Category: Hardscapes

Are Landscape Remodels Worth the Investment?

By Alicia Witt  |  5/27/22

Like many of us, spending more time at home has probably given you the sudden urge to change your surroundings. You’ve repainted the bedroom walls, hung up some new pictures, and rearranged your furniture one too many times. With summer weather here, and no more indoor space to spruce up, you’ve set your sights on larger grounds: your outdoor space.

Suddenly many great ideas are coming to you – the patio and poolside can use an upgrade and a firepit would be nice. And while you’re at it, why not add an outdoor kitchen since that’s most likely where you’ll be spending the majority of your time? All of these additions seem really tempting, up until you look up pricing. You’re probably starting to wonder: is remodeling a landscape really worth the investment? In this article, we’ll go over a few reasons why a landscape renovation is more than worth it. Let’s get started!

Why remodel your outdoor space?

Aside from the obvious and much-needed change of scenery, there are many great reasons to invest in renovating your landscape: 

Quality of Life

Creating a beautiful outdoor space can have a significant impact on your quality of life and mental wellbeing. According to a 2018 study conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 85% of homeowners reported a greater desire to be home after completing their project, 78% reported feeling an increased sense of enjoyment when at home, and 79% reported a major sense of accomplishment when thinking about their project. 

Other studies have also found that spending time outdoors surrounded by nature can reduce stress, decrease blood pressure and increase memory and attention. Simply put, a well-designed landscape remodel will bring you happiness, something that we can all use a little bit of and that is priceless!

Family Living

Are the kids growing up much faster than expected? Or maybe you couldn’t resist bringing home one more puppy. It happens to the best of us. Instead of shopping for a larger home to accommodate your growing brood, why not renovate your backyard for some extra living space? When going this route, you should start by defining the areas you’d like to see in your yard.

Do you want to keep your vegetable garden? Do you want to add a space for entertaining family and friends? Do you have or want a pool with a lounging space? Can you easily keep an eye on your kids and pets from your patio? Properly planning your backyard remodel will ensure that you maximize your space and create a living environment that can be enjoyed by all for years to come. 

Home Resale Value

Something often overlooked when performing any renovation is how it may increase the resale value of your home. Improving our living environment is nice, but wouldn’t it be great to also see a monetary return on investment?

As with most things in life, first impressions matter, and the façade of your home is no different. According to 99% of NAR members, your home’s curb appeal will have a large impact on attracting potential buyers. So, what does that mean? Think manicured lawn, blooming flower beds, gorgeous steps, and an eye-catching driveway. Additionally, a well-landscaped home can sell for up to 12% more than a home with no landscaping!

Which features should you invest in?

The features you choose to invest in will depend largely on the reason why you are remodeling your landscape in the first place. That said, certain features will increase your home’s value more than others. If that’s a deciding factor for you, we’ve compiled a list based on the NALP-NAR survey mentioned earlier:

Outdoor Kitchen

Barbecues are great, but a fully equipped and personalized outdoor kitchen is even better! If you enjoy hosting get-togethers in your backyard, this is a feature you definitely want to look into. From shelving to mini-fridges and even side burners, there is no reason for you to be running back and forth from the indoors to the outdoors. We offer a wide range of retaining walls, allowing you to build a feature that is 100% you. Should you decide to sell your house, your outdoor kitchen just might seal the deal, and you can expect to recover about 71% of the invested cost. 

Concrete Patio

What’s a backyard without a patio? Whether you’re looking for a spot to lounge while the kids play in the yard, a place for your outdoor dining table, or a space for friends and family to gather, a patio is a must. According to the NALP, walkways, and patios with contemporary, geometric patterns are a growing trend! And with our large selection of concrete pavers and patio slabs, designing your perfect patio is made easy. From traditional to modern and everything in between, you will certainly find a product to match the style of your dreams. 

 

Fire Feature

Nothing says summer more than gathering around a crisp, warm fire after a day of lounging in the pool. But when we think about a fire pit, the image of a cast-iron bowl often comes to mind. Luckily times are changing, and options are growing, making it oh so simple to create a feature that will match your home’s aesthetic. Have a modern design in mind? Why not add a more modern fire pit into the mix? Its ultra-sleek design will certainly make it the centerpiece of your yard. Prefer something a bit more rustic? No problem – we can custom-build your ideal fire feature. Regardless of the style you choose, real estate website Zillow reported that homes mentioning ‘’fire pit’’ in their listing sold on average 3.8 days faster, and for 2.8% more – That equates to $8,400 more on a $300,000 home! It also ranked number one in the American Society of Landscape Architects survey on the most popular outdoor design elements. Finally, whether you’re selling or not, you’ll have something to make your space enjoyable throughout the seasons. 

Curb Appeal

If you’re thinking of selling, now is a great time to spruce up your entrance! The façade of a house usually tells buyers what they can expect once they come in, and a poorly kept front yard can leave potential buyers wondering what else is wrong with your home. A simple way to refresh your lawn is by keeping the grass green, the flowers blooming and adding garden edging and planters to keep everything in place. If you really want to take it up a notch, now would be the time to redo your driveway and follow design trends by laying pavers in eye-catching and unique patterns! You’ll certainly boost your curb appeal and have passersby doing a double-take. 

Landscape Lighting

Often an afterthought when planning a landscape renovation is lighting. But if you’re investing so much in your home’s exterior, wouldn’t you want to enjoy the view even once the sun has set? Not only does lighting increase safety when walking around your property at night, but it can also set the mood for your outdoor space. To really get the bang for your buck, we suggest investing in high-quality lighting that can be set with a timer and is guaranteed to last for years! If you’re in the process of redoing your steps, driveway, or any hardscape project, think about including integrated lighting such as step lights or recessed lighting, and use them to highlight key features of your landscape design. Adding ‘’outdoor lighting’’ to your home’s listing can even speed up the sale by three days. Not 100% sold on the idea? Check out our gorgeous hardscape lighting ideas for inspiration. 

So, is a landscape remodel really worth the investment?

In our opinion, a well-planned and thoughtfully designed landscape remodel is always worth the investment. Whether it be an improved quality of life and mental wellbeing, more space for family activities, or a higher resale value, renovating your outdoor space is sure to bring you long-lasting benefits. So, what are you waiting for?

 

Find out how much your project will cost and treat yourself to the landscape remodel of your dreams!

 

 

Serving Austin and its greater areas including Leander, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Marble Falls, Burnet, and Bertram

BOT MARCH BLOG

Creating Your Personal Oasis

Have you ever seen a backyard swimming pool so nice that it felt as though you were swept off to a luxury resort? We have … in fact, we’ve installed a few! A beautiful and functional backyard pool environment is a pleasure to behold. Not only is a pool the perfect place to entertain guests, but it becomes your own, private oasis to escape to at any time.


When renovating your backyard and adding a pool, you want to take into account both your preference on aesthetics and functionality. Consider all of the elements that will go into your new, private oasis. Your luxury pool will be the focal point of the yard, but feel free to gather inspiration from your home when completing the design. Landscaping and hardscaping always work well together, in order to create an attractive, cohesive space around the pool and your yard.

Plants by the Pool

Plants balance the hard surfaces around your pool, with the softening effects of landscaping. They also add liveliness to your oasis through height, color, and movement. If you have existing trees or plants in your backyard, we will evaluate them and do our best to incorporate them into your new design. Besides, why take out what you already have, if it will work within the space? It is important to surround yourself with plants you love;that way when you are relaxing poolside, you’re all smiles.

modern backyard landscape design with horizontal fence, spruce trees along fence line, and in-ground pool

Building Privacy

The last element to bringing YOUR luxury resort to life… privacy! There are an exuberant amount of  ways to add an element of privacy to your backyard oasis. Trees can provide shade for meals or lounging out on the patio. Bushes screen box decks and keep unsightly pool equipment hidden away. Enclosing your backyard with a pergola or walls creates a sense of seclusion and intimacy; keeping distractions and neighbors at bay.

Complete YOUR Oasis

Wouldn’t you love to have your own private, luxury oasis? A place to entertain friends and family? A place to relax and unwind after a long week? If so, give us a call to set up your consultation.

HARDSCAPES and NATURE

Hardscapes and Nature

When you think about landscaping you might imagine lush green lawns, vibrant colorful flowers, and wispy grasses blowing in the breeze. It’s not as often that we consider the structures within the setting — your hardscapes.

Hardscapes are an important part of your landscape design. They are paths, walls, patios, and any other “hard” features made of concrete, brick, or rock. Paths and patios can tie your design together; while  adding a fire element such as a fire pit or fireplace can create that cozy or romantic ambiance you’re searching for. There are four main elements you can incorporate into your landscaping: fire, water, earth, and air.

FIRE

One of the most popular hardscape elements is fire. Whether it’s a fireplace or a fire pit, you can be sure this will be THE place of gathering for friends and family. They both offer lighting and warmth once the sun starts to set, and the ambiance will keep everyone gathered around, chatting into the wee hours of the night. Not only are there many different sizes and shapes, but fire pits allow you the choice to burn wood or gas and to have colored glass or decorative rock fill the space – creating a stunning, more modern look.

WATER

Adding a water feature to your hardscape increases the aesthetics tenfold. Not only are they beautiful and mesmerizing to watch, but the sound of water flowing creates a relaxing atmosphere anyone can find serenity in. All you need to complete the flow is a comfy chair to curl up in and a little bit of time to close your eyes and relax.

EARTH

The perfect addition to a hardscape is the surrounding landscape. Adding trees allows for privacy, shade, and even a little burst of color. Bordering pathways with vibrant flowers and other small greenery can expand the hardscape while adding texture and color. You can also, easily, transition from the hardscape into the lawn by incorporating decorative rock or mulch.

AIR

We couldn’t leave out Pergolas! A quickly growing trend, especially here in Texas, pergolas provide shade, lighting, privacy, and a place to hang your favorite flowery baskets. It provides an excellent place to have your patio furniture for outdoor meals or a full outdoor kitchen. Surround your pergola with tall, flowy grasses and you’ll be able to hear the whisperings of the wind as you enjoy the cooler temperatures of your shady oasis. Air elements are all about finding unique ways for the senses to experience natural air and cooling elements; and these are sure to have you covered.

Whether you choose one or multiple elements to include in your hardscape, adding these components will definitely have you spending more time outdoors with your family, friends, and self.

Transform Your Yard with Hardscapes This Winter

Room to Dream

It seems like everyone is moving to the Austin metro these days! While the Austin suburbs grow up around us out in the Hill Country, just a short drive north east of Austin, in towns like Salado, Jarell and Florence, being a homeowner can still easily mean you’re going to need a riding lawn mower as well.

With room to breathe and dream, owning a home with land gives you the opportunity to create whatever you want. It can also be a daunting task to figure out where you should begin or how it will all work together.

Covered rock patio with fire pit

The Benefits of Winter

Where will the paths lead? What type of sitting areas do they go to? What elements do you want to include? Should the outdoor kitchen go here? Or a fire pit there?

The winter months, when your space is less cluttered with greenery, is a great time to visualize a plan for your landscape. It’s also the perfect time to build hardscape structures like patios, paths or outdoor living areas. Take the opportunity now to create a year-long solution for your landscape design that you can enjoy from one season to the next.

Hardscapes & Outdoor Living Spaces

If you’re lucky enough to have the space to dream of more for your home, get some inspiration for hardscapes and landscape designs for your home below.

PATHS & WALKWAYS

Stone Pathway in Grass

natural stone walkway with gravel and rock and plant accents

OUTDOOR KITCHENS

OUTDOOR FIREPLACES & FIRE PITS

Outdoor Fireplace

UNIQUE HARDSCAPE ELEMENTS

Love Where You Live

Aren't you ready to stop planning and start enjoying your new backyard, or front yard…or both? If you're one of the lucky ones, give the space you've invested in the heart and attention it deserves, or in other words, love where you live.

Give the landscape design and build team at Best of Texas Landscapes a call today at 512-240-1433 to schedule your consultation. We are your turn-key solution to all of your landscape needs!

Urban Landscape Designs for Modern Homes

Urban Spaces

Modern and contemporary homes are both known for clean, architecutral lines and an open-space feel. It is often the case however, that modern designs (as in mid-century modern) often have more wood elements and contemporary designs have more stone and steel. The end result for both is a minimalist, clean look that both charms and calms the senses with a touch of class and order.

One myth regarding modern landscape designs is that you will have to sacrifice functionality for minimalism. We’re going to show you how you can incorporate both so you can enjoy an outdoor space with all of your choice amenities and a clean landscape design that complements your modern home.

Beautifully Blended

Modern and contemporary homes are commonly being outfitted with more indoor to outdoor living installations. In the picture of above we were able to create a seamless backyard design with

  • A fluid indoor to outdoor transition
  • An artful blend of wood, stone and steel elements
  • Clean lines and modern elements
  • A contemporary feel
  • A pop of color
  • And gorgeous 360° views!

The end result is a contemporary landscape design that perfectly complements and completes the overall look and feel of the home.

Look closely and you'll find that this backyard is also not suffering from a lack of functionality that would render the space overlooked and under-utilized. In fact it is fully equipped with

  • An outdoor kitchen
  • A zero-entry pool
  • Paths and walk-ways
  • Benches and plant beds
  • An almost indistinguishable outdoor shower
  • And outdoor lighting!

Whether you want a calming place to relax or an inviting space to entertain, this backyard has it all!

Make the Hard to Reach Easy to Maintain

If you're the kind of person that wants to finish your lawn maintenance with a few turns of a push-mower, be sure to make the hard to reach spots easy to maintain.

You can do this by including hardscapes like stone patios and paths or rock beds with select accent plants. Be sure to consider your plants spacial requirements for future growth and use different sizes and shapes to create depth and focal points.

 

 

To capture the aesthetic of your home or create a modern outdoor design, you don't have to abide by strict guidlelines or a uniform style. While contemporary designs are known for their monochromatic tones, a pop of color or the warmth of wood can be a welcome addition. Additionally, you can have a functional outdoor space that meets your minimalist goals. Your vision can be a reality with a little planning, some creative design and a trusted team of experts.