Circular Gravel Driveway with Central Fountain

Design notes

Coastal design lets the light do the work. Look for weathered cedar shingle and white trim, bleached or grey decking, cable or rope railings, and a palette of sand, driftwood and sea-glass. Planting is grasses, hydrangeas, beach roses and anything that tolerates salt and wind; furniture is teak or wicker with white cushions. Keep surfaces matte and colours pale, and the mood stays breezy even miles from the shore.

What to look for

• The sequence from where the car stops to the front door
• Walkway width and the landing at the door
• Planting kept below the windows with a tree for scale