Driveway Gates: Designs for Different Properties
The driveway gate is often referred to as the front door of your property as it is quite literally the first engagement that your visitors and guests will have with your home. A well-designed gate can, and will, leave a lasting impression on your guests, but apart from the curb appeal of driveway gates, there are several other reasons why they’re not considered a luxury, but a necessity. In this article, we’re taking a look at what some of those reasons are, as well as different driveway gate designs for different types of properties.
Reasons for installing a driveway gate:
Take a look at this quick list of some of the top reasons why you should consider getting a driveway gate for your property. When it comes to convenient driveway gate design and installation, Glow Innovations has you covered.
Safety
Living in South Africa, we have to be conscious of safety and security all the time. A sturdy and working driveway gate acts as a security barrier between you and possible intruders. This is amplified when extra steps are taken to secure driveway gates in place to prevent them from being moved out of their positions.[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]On the flip side of the safety coin, driveway gates are meant to keep things and people in. In busy neighbourhoods, the last thing you want is the possibility of your kids or pets wandering in the streets alongside traffic or, worse, going missing.
Convenience
There is no doubt about the convenience factor that driveway gates offer consumers. At Glow Innovations, we find that this is one of the biggest contributing factors to our clients looking for automated driveway gates. Automating your driveway gate makes sense when you use the gate a lot, which eliminates the need for getting out of the car to do so every time. It also adds another element of security as not just anyone, without the access controls, will be able to operate the gate.
Aesthetics
Driveway gates have the primary function of serving as the main barrier between anyone entering or exiting the property. A secondary function of driveway gates is to add an aesthetic appeal to the home in conjunction with its fence or boundary wall. And this comes down to the overall design, which we go in-depth with a little further down in this article.
Increases property value
All of these factors, if done well, combine to turn into one more reason to get a driveway gate in and of itself, and that is that it adds value to your property. Meaning that the investment you make to install a driveway gate will pay off two-fold when it comes time to sell your home.
Driveway Gates Design
When it comes to the design of driveway gates, there are many factors at play that could influence the final appearance of the gate. This includes preference (obviously), the position of the gate, practical considerations, the type (if any) of automation that might be involved, colour, as well as the cost. Let’s take a closer look at some of these.
Positioning
Positioning of the driveway gate is a crucial factor as your driveway will direct where cars would go on your property. This should be the first thought that homeowners should have when considering installing a gate. Having gates designed from scratch can complement the home a lot better compared to “off-the-shelf” gates, especially if the driveway is at a slant or an awkward angle.
Practical considerations
The practical considerations of the gate play an important part in settling on a design. For instance, having the eloquent flows of wrought iron designs come at the price of sacrificing your privacy, whereas panelled/closed gates limit, at least to some extent, how creative one can get in the design. Over and above this, the type of automation, i.e. sliding or swinging, will also determine what would be possible, or not, from a design perspective (see below).
Colour and size
The colour and size of driveway gates are likely the most obvious considerations when having to choose a design, but it’s important to keep in mind the overall visual impact that they will have. Both the size and colour can either complement the rest of the home tremendously or contrast with so much so that it can look horrendous. So, it’s safe to say that these factors have a major influence on decision-making, and should be treated as such.
Costs
Most homeowners will likely have a budget when it comes to the installation of their driveway gates, which will naturally limit the degree of design elements that can be applied. At Glow Innovations we’re acutely aware of this and that installing a driveway gate isn’t a decision that is taken lightly. It is for this reason, amongst many others, that we incorporated an innovative way to not only design and visualise your gate as you go, but you can also see what the cost estimate would be at the same time.
Automation
Automation used to be a luxury, but it has become so common nowadays that it can be regarded more as a necessity. However, it plays a major factor in the design process as the type of automation, and its installation will be determining factors.
The type of automation can be split into two, namely sliding gates or swinging gates. The sliding type is when the gate opens to one side of the entrance, with wheels that usually run on a rail. Swinging arms are designed for a pair of gates that open laterally to both sides of the entrance – either towards the property or the street. High arching designs work better with swing armed gates whereas block designs will work better with sliding gates. It’s also worth noting that there could be a significant cost difference between the two systems.
There is also the option of having the motors installed above or below the ground. Yes, that is correct, if you’re that serious about the aesthetics of your driveway and front of the house, you can install the gate motors under the ground and essentially hide the “eyesores”. The installation is however a tad more challenging so you can expect added costs if you want to go this route.
Driveway gates design: different designs for different properties
Just like trends come and go in most outdoor decorating, the same goes for styles and designs of driveway gates. Unlike other facets of outdoor decor, it’s not as sustainable or practical to change it up or replace your driveway gate every other year. But fear not, as trusted experts in driveway gates, we’re here to help you to incorporate the current trends into something as timeless as the tides.
Minimalist gates
It’s safe to say that the world has gone crazy over minimalism in recent years and the realm of the driveway gates is no different. Minimalism is all about “less is more” and decluttering the excess, and we’re pretty sure that the modern trend won’t be going away anytime soon.
A minimalistic driveway gate is free of elaborate decorative designs – just as one would expect with “minimalism”. These types of gates would suit properties with smaller front yards and homes that were built with an abundance of simple materials such as galvanised steel and aluminium. It will also be beneficial when the rest of the home follows the trend so that it’s merely an extension of the gate. Or vice versa.
Modern farmhouse gates
The modern-farmhouse style as a whole has been rising in popularity in the last couple of years. Houses in this style can be described as modern and inviting even though there is a large focus on conventional and rustic elements. Driveway gates incorporate neutral tones, brushed metals, and a large presence of wood to tie in with that of the house and are generally smaller in size.
Therefore, modern farmhouse gates befit homes in this style, on big properties where safety is less of a concern – such as estates – where the boundary fence is not as high. Farmhouse gates can radiate the feeling of entering a farm in the countryside even if you’re in the heart of the city.
Contemporary gates
Contemporary design is a general term that refers to the styles of the present and the future, thus it usually incorporates modern architecture with emerging decor trends. It’s an ever-evolving style for people who like to express and/or experiment in anticipation of the next emerging trends – think gates that feature geometric patterns and distinct, yet minimalistic, characteristics. Contemporary driveway gates would therefore fit best with properties that boldly embrace the latest trends in decorating, such as complete newly-built or renovated homes with modern features.
Frosted glass gates
Frosted glass gates have also seen an uptrend in popularity over the last couple of years. Their appeal comes in the fact that you can still have a touch of privacy without blocking out the light you may need for ambience or your garden. Frosted glass also softens the exterior of a harsh boundary fence while keeping it modern and attractive. This is a suitable option for smaller, modern homes in suburbia that have small front yards on quiet roads.
Wrought iron gates
Wrought iron is a tough, malleable type of iron that is a popular choice for driveway gates due to its elegant, flowing finishes, versatility in utility, and durability. They can be customised into an endless array of design options making them suitable for a wide variety of property types. Although privacy is sacrificed, wrought iron gates are significantly secure thanks to thief-deterring spikes that can be incorporated into the design.
Wrought iron gates give your property an elegant and majestic appearance and thus fit well with several, though sometimes vastly different, properties. Property architecture types that go well with wrought iron gates include:
- Cape Cod Homes
- French Country/Provincial
- Spanish/Mediterranean
- Mid-century Modern
- Victorian
Generally, these types of properties and homes are on the larger side, with long flowing driveways accompanied by pebbles and stones with big landscaping. Wrought iron gates go well with these attributes as they complement the exterior of the homes without much effort.
Driveway gate design at Glow Innovations
As you can probably tell by now, there is a lot that goes into purchasing driveway gates. There’s the design, site meetings, and price comparisons. We know better than anyone that it can be a tedious and time-consuming process that few people can afford in the busy world that we live in today.
We figured someone ought to change that and it might as well be us. That is why we introduced a brand-new, innovative way of buying driveway gates: an easy-to-use, online system that allows our clients to design, visualise, and experience their driveway gates BEFORE purchase – all with an ongoing cost indicator as you add or take away from your design. You even have the option of self-installation!
Don’t believe us? Check out our state-of-the-art online shop for yourself.