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…
Often when we visit our clients’ homes, we notice they are underutilizing their backyard. More specifically, many homeowners are only using the space directly surrounding their home. Whether they have a front porch, rear patio or outside kitchen, the space being occupied is generally the area under the home’s roof. While this is a nice way to spend time outdoors protected from the elements, the desire to get into the yard is shared by many. Defining the home’s style and considering the flow is of upmost importance when enhancing to your landscape. That’s where Exterior Designs comes in! We want to see our clients using every square inch of their yard, but doing so in style and with purpose. Checkout some of our latest pergola designs and the inspiration behind them. Pergolas Come in Many Styles No wonder the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) listed pergolas as…
The temperature has dropped (slightly) and the Holidays are upon us! We wanted to take this opportunity to offer some inspiration to get your home ready for the season! A simple, yet festive way to create a Holiday look is by adding ornaments or colorful bulbs to your outdoor planters. Simply drop a few into your existing potted plants and your home will suddenly look Holiday ready. Of course, at Exterior Designs, we love the idea of incorporating fresh greenery into your decor. Some of the best front door designs we have seen stick with a theme. Whether you go with a playful look and incorporate colorful bulbs with Christmas characters, or a more elegant theme using fresh greenery and white twinkle lights is totally up to you. Choose a theme special to you and your family and run with it!…
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…
It’s Valentine’s Day and I can’t help but to think of the love I have for New Orleans – our city is so diverse in its culture, music, food and even landscapes! We have traditional New Orleans courtyards that Exterior Designs has become somewhat of a local legend for designing. We also get a lot of requests for outdoor patios, kitchens and comfortable areas to entertain guests when grilling, boiling crawfish or crabs, or hosting a fish fry. More recently, we have been asked to design meditation gardens. That’s right, a place where residents can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and retreat to a relaxing, tranquil garden in their very own back yard. I think this trend is a result of our busy schedules – we’re running around town, working full-time, carting our children to after-school…
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…
For years, Exterior Designs, Inc. has offered carpentry to complement our landscape services. We have a professional carpenter on staff that specializes in small interior and exterior projects. Exterior Designs offers a wide variety of new construction or remodeling services. We will work with you on drafting a plan that allows you to visualize the finished product. In addition to our carpentry services, we also offer handyman services to New Orleans and the surrounding area. Some of our services include: Cleaning dirt, dust and cobwebs from your porch or outdoor room Painting or staining  to refurbish existing wood work Removing fallen tree limbs and branches Building and staining or painting shutters Pretty much anything else you can think to relieve the stress of those tasks you simply don’t have the time or energy to think about! Creativity does not have…
Over 25 Million Monthly Unique Users Rated Top-Rated Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in the United States and Around the World New Orleans, LA, January 19, 2015 – Exterior Designs, Inc. of New Orleans has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Design by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The landscape design-build contractor of choice for New Orleanians was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. “We are honored that we have been chosen by our peers for such a wonderful award,” said Beverly Katz, founder and owner of Exterior Designs, Inc. “We notice more and more of our clients are starting their search for design ideas online and we couldn’t be more pleased to have partnered with the…
Maybe Robert Frost didn’t agree in his “Mending Wall” poem, but over the years we have come to learn that good fences really do make great neighbors. Privacy is always a concern especially when living in the city, and Exterior Designs has helped numerous clients in solving their challenges through well placed landscaping. Take this New Orleans home for example, our client came to us seeking a way to make his backyard more secluded from the neighboring houses. Their main complaint was they could not enjoy their back porch, pool or patio without feeling like they weren’t alone. I’m sure they have lovely neighbors, but no matter how nice they are there are times when you just crave a little solitude. Beverly Katz of Exterior Designs, Inc. is known for her vision in which she can correct a homeowner’s problem…
Exterior Designs was awarded 2nd place for their booth display design at this year’s Spring Garden Show. The New Orleans landscaping company took a step in the right direction with colorful flowers arranged in a foot shaped planter. “I was inspired by the idea of tip toeing through a secret garden and finding wonderful surprises around every turn”, says owner Beverly Katz. The Spring Garden Show in the New Orleans Botanical Garden took place on April 5-6, 2014. The annual event invites visitors to explore horticultural exhibits and enjoy educational lectures and family-friendly activities. The festival includes plant and garden product sales, a Plant Health Clinic, the Children’s Discovery Zone, Art Market and live music on the Haspel Outdoor Stage. To learn more about the show and upcoming dates, visit: http://www.neworleanscitypark.com/events/spring-garden-show Exterior Designs, Inc. is a full-service design and build landscaping company offering construction, installation…