Curb Appeal

These are the most popular landscaping trends for 2017

Houzz San Antonio home Outdoor Living House 334 Alamo Heights exterior front

Distinctive front yards are trending.

Photo courtesy of Craig McMahon Architects, Inc., Houzz

In 2017, distinctive front yards are making a comeback, “smart” outdoor lighting is beginning to trend, and new homeowners are going gaga for personalized landscape design, according to the latest U.S. Houzz Landscape Trends Survey.

Houzz, the leading home remodeling and design platform, recently conducted the survey among 1,000 of its online participants — all of whom are U.S. homeowners who are either working on an outdoor renovation project, have recently completed a project, or are planning to start one in the next three months.

Perhaps most interestingly, customized landscaping is on the rise. In fact, according to the survey, having purchased a home and wanting to personalize it tops the list of landscaping motivations for the very first time. A whopping 33 percent of homeowners expressed wanting to “make (my home) my own” via landscape design, as opposed to last year’s 25 percent.

In addition, the share of outdoor projects triggered by something breaking down declined slightly since last year’s study (32 percent versus 2016’s 36 percent), which seems to be in line with Houzz’s findings that many homeowners reported that their last outdoor updates happened over 10 years ago.

Personalized front yards are also making a statement. The survey found that a mere 6 percent of front yards are nearly identical to others in the neighborhood after outdoor projects, compared with over a third before the update. And, in addition, nearly half of all outdoor projects involve street-facing spaces (44 percent). Nonetheless, the study revealed that front lawns are much more likely to be removed than back or side lawns, with environmental considerations being a stronger motivator for front lawns.

Homeowners are lighting up the outdoors too. Lighting and irrigation systems were found to be among the most popular outdoor system upgrades, at 45 percent and 37 percent, respectively. And, interestingly, 1 in 5 homeowners choose “smart” outdoor lighting, which can be controlled by a computer or mobile device.

A few other key findings of the survey include: a high interest in low-maintenance plants, insect/bird attractant plants, and native plants, as well as attention to cultivating curb appeal. Homeowners are updating their front yards with a plethora of landscape features that include beds and borders, shrubs, and perennials (28 percent).

You can view the full findings here, by downloading the 2017 U.S. Houzz Landscape Trends Survey.

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HAUTE PROPERTIES

Southern Living to open 2026 Idea House in Texas Hill Country

Southern Living Idea House Fredericksburg

Rendering by Jon Messer.

Southern Living Idea House will be open for tours beginning September 18.

Whether Texas is part of the South may still be an open question, but Southern Living is settling the debate with a big investment. The Birmingham, Alabama-based lifestyle magazine will build its newest Idea House in the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg.

For more than 35 years, Southern Living has drafted Southern builders, architects, and designers to build new homes that not only showcase the latest innovations in home design but are the epitomes of Southern style. This year, the magazine chose Fredericksburg's Friedën community, a 130-acre development featuring parks, nature trails, and lakes.

"We're excited to call Fredericksburg home for the year and to celebrate the distinct character of the Texas Hill Country,” says editor-in-chief Sid Evans in a release. “Surrounded by rolling hills and wide-open views, this home reflects the region's natural beauty and the relaxed spirit of the Lone Star State."

The design of the versatile home proves the modern farmhouse trend still has some legs. Southern Living’s designers update the look by ditching whitewashed everything for a more contemporary color palette that blends in with the Hill Country’s natural landscape. Floor-to-ceiling windows further “dissolve the boundaries” between the interior and the great outdoors.

To bring their vision to life, Southern Living drafted a local team, including builder Kurk Homes, architect Andrew Bray of Mustard Architects, landscape designer Melissa Gerstle, and interior designers Jean Liu, Marcus Mohon, and Paloma Contreras. But real estate gawkers will have to wait to see most of the details. The house won’t be unveiled until September 18, when public tours open and the October issue hits stands.

Southern Living, however, did tease a few details, saying the home is being built for “multi-generational” living with sustainable products and appliances, a motor court entry, and a private casita. No doubt, interior design buffs will also find inspiration in the decor's bold choices. Last year’s Idea House in Virginia mixed in everything from garden florals and African mudcloth to animal prints and kitchsy cottagecore art.

The Idea House will be open to the public for tours from September 18 through December 20, 2026. Tickets will be available beginning in April, with a portion of the proceeds supporting area charities. After the open house, the home will be available for sale at an undisclosed price.

homes home design interior design fredericksburg hill country southern living