Delaware Valley homeowners in search of the “vacation home” of their dreams often wind up turning to a man named Steven Katz.
Katz doesn’t work in real estate per se, though his vision can help transform an existing outdoor property into an oasis that substantially increases a home’s value—essentially creating a sanctuary in one’s own backyard. For more than three decades Katz’s Delaware County-based company, Land & Seascapes, has been dreaming up and handcrafting enchanting water gardens, patios and festive outdoor environments to complement a homeowner’s lifestyle. In light of current economic trends, which have more Americans investing in their homes in lieu of moving elsewhere, Katz and his team are busier than ever.
Land & Seascapes’ outdoor masterworks not only add value and breathe new life into clients’ homes but also enable homeowners to maximize the enjoyment of their properties all year long. For example, serene water gardens and cascading waterfalls can quiet the mind even in the winter months, while skillfully designed patios with walkways and planters provide limitless options for color, shape and bloom in each season. Studies suggest landscaping/hardscaping should equal 20 percent to 30 percent of a home’s value—but it’s difficult to put a number on beauty and functionality.
Better put, as Katz says, “Curb appeal is priceless.”
Katz’s passion, training and hard work have reaped numerous dividends beyond a continually growing list of clients, including “Toast of Show” at the Philadelphia Home Show, and a “Gardens of Distinction” award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Katz attributes such accolades, not to mention the success of his growing business, to “the discipline that is part of my psyche and work ethic.”
Whereas some professional landscapers have chosen to subcontract much of their work, Land & Seascapes provides hands-on personalized service, from consultation and design to on-site supervision. Katz’s firm commitment is shared by his sustained team of specialists. “The crew and I communicate almost telepathically now,” he says.
Upon a first visit with a potential client, Land & Seascapes provides a well-planned design concept, pricing information and professional references from past clients. Katz pays expert attention to each customer’s preferences and expectations to arrive at a concept the homeowner will love for years to come. Once the Land & Seascapes team begins work on a client’s property, it focuses all its energies exclusively on that site—one project at a time. Furthermore, Land & Seascapes maintains an on-site satellite office that ensures composed and considerate work, all while staying on schedule and within the client’s budget.
“Count on us to work consecutive days along a swift timeline at your home site,” Katz says. Also on-site is his wife, Jacqui, who helps streamline the entire process. “There’s a nice warm feeling of one family interacting with another. With Jacqui there, there is continuity, and there is comfort.”
The company’s website, LandandSeascapes.com, offers an array of visual samples of how any number of enhancements, from ornamental rock and water gardens, pools, ponds and waterfalls, to outdoor lighting, patios, gazebos, bridges and arbors, can enhance a property’s personality.
No pond or water-feature project is too complex. In fact, Katz has been furthering the trend of homeowners devoting parts of their property to larger, functional water features he describes as “swimming ponds,” which combine all the benefits of a traditional swimming pool with the natural tranquility of a pond, yet with minimal maintenance. Imagine gazing out the window year-round at a serene, flowing environment—and no swimming-pool cover.
With spring now unfolding in the greater Philadelphia area, Land & Seascapes customers have been watching their properties bloom with the likes of Mediterranean heathers and winter jasmines, followed by witch-hazels, forsythias and then star magnolias, redbud, azaleas and rhododendrons—not to mention the wave of seductive perennial pastels. Others have benefited from charming blue bells of Jacob’s ladder and bright bursts of lemon and sapphire crocuses, which yield to soft sunny daffodils, delicate white candytuft and decorative purple allium. With Land & Seascapes, the year-round options are almost limitless.
Guests have to see Walkabout firsthand to truly appreciate its beauty. Katz built the garden showcase to help guests visualize their own properties’ potential, but along the way he discovered the thrill of seeing their emotional and physical reactions. “I will pause with you and enjoy your experience,” he says. “It’s a journey that we can share together.”
Jill Yris is a professional writer based in Doylestown.
