Marin Landscape Design

The most important landscape decision you will make is your choice of designer. While a design often costs 1-5% of the total project, it determines 95% of the functional, visual and resale value you receive. Because the value of an idea that has not yet been imagined is hard to quantify, it is common for people to believe they are getting a good deal when a gardener offers them a quick and free design.  It is equally common to see home-owners spending thousands of dollars doing things that could have been done more attractively and functionally for the same budget, by using a design or installation method more suitable to their site and needs.

Mistakes and poorly thought out ideas are both expensive and commonly invisible. The home-owner who got a great

price on a poorly considered idea is rarely aware of what the same money could have purchased with a great idea. A story illustrates this point. A client brought me on board to give them a bid on the driveway of a home going through a major remodel. The builder was getting ready to pour a concrete wall and put in major drainage that was causing minor neighbor tension. After asking some questions and looking at the site I was able to suggest an approach that gave them more of what they wanted and cost $21,000.00 less than their original plan. While you should not expect miracles,  it typically takes just one good idea to pay for the entire design process and get more of what you want.

I don't have a trademark style. My focus is on understanding the values and taste of each of my clients. I

use my twenty years of experience to suggest things my clients may not have considered but is likely to appreciate, given what I know about them. As a result of going over your answers to the landscape questionnaire my first design is often well received and installed. .  By thinking things through thoroughly at the beginning we avoid most change-orders, saving thousands during installation. About 50% of my clients write a check at the end of the job for the exact amount of my initial design estimate as a result of avoiding change-orders.

I offer a half-hour  on-site consultation to meet you, provide a design estimate and describe the design process that I recommend for every project.