LANDSCAPE DESIGN
To examine what drives landscape design and lawn maintenance trends , OPE + recently spoke with Joe Raboine , vice president of design , Oldcastle APG .
OPE +: Beyond increased property value , what drives homeowners to obsess over their lawns and landscapes ? Raboine : Many homeowners take pride in having a well-manicured lawn and pristine landscaping . It amps up curb appeal to stand out in the neighborhood , and sets the stage for guests when they arrive at your home . Investing in your lawn and landscape can be a way to show how much you care for your home and the experience your guests have when they visit .
Gardening is also a great hobby for many people . Working in the yard is a way for them to relax , destress and bring peace to their daily routine .
OPE +: The typical suburban backyard living space in the 1970s , ‘ 80s and even ‘ 90s was a concrete slab patio or a wooden deck with a table , umbrella and a few chairs . What have been the biggest driving factors in the hardscapes and outdoor room markets , and how much has the “ keeping up with the Joneses ” mentality played into that ? Raboine : The biggest driver in the past few years really was a result of the pandemic . People spent more time at home , and naturally ventured back outside . When they did so , they realized they felt great , and rediscovered how much nature can improve their overall mood and mental health . Their outdoor living spaces evolved from just a space to entertain into a space they use on a daily basis . This fundamental change led them to think of how they could upgrade their backyard experience and spend more time outside . As part of that , they are focused on creating outdoor rooms and extending the indoors out through outdoor living rooms , kitchens , workspaces and more . A hardscape patio or deck may still be part of the overall design , but there is much more variation and innovation in materials and structures in outdoor living spaces today . And there is always some level of wanting to impress the neighbors with your new and improved backyard !
OPE +: What trends have you seen with regard to the importance of indoor / outdoor living ? Raboine : Homeowners today are looking to create extensions of their
Photos provided by Belgard , and Oldcastle APG brand .
indoor spaces . They want their outdoor living areas to blend seamlessly with their interior styles so their entire home feels cohesive . I would say this is a driver behind our focus on modularity within our hardscapes products , as modular products allow us to create more custom designs in less time and with less product . Color and texture are also more important to today ’ s homeowner , which is why we ’ ve introduced an array of textured pavers that match nearly any style .
OPE +: What advice do you have for landscape professionals when it comes to not only understanding industry trends , but understanding homeowner wants / needs ( whether from a marketing / promotion standpoint to attract new business or from the perspective of client interaction from design to finished project )? Raboine : It ’ s important to take advantage of the tools available to help you better design and sell to the client . Programs that offer outdoor design templates make it easier to get client buy-in and tailor a design to their exact specifications . Augmented reality features also help them get a better visualization of their space , again making it easier to nail down a design and even sell in other features .
30 OPE + July 2024 www . OPE-Plus . com