Southview Design’s “French Quarter” Backyard Wins MNLA Award

Southview Design’s creative and unique St. Paul “French Quarter Courtyard” won a 2017 Excellence in Landscape Design award from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA). This same project also won a 2016 CoTY Award from the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and a Grand Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

The St. Paul couple that hired Southview Design had lived in their 1929 Highland Park home for over 30 years, but had somehow managed without a usable back yard. While their primary need was a functional space, they also wanted it to look and feel like their favorite travel destination, New Orleans. Every year, they immerse themselves in this city’s music, food and culture.

Southview designer Matt Burton tackled the challenge of figuring out how to capture the essence of New Orleans in their small and odd-shaped backyard. The 780 square-foot space between the house and garage posed challenges faced by many St. Paul urban backyards where expansion or moving the garage was not possible.

Burton first researched New Orleans landscapes and came up with a design concept that combined clay brick and bluestone on the walkways and seating areas. He also recycled 600 square feet of patterned bluestone, adding matching bluestone where needed for the front entry stoop and walkway and create a sidewalk leading to the front door. The bluestone transitions to red clay brick on the side walkway. The paver walkways and backyard patio slope toward the plant beds on the other side of the cedar fence, preventing water from creating puddles in the seating areas and creating a natural irrigation system.

Burton created three different seating areas – one in front, one by the backyard fireplace and a private, shaded corner nook near the fountain. Asked to choose which seating area they liked best, the homeowners chose the corner nook. “We never had a backyard before and now we have choices!” said homeowner Jane Berens. “It’s like an addition on our house; we spend every moment we can in the corner nook. It’s cool and comfortable, a nice place to relax, read, and nap.”

The cedar fence and gate were custom designed with wrought iron fleur-de-lis embellishments, providing both privacy and contributing to the New Orleans ambiance. The glow of New Orleans Bevolo copper gas lanterns also add the New Orleans flair these clients were looking for.

The sound of the brick water fountain, patterned after a similar fountain in New Orleans, muffles the sounds of the neighborhood, where the closest neighbor is less than 10 feet away. Positioned close to the corner nook, the couple can hear the fountain while sitting in front of the fireplace as well as from inside their house.

Southview Design’s landscape designers have created many unique, award-winning projects. For before and after photos of this MNLA award winner, see http://southviewdesign.com/landscape-designs/new-orleans-style-back-yard-in-st-paul.html.