During an initial consultation, we’ll tour your existing landscape and discuss your requirements and objectives.
My goal is to bring your vision for your outdoor space to life, so understanding your personal style and preferences is important. This is a working session, not a portfolio review. In addition to providing feedback on your own ideas, at this meeting I will share options on general layout and may provide some preliminary information on possible material choices for typical landscape items such as patios and pathways and may also recommend specific plant solutions.
In addition, I will review the design process with you in more detail and answer any questions you might have. Project scope, budget and design goals all affect the process. I don’t believe in over-designing, so this initial meeting will help determine what level of design and planning is appropriate for your project.
An initial consultation generally lasts an hour to an hour and a half. To make the most of the meeting, it is worth taking some time to prepare. Use this checklist as a guideline:
Do you have any specific goals for your space? (Improving access in the front, creating an entertainment space in the back, etc.)
Do you have a specific style in mind? (Mediterranean, cottage garden, contemporary, etc.) If you aren’t sure how to answer this question, take some time to think about your personal style, which will provide some insight for your landscape design.
Is there functionality you want to include? (Play area, barbecue island, vegetable garden, etc.)
What is your budget? This question is often hard to answer – if you’ve never renovated a landscape before, you may not know where to start. New landscape installations range dramatically in price, so understanding your budget will help us provide better design advice. At a minimum, determine some budget parameters, such as less than $25,000, $25,000 to $50,000, $100,000 to $125,000 and so on.
Photographs are a great way to communicate what you want to achieve. Online, Houzz and Pinterest are two of the best sources for landscape design inspiration and it is easy to set up a free account. If you opt to curate your ideas via Houzz, send me an email invitation and I will be able to view your idea book, even if it is private.
Whether you decide to move forward with a new design or prefer to take some time to consider your options, this meeting will help you understand your garden’s potential. To set up an appointment, contact Susan Morrison at info@celandscapedesign.com or 925-825-8285.