What kind of driveway material is appropriate for a midcentury home? Pavers? Concrete? Pea gravel? Asphalt? Reader Jane does not like the pinky-gray brick paving blocks added at some point as the driveway of her 1958 home, and welcomes our ideas and suggestions. I have some immediate reactions and thoughts… but I have not researched this topic… Readers, what do you think? Read on for Jane’s complete question and story…
Jane writes:
I searched your site for any info on driveways… but I think it is a topic you have yet to cover! My midcentury home has been unfortunately renovated with a pinky-grey interlocking brick. I [*h*-word edited by pam] interlocking brick. With a passion. Looking up ways to cover it seems to result in no answers – apparently, everyone on the internet wants to put this in, not cover it or take it out!
Wondering if you have any thoughts on midcentury driveways — I think concrete looks best… but maybe pea gravel would be a cheap way to cover up the interlock… I dunno. I was thinking to maybe post a pic of my Midcentury Don Mills (Ontario) house exterior and have some of your readers weigh in on cool midcentury driveway ideas.
Forgive the lawn, it’s Canadian winter, everything is dead at the moment.
I just got a quote from my family contractor, he said 8 to 10 THOUSAND dollars just to rip out the interlock and put in plain concrete. Ay caramba! Now I know I need some more options! I wonder what else would look good with this house.
Dumping pea gravel over the interlock is looking like the cheapest option… but can you roll giant recycling bins over that stuff? Will it get all over the road? So many questions!
Can you just pave over interlock? I’m guessing the experts will say no…
I also asked Jane for more info on what got her into this lovely home. She responded:
I have always had a fetish for Mid Century houses. Didn’t grow up in one, but I had friends who did. I swore one day when I could afford one, I’d buy one! We bought the house in 2010 after a very loooong search – they say no one leaves Don Mills, except in a hearse. People all moved in in the late 50s when it was built, then loved it so much, they never moved out. So housing stock is hard to come by. Don Mills is the only area in Toronto (within commuting distance to my job) that has these types of homes. First modern planned community in Canada. Lots of great MCM houses. And a great place to live.
Anyway, after 10 months of searching, we found this one. Unfortunately it had fallen prey to some ‘flippers’ who bought it in 2008, put in some cheap Home Depot/Ikea updates, then resold in 2010. I’m in the process of trying to undo all that they did, such as putting fake wood floor over perfectly good linoleum (arrrgh!), painting over wood panelling (gasp!), ripping out kitchen (silent weeping), etc.
I have pics of what the original house looked like in ’58 – but doing before and afters will wait for another time, when I am happy with my interior (but will I ever be happy?) haha.
By the way, the grey in the front was picked from that palette of Eichler colours you posted ages ago – Chelsea Grey. Thanks for that – they have been very useful. I’m picking some more from that set for my fence.
Cheers, Jane
Thanks, Jane, for all this information. This is a good one. Readers: Read more about historic midcentury Don Mills at Jane’s blog, Don Mills: Rediscovering the Suburban Dream.
And now: Let’s hear your ideas… I’m gonna hang back, read your ideas, think about ’em, and pop in later with an opinion and ideas…
linda blackmore says
I agree with the landscape option. If you spend some time researching landscape of the period, you can get an amazing change with less money, and the dw will blend. If you can do the labor, you can do in preplanned stages for far less expense.
TappanTrailerTami says
Personally – I wouldn’t stain, rip out, or otherwise do anything temporarily cosmetic to your driveway.
What I would do in order to Mid Century-ize is I would create a pattern using the existing pattern and pull selected pavers and replace them with a tan colored pavers of the same type to match the brick on your house.
I think this could be done relatively easily, and cheaply, and then there would be no worries over stain wearing off, and would be a lot less expensive than asphalt.
Think: interlocking squares, or diamonds, or something doable within the pattern you have just by changing the color of a few of the pavers for contrast, and to tie in the brick color on your home.
That’s my .02!
lynda davis says
Very good idea, Tami, about using another color paver for a pattern! And, this would be an inexpensive option. Perhaps you could continue the look with the path to the door using mostly the tan color and maybe the pink pavers you took out. Power washing would help too.
Jane says
Most of the houses in the neighbourhood have asphalt. I don’t think anyone has concrete, that I have seen. So asphalt was probably the original driveway style of my area.
I’m googling staining… still not much info (lots of info on how to get stains OFF of interlock, though!)
I am thrilled with all the feedback and interest. Thanks everyone!
Adrian says
Jane,
I live in Toronto and had clients in that area as I am a jack of all trades. I could come visit you if you like and share some fantastic ideas. Restoring homes and vintage things is my passion. You can email me at OddJobber@hotmail.com
🙂
Patty says
I would call that a herringbone pattern. In my MCM neighborhood I’ve seen pink roofs (now gone), pink siding, blue siding, pinkish stone detail on the front, greenish stone (both original). I would get over it and maybe you will even learn to like/appreciate it. I’m curious why the previous owners didn’t throw the money into a garage instead. Maybe they were bricklayers.
Anna says
No! Must keep carport.
Don Mills back in the day – went looking for the photo and found it on Jane’s blog
http://donmills.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/deepwood-crescent-then-and-now/
Zach Woods says
While my personal choice would be to keep the carport – they are very functional if a bit of a nuisance when snow or leaves start blowing – I think leaving this sort of decision to the owner is important. Particularly important when the owner does seem concerned with the period aesthetics and doesn’t plan major alterations.
Zach Woods says
I lean towards what is correct for the house when it was first built or at least what was correct for other similar houses in the area when they were first built. If you can’t find period photographs, or what was originally used for the driveway surface is not to your liking, I would take either the asphalt or two cement strips suggestions above and run with one of those. I also think that pavers do not look great and definitely do not fit the period (at least in most of the eastern part of North America).
The above said, I would stick with the pavers (they look to be in great shape, installed well and recently), and save money now either to spend on other things that are more important to you or to save towards driveway or other restoration work in future.
You should also check with your town or municipality on what the regulations are. Many areas have rules that limit how much surface can be impermeable (this may be why the previous owner went with the pavers, at least in part). Don’t get your heart set on something that codes will disallow . . .
Adrian says
If you decide to keep the pavers and do nothing, I will offer you one last very good suggestion, You can power wash it, after it dries, you can put a semi glossy or glossy clear finish over it to give it the “wet” look. It’s really quite beautiful that way.
Leslie says
Jane ~ I love your house! It looks just like my next door neighbors home in Albuquerque, New Mexico except his is stucco and wood. I would keep the pavers and as mentioned above possibly stain/paint them. Those of us who live in mid century modest homes have thing we love about them and updates made over the decades that need to be “undated”, I don’t think the driveway looks out of place. Next question, how will you spend the 10,000.00 you just saved? (hee hee)
Jason says
I know it isn’t your favorite, but I think I’d have to learn to live with the pavers…they are in good shape and were expensive. I think you could put your money elsewhere and be happier with those projects.
Adrian says
Hi Jane,
I could suggest that you leave the pavers in if they are still in good shape, repair what needs to be done (Dips,etc.) and simply roll over it lightly with black driveway sealant in 2 or 3 coats. It will leave the outline of the pavers original but will make it look fantastic! Don’t fill in the cracks too much (Which is why I said to roll on lightly). But filling in wide gaps will prevent weeds from growing in between.
Another option is to have it painted/stained and then seal it with a semi gloss or matte clear finish. You could do a marble effect, granite effect, you name it! My suggestion would be to have a medium pink coral, Marbled paint treatment (Same colour as the “Submit” Button. 😉 and then sealing it with a semi gloss clear finish.
All the best!
-A