When people think “landscaping” they usually only consider plants, trees and bushes. But one important part of landscaping that often gets overlooked is hardscaping. Most people think hardscaping refers to big things like fire pits, paved surfaces, retaining walls, etc. While it definitely does include those things, hardscaping is really just any design element that isn’t living. Benches, walkways, and strategically placed rocks are all considered hardscaping. Incorporating hardscaping and landscaping into your design can add both functionality and beauty. Check out some of the specific benefits below. Correct grade problems and improve drainage An uneven lawn can create a lot of problems, from soil erosion to poor drainage and areas that are completely inaccessible. Adding a retaining wall can help prevent soil erosion and create a flat space for plants to grow. Incorporating a pathway or stairs can make the top or…
Beverly Katz, featured on WWL-TV’s Great Day Louisiana, discusses the best way to start when planning an outdoor-living area and what problems she comes across when addressing New Orleans landscapes. The full interview What is the best way to start when planning an outdoor-living area? The first thing to do is a site analysis. This is when you consider how your outdoor space will be used and by whom. As families grow and evolve, how you use your home changes. And these changes affect your exterior space, too. Do you want someplace to entertain? A play area for children? Need to camouflage yard tools or garbage cans, or simply beautify your backyard? Make a list of the features you already have that you want to keep or you need to work around, like a large tree or swimming pool and…
Guest article by Lee Park and Rachael Baihn with natural solutions recommended by Exterior Designs, Inc. Insects in your New Orleans home and yard can drive you buggy. A well-designed landscape includes flowers, plants, and shrubbery that can keep common pests away. Some insects in New Orleans are vital to the ecological balance. But the city has its share of mosquitoes, cockroaches, katydids, stinging caterpillars, crickets, and many others. Blame the heat, humidity, and proximity to Lake Pontchartrain for attracting insects. Bug Biology 101 Most insects have a keen sense of smell — but they don’t detect scents and odors like humans do. Many insects “smell” by using their antennae or other organs. It gives them the ability to sniff out food, potential mates, and to avoid predators. Bugs also produce odors that help them communicate with each other. Many plants are able…
Guest article by Peter Goldberg and Rachael Baihn with natural solutions recommended by Exterior Designs, Inc. You’re doing everything right with your lawn. You plant the best grass seed for New Orleans weather. You follow the proper procedures and do what’s best for your yard. But even the most well-kept lawns are susceptible to disease. Learn how to prevent and overcome these lawn diseases that are common in New Orleans. Because we love our pollinators and want to continue to enjoy healthy fruits and vegetables, we will always recommend natural remedies. Here are the seven most common lawn diseases in NOLA and how to deal with them to restore your lawn to greatness! #1: Brown Patch Brown patch is a fungus that attacks most types of grasses but causes the most damage to Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, and centipede grass. It…
As a local Landscape Designer and owner of Exterior Designs, I am always interested in hearing about the value of the services I provide to New Orleans and its surrounding areas. I recently read landscaping can add tens of thousands of dollars to the value of a residential property. And it’s no wonder because with time, interior décor generally goes out of style. However, landscaping only matures and becomes more valuable as time goes on. From my experience working with realtors and their clients, among the top things buyers seek the most in a new home is a well-manicured design and large, mature plants and trees. Home buyers typically understand the costs associated with creating a new landscape and many are willing to pay more for one that’s already established. It reduces their out-of-pocket expenses as they can absorb the…
Beverly Katz Adds a Touch of French Quarter Style to Metairie Home Old world custom fireplace, brick paved courtyard and black wrought-iron details reflect influences of Spanish and French architecture. Upon entering Cathy Green Rosenstein’s garden in Metairie, you cannot help but notice the vibrant colors that greet you. The eye is drawn to a large multi-trunk Savannah Holly tree and an elegant fountain used to anchor the space while setting the stage for a colorful garden that flanks the kitchen window. Intended to be enjoyed from inside the home as well as outside, the garden incorporates varying textures and heights, creating visual interest from both perspectives. Dwarf mondo grass provides a lush filler of dark green blades and is the perfect backdrop for the surrounding pink geraniums, blue salvias and sun-loving impatiens. Beverly Katz left nothing to chance when…
Looking to start a landscape project in time for spring? Exterior Designs and Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights partner frequently to create well lit New Orleans style courtyards and outdoor spaces using Bevolo’s copper electric & gas lighting. Read the interview below, copied from the original article at: http://www.bevolo.com/blog/trends-in-landscape-architecture What makes New Orleans landscape unique? The outdoor spaces reflect the historic buildings of Spanish and French influence with the brick masonry, wrought iron and sconces. Customers will say to me, ‘I just want a feeling of the past and to connect to [my] ancestors, I want what my grandmother had.’ Beverly achieves this feeling through careful selection of materials and frequent maintenance. What trends are you seeing in Landscape Design? Here, the trend is to stay Southern and true to local. I can take a huge space and make it an intimate area. It…
Exterior Designs by Beverly Katz of New Orleans Awarded Best Of Houzz 2017 Over 40 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in North America and Around the World New Orleans, LA, January 19, 2017 – Exterior Designs by Beverly Katz of New Orleans has won “Best Of Customer Service” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The full-service design and build landscaping company was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based…
Beverly Katz was chosen as the 2016 Master of Landscape Design by MyNewOrleans.com. See excerpt from their site below. Master of Landscape Design Beverly Katz Exterior Designs As a girl growing up in Texas, Beverly Katz wanted to be a ballerina. As an adult, she found her way into another artistic endeavor — landscape design. Katz first worked as a landscape architect’s assistant and then struck out on her own. In business for more than 25 years, clients have come to refer to Katz as a “landscape therapist” due to her way of transforming their outdoor spaces by exploring an owner’s interior life. “I study people through their interior first so I can capture what they like and need and let it flow to the outside,” she says. A life member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, Katz has garnered…
Local New Orleans Designer Travels to China Beverly Katz of Exterior Designs Spends Labor Day with brother architect Larry Samuelson, AIA in Chengdu, China Beverly Katz, local New Orleans landscape designer and owner of Exterior Designs, travels to Chengdu City, Sichuan, China to visit brother architect Larry Samuelson, AIA. During her time abroad, Samuelson showed his sister around and introduced her to his latest modular home project. Chengdu is the capital of China’s southwestern Sichuan province and perhaps most commonly known for its cuisine, the spicy Sichuan peppercorn that flavors the region’s hot-pot dishes. Also the home of the giant panda, Chengdu has established the world-renowned breeding and research base for giant pandas that attracts almost 100,000 visitors each year. Covering tens of hectares with bamboo groves and a native-like habitat, the base is the only one of its kind…