Services

Helping to decide what elements will be built on a site, their general sizes, functions, locations and relationships. This information can be used to divide a project up into smaller parts for phased installation. This is especially useful for sites of 1/2 acre or more.

This addresses the arrangement of the major elements on a site, how they fit into existing topography and vegetation, and how people and vehicles circulate between them. This may include conceptual location of septic fields, wells and other utilities on rural sites.

These are first steps to generate ideas for the look and feel of various landscape elements, usually generating multiple design alternatives for consideration before moving into more detail. In larger projects both Conceptual and Schematic Design can be useful, in other cases only Schematic Design is necessary. For small projects a Schematic level of design can be enough for a quality contractor who can craft the details themselves.

Detailed design and materials selection for driveways, patios, terraces, walkways, stairs, walls, fencing, trellises, swimming pools, water features, sport courts, site furniture, sculpture and other hardscape elements. Coordination with engineers and contractors on structural details.

Creating artful combinations of plantings for edible gardens, color accents, native habitat, evergreen screening, and many other beautiful possibilities, all grouped according to water use, with detailed plant lists for installation and zoned plans that guide the installation of the irrigation.

Shaping of the land for interesting design effects and creating functional outdoor spaces while providing for the proper slope stability and rainwater drainage, and preparing conceptual plans that either guides the installation or allows for more detailed development by an Engineer.

Selection and layout of light fixtures for night-time outdoor living, special events and safety, in coordination with the building mounted lighting.

Production of drawings, meetings and public presentations as needed for City/County approval of landscape work including Design Review, Building Permits, Water Efficiency Compliance, and others.

A key component of any successful project worth listing on its own, we love to work closely with Architects and Interior Designers to create strong and seamless connections between indoors and outdoors, which also contributes to a more sustainable design.

We are passionate about having the built environment become an environmental asset that minimizes resource use and regenerates the surroundings. A comprehensive approach can identify important concepts and beneficial linkages outside the property, taking the project’s sustainability to a new level. We also welcome the opportunity to assist with official certification of a project through one of the rating systems such as LEED, Greenpoint, or Bay Friendly.

We believe that great design does not end with pretty drawings. We prefer to continue to be involved with any project throughout the construction process and even years beyond as the plantings mature. This may include assistance with contractor selection, sketches and clarifications during construction, regular site visits, on-site plant layout & placement, punch list walk-throughs, and post-construction maintenance walk-throughs on a seasonal basis.