if it falls straight at the closes part of your house there will be no damage. You have a pretty house. If it were mine I would add some flowering plants like roses, forsythia, Spirea, laura pendulum to add a little color to the house. May be a pretty pink cherry in the on the left about half way between the street an the house....See Morehoussaon
7 months agoOlychick
7 months agolast modified: 7 months agoAmber Jo
7 months agoOlychick
7 months agoapple_pie_order
7 months agobriandbec
7 months ago
Related Stories
FRONT YARD IDEAS10 Ideas for a Front-Yard Edible Garden Your Neighbors Will Love
Choosing attractive, well-mannered plants and sharing the bounty will go a long way toward keeping the peace
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN10 Friendly Front-Yard Seating Ideas
These gathering spots bring the party to the front of the house. Chat with neighbors and watch the world go by
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPING7 Ideas to Get You Back on the Front Porch
Remember the good old days, when porches offered front-row seats to street scenes? They can be even better today
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNIdeas for Contemporary Garden Paths
Clean lines and modern materials shine in these 11 sleek walkway designs
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN15 Ideas for a Stunning Garden Path
Let your imagination roam as you consider the many types of walkways possible in your garden
Full StoryPHOTO FLIP105 Ideas for Entryway Mirrors
Enjoy this gallery of mirrors near the front door. Which one can you see yourself in?
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES10 Tips to Start a Garden — Can-Do Ideas for Beginners
Green up your landscape even if you're short on time, money and knowledge, with these manageable steps for first-time gardeners
Full StoryHALLOWEEN10 Spooky Halloween Decorating Ideas to Try in Your Garden
Holey pumpkins, skeleton-like branches, decaying sunflower heads and more can make for wonderfully creepy decor
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN10 Gorgeous Container Garden Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining
Use these no-stress container garden ideas to add party-ready color to your patio, porch or deck
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGNo Fall Guys, Please: Ideas for Lighting Your Outdoor Steps
Safety and beauty go hand in hand when you light landscape stairways and steps with just the right mix
Full Story
Tammy Lawhorn