Our Design Process

Happy December!

As we all take a break from yard work this winter, and forget about mowing and pruning, and all the other maintenance that may go into your outdoor space, I wanted to take a moment to share our design process for those of you who may be considering an installation in the future! The BIGGEST concerns we get from clients is cost and being “stuck” with a design they don’t love. Unfortunately, there are companies out there that have capitalized on that fear as a marketing strategy for online landscape design, and while I can’t speak for other design firms, I do know that we have a client centered design process that can’t be done virtually. You are inviting us to help you fall in love with your home – whether it is interior, exterior, or both! Our goal is for clients to find joy in spending time in their spaces! Here is a look at what working with us on a landscape design looks like!

First, we set up a time to meet you on site. We take lots of photos and measurements, and ask questions to understand your dream, needs and goal for your space. There is no fee for this. It’s purely an opportunity for us to establish a relationship with our clients and determine the scope of work needed. Next, you may have noticed, we put our fees next to our services. We always discuss the scope of work with clients ahead of time and establish a written agreement before beginning. This includes determining a fee or a maximum number of hours depending on the scope of the project. After the agreement is signed, we get to work!

The first thing we send to clients is a couple of conceptual ideas. We want to make sure we are headed in the right direction with your design! Depending on the project and designer, they could be rendered by hand or in our 3D software.

Once we get your approval, we begin the overall design. The steps involved here can vary depending on what is needed for a project. Typically, we will determine the function and flow of a design and then walk the property with the client to make sure everything works for them. This step is crucial because often times details, such as the location of a septic field or the need for a pathway, can be missed during that initial site visit. We make adjustments to the plan with the client, take new measurements, and lots of new notes, and then make the changes and send them to the client for approval.

Again – once we get your approval, we move on to the planting plan. While we have our favorite plants, the plant selection is customized to each client based on maintenance needs, light, soil, deer and/or rabbit resistance, color preference, client favorites, etc. The last step is compiling the plant and material selections and quantities so you can easily place an order yourself, or pass it on to a contractor of your choice to bid. And that’s it! If you’d like (and we would love it!), we can stick around for the installation too to help troubleshoot any changes needed by your landscape contractor and make sure your design is installed correctly. 🙂

For all you gardeners or DIYers out there – we also do consultations! You send us photos, tell us what you are looking for, and we will show up with plant recommendations and will walk you through what we would do! We LOVE designing and creating beautiful spaces for our clients!

Next week I’ll talk about why it is important to freshen up builder-grade front yards! Hope you all are enjoying your view from a cozy space!