Outdoor Living:
Software Brings Makeover to Life

By Kelly Bienvenu, contributing writer for Belgard Hardscapes

Pre-construction work on the patio and bar area included tying in to the utilities from the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

Outdoor rooms are growing in popularity as homeowners look to expand their entertainment areas into open spaces. Belgard???????(R)???? Hardscapes is aiming to capitalize on this burgeoning market with its Design Studio software. The software includes a library of full-color 3-D renderings, fly-through animation, and materials lists at no cost, with custom designs that start at under $100.

The software allows landscape architects to overcome one of the most difficult aspects of designing a backyard makeover: Illustrating for homeowners what the finished product will look like before any work has begun.

This is a photo of the Simoneaux residence back porch before renovation. The homeowners wanted to create a space that was more conducive to entertaining. There was a 220 square foot grassy area next to the patio that was basically wasted space. The homeowners tried putting a swing there to make the space usable, but were constantly having to move the swing to cut the grass. Plus, the drainage was terrible, and the area was often spongy and muddy due to rains.

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For homeowners Pierre and Christi Simoneaux of Covington, La., the software helped bring life to their outdoor makeover plans. After making some initial decisions on the landscape design, photos of the yard and basic sketches were submitted to the software to be converted to 3-D images.

Design Studio software was used to generate this photorealistic rendering of the paver patio addition and a built-in wet bar that is comprised of three modular units. In addition to appliances and furniture, the rendering includes textured illustrations of the patio hardscapes.

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The initial plan included a makeover of the front walkway, two paver patio additions, and an outdoor kitchen and living room furnished with pre-built modular units, including an L-shaped bar, a grill station, and a fireplace.

Prior to renovation, the front walkway consisted of two separate paths, each with two distinct sections, one of exposed aggregate concrete and one of brick. This gave the front of the house a disjointed, unattractive look. Plus, the dual walkways had sunken below grade and were always muddy.

However, once the Simoneauxs saw the initial renderings, they realized the items would overwhelm and cramp the space.

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The rendering of the home and landscaping was made from a scanned photograph, as well as textured illustrations of the hardscapes. The design included a curved and scalloped walkway of Mega Lafitt???????(R)???? pavers, a double sailors course of the company?EUR??,,????'?????<

In addition to eliminating the fireplace, the renderings spurred other changes to the design, including the curvature of one of the patios and the size and shape of the outdoor kitchen elements. From the contractor?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Designers and contractors have four levels of service available in the program. The free service offers a number of existing design plans that already include 3-D animated fly-throughs, 2-D photorealistsic screen shots, project dimensions, and Belgard product materials lists. Or, professionals may submit an existing custom plan and convert their designs into 3-D images with animation, as was done with the Simoneaux project.

Demolition of the former walkway included the removal of two sections of clay brick and three concrete pads. The new walkway was outlined with a bullnose concrete border along the curved edges to create a smooth transition. Removal of the original walkways allowed for the creation of a singular 200 square foot elegant entrance to the home, resulting in an immediate upgrade to our curb appeal.