Beverly Katz, APLD
Exterior Designs, Inc.
New Orleans, LA
contact info: member’s profile
company info: website
With a background in interior design, Beverly Katz founded an innovative business, Exterior Designs in 1971. Her unique concept entails developing outdoor “rooms” instead of simply adorning yards with plant materials.
Beverly’s trademarks are the New Orleans style courtyard and innovative pool designs, both new and renovated. Throughout the country she has incorporated regional flora, specialty stonework, ponds and running fountains to mimic the. unique spaces for which New Orleans is most appreciated. As a specialist in “problem solving for yards”, Beverly makes it possible for any space, no matter how bleak and forlorn, to reflect natural beauty. Her area’s of knowledge include paving, masonry, courtyards, arbors, pool design, horticulture, landscape architecture and the resolution of drainage problems. The works oflocal artists are reflected in Beverly’s vision through her use of custom furniture, fountains, sculpture and other types of exterior adornment.
Serving both commercial and residential clients, Beverly Katz’s Exterior Designs is one of the region’s few woman owned and operated landscape construction and maintenance companies.
Educated in Interior Design and Liberal Arts at the University of Texas in Austin, TX, she continued her education in Interior Design at Dominican College in New Orleans. She has studied Theory at the University of New Orleans, and Finance at Tulane University in New Orleans. She is a licensed landscape contractor and a licensed horticulturist. She is also certified with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). She is a muchin demand lecturer in her field.
Active in many civic organizations, community service is an important part of Beverly’s life.
“I create special places that are irresistible and welcoming”, Beverly says. “They provide an escape from the world and an environment in which to enjoy one’s own piece of nature. I strive to impact a relaxed, sensual feeling that can not be duplicated in any other area of the home. The outside is your haven of relaxation.”
Featured Project
The beginning
It is one thing to design a clean slate as I am free to lay out various approaches with 
my client’s requests in mind. I find it more challenging when the client has many existing features such as trees, drainage issues, an existing pool, underground wires and pipes and many other obstacles. After I take into consideration the clients need and site restraints, I complete the design process and with the client’s approval, implementation begins and a beautiful, functional, outdoor area has been achieved.
Five or six years later
The client request that I refurbish and add a few more elements to upgrade the garden 
and courtyard. Creativity comes in to play when I am asked to improve on an already well thought out design. This is not easy; with careful study I plan an even more exquisite and functional garden and courtyard. My team and I have added a new twist and taken our talents a step farther by incorporating in the landscape new accent plants, powerful lush colors, garden art, fountains, and unusual pottery.
Today
The courtyard and pool areas will repeat the same colors that are in the garden. 
Containers on the market today are bursting with strong accent colors that work beautifully with the annuals. Current furnishings are now designed with more comfort and have a richer look. View our Flores garden from start to finish and 
see how it was updated with the current trends.
Recently, I have added another service to this refreshing new look – Partyscape – the client’s Exterior Florist. We achieve this by dressing up porches and rear areas and making special events personal and memorable.
