December’s plan for summer’s pleasure

These days, you don’t have to be a celebrity to have a fabulous outdoor kitchen like the ones showcased on the Food Network, or a gorgeous front lawn like those featured in Southern Living Magazine. In fact, all you need is Selective Designs.

Selective Designs, featured last year on HG TV, specializes in yard makeovers that add beauty and value to a home, specifically through landscaping and outdoor kitchen design. Shane LeBlanc, owner and designer, has been in the business since 1985, and over the years has recognized the growing trend of turning backyards into a place to relax and retreat from the rat race.

One way to do this is through an outdoor kitchen. Cooking outdoors isn’t just about throwing a few hot dogs on the grill anymore. These days, the most sophisticated and gourmet appliances can be found in the backyard, amidst beautifully designed ranges, fireplaces and countertops. Just about anything used indoors can now be moved outside, including refrigerators, ice makers, ovens, patio heaters, fans and more.

LeBlanc is excited about the idea that beautiful and functional backyards make people want to spend more time outside. “Most of the time, people don’t even want to go outside because their yard is a mess,” he explained. “An outdoor kitchen or patio can make all the difference. It gets people outside.”

At the same time that homeowners are enjoying their yards more, they are also adding value to their homes.

“We specialize in yard makeovers that add value to a home,” LeBlanc said. “If you spend just 7 percent of the price of a home on landscaping, you can raise its value by 20 percent.”

In the competitive real estate market of metro Atlanta, homeowners are always looking for a way to set their property apart and to create an eye-catching look for that crucial first impression. An increasing number of these homeowners are demanding that their property value be increased through such improvements as customized gardens and tailored lawns.

Selective Designs landscaping ensures that the first impression people get of your home will be a positive one. It is not unusual for LeBlanc to design one yard, only to soon find himself with three more neighbors as customers.

“I’m improving somebody’s life and yard,” he said of his profession. “I want to improve the appearance of their yard so they can’t wait to pull in the driveway every day. If your house is worth $100,000, I want to make it worth a million. I’m a guy with a passion for landscaping.”

It is a passion that he has grown up with all his life. His father was originally a landscape architect and is now a grower. “I was raised in the business,” LeBlanc said, and in 1992 he started his own company. He encourages people to make sure they find a landscaper who knows what they are doing and will listen to their customers’ needs and concerns, an idea echoed in his company’s motto: “Be Selective in Your Design.”

“Customer service is what’s most important. I’ll give five ideas for every house and explain all of them. Then we will choose the best one for that particular house, that particular customer,” LeBlanc said.

To get an idea of what some of these innovative landscape designs look like, visit the company’s Web site at www.selectivedesigns.com. The site features many before and after photos of various design possibilities, including stone pathways, numerous outdoor kitchens and fireplaces and raised flower beds. For an up-close and personal look at LeBlanc’s work, visit Selective Design’s indoor and outdoor showroom, featuring different plants and outdoor kitchens. The colors and schemes of the designs can work with any style house.

These days, you don’t have to limit yourself to the inside of your four walls. The great outdoors are quickly becoming a natural extension of your living space. And when that outdoor space is creatively and beautifully designed, you’ll enjoy it even more.

Selective Designs is at 501 Highway 74 North in Peachtree City. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a 24-hour answering service. For more information, call 770-631-1550 or visit www.selectivedesigns.com.

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