Consultations :
Our Design Process
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Our design consultations take place at your home and last between 3 to 5 hours for a tract-home size front or back yard. At the end of the consultation, we leave you with a drawing and plant list so you have a complete project to work with immediately. If a yard is large enough and the client’s wish-list extensive we often break it up into two appointments and design the hardscape, use areas, and planting bed shapes the first visit and then, the second visit focus on the planting design. You can see examples of finished drawings on our drawing examples page.
When you have made an appointment with one of us, the first 15 - 20 minutes of the appointment we will walk around and talk with you right in your yard. We listen to your ideas and learn about your site. When we are clear about your goals, we begin designing on-site. We draw a new plan for you, whether it is a patio, BBQ area, fire-pit, driveway, front walkway, or new shape to your lawn we will sketch it in. Maybe you want to replace the lawn with drought-tolerant plants and want us to incorporate a dry creek bed. We take the ideas you have shared with us, sort through them, and give you our best professional opinion of what will work.
After we finish the design, we explain the plan and show you photos of the plants and building materials. We make sure you like all the choices and label this information on the drawing. Then we write up a complete plant list for you with quantities of plants, botanical name, common name and send your a link to plant presentation with photos and information about each plant selected for your project. The plan is like a shopping list; you can take it to a nursery and purchase the materials yourself or you can hand it to a landscape contractor who can give you a price for purchasing the plants and materials and installing the design.
Services:
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Design Consultation:
Our design consultations take place at your home and last between 3 to 5 hours for a tract-home size front or back yard. At the end of the consultation, we leave you with a drawing and plant list so you have a complete project to work with immediately. If a yard is large enough and the client’s wish-list extensive we often break it up into two appointments and design the hardscape, use areas, and planting bed shapes the first visit and then, the second visit focus on the planting design. You can see examples of finished drawings on our drawing examples page.
When you have made an appointment with one of us, the first 15 - 20 minutes of the appointment we will walk around and talk with you right in your yard. We listen to your ideas and learn about your site. When we are clear about your goals, we begin designing on-site. We draw a new plan for you, whether it is a patio, BBQ area, fire-pit, driveway, front walkway, or new shape to your lawn we will sketch it in. Maybe you want to replace the lawn with drought-tolerant plants and want us to incorporate a dry creek bed. We take the ideas you have shared with us, sort through them, and give you our best professional opinion of what will work.
After we finish the design, we explain the plan and show you photos of the plants and building materials. We make sure you like all the choices and label this information on the drawing. Then we write up a complete plant list for you and send you a link to plant presentation with photos and information about each plant selected for your project. The plan is like a shopping list; you can take it to a nursery and purchase the materials yourself or you can hand it to a landscape contractor who can give you a price for purchasing the plants and materials and installing the design.
More questions? Visit our frequently asked questions page.
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Comprehensive Design Plans:
If you are building a new home or doing a major yard remodel, we can be on board with your design team to ensure that the outdoor spaces are integrated into the property's design. We offer Hardscape, Planting, and Lighting plans with design elevations. We can also prepare Irrigation Plans and Water Efficiency Calculations to satisfy building permit requirements. We regularly work with Architects and Engineers and have the CAD capabilities to work seamlessly with your design team.
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Garden Walk-Through:
Our Garden walk-through consultations take place at your home and last between 1 to 2 hours. We walk through your space with you and discuss plant/garden-related questions. It’s also an opportunity to get a professional’s opinion about big-picture ideas if you are considering renovating your outdoor space but aren’t quite ready to commit to a custom design plan. This consultation is a stroll and conversation, no design plans or plant lists are included.​
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3D Rendering:
Sometimes clients appreciate seeing a 3D walkthrough of the proposed design to help them visualize their new outdoor space. We are happy to offer this as an additional service as requested. You can see examples of 3D renderings on our drawing examples page.