Ways to Pair Your Driveway With a New Walkway in Sun Prairie, WI

The masonry surfaces of your front yard work together to create a strong design statement as well as practical ways for vehicles and pedestrians to move about. The front walkway and the driveway in particular are two essential components in making guests feel welcome. To enhance curb appeal with a unified theme and create a comforting welcoming vibe, here are some of the many ways to pair your driveway with a new walkway in Sun Prairie, WI.

Related: Choosing the Right Patio Pavers for the Driveway in Sun Prairie and Madison, WI

Bricks and Slabs

One of the best driveway surfaces is brick and this has been true all across the world for centuries with many types of vehicles. Clay bricks are available in a range of natural colors that depend on the colors of the clay they are built with. Concrete brick pavers are available in a greater range of different colors to match any landscape design. This is something to consider if you want to branch out by using traditional materials in more modern designs.

One inclination may be to perfectly match the colors and materials of the driveway and walkway. This can be achieved if you build them together, but it is more difficult if you are trying to match new materials with older materials.

This means that using complementary materials is a much safer bet because even slight differences in color or tone can be very obvious and unappealing. By contrast, using complementary materials looks more deliberate.

You could pair smaller brick pavers on the driveway with larger stone slabs on the walkway. The visual differences between the shapes and sizes will make a distinctive boundary where the driveway and walkway meet. You could keep the colors relatively similar for a more subtle look, or use bold contrast for dramatic effect (especially stunning if the walkway material continues across the driveway in an undulating pattern).

Creative Patterning

You can use the same masonry materials for both your walkway and your driveway to create a unified design theme, but create visual interest and give each element its own character by using different laying patterns.

For example, a brick driveway set in a herringbone pattern can transition into a gently winding walkway where the brick is set in a running bond pattern.

One excellent design creates a centerpiece that uses sandstone blocks in a circular pattern in the center, acting as a sort of island in the driveway. The main surface of the driveway and walkway surrounding the island uses red brick arranged in a stunning herringbone pattern. Branching out from the center island, black brick creates solid lines that reach all the way to the edges. The border of the driveway also uses these black bricks, which translates well into the walkway design. The same sandstone inlay design can be echoed in a smaller version at the front entry.

Elegant Textures

Some homeowners shy away from choosing pavers for their driveway because they fear that the surface will be marred by snowplows. And so, they settle for a boring asphalt driveway and use pavers only on the walkway. Today, however, you have the option of installing snowmelt systems that will virtually eliminate the need for plowing - and your gorgeous paver driveway will remain beautiful, unscratched, and safe all winter long.

This means you can safely choose textures over flat styles. Pavers inspired by flagstone, for example, bring a wonderful rustic warmth to your driveway and it’s a great material that can flow seamlessly into your walkway as well. Using a brick border along the driveway and walkway will add a touch of traditional elegance.

Related: A Great Welcome Home Starts With Your Driveway in Cottage Grove and Middleton, WI