1: concept designs

Step I:  imagine…

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step…

The initial consultation consists of exploring every desire — and limitation — for your ideal landscape.  Below is one example of a concept sketch turning directly into a finished project in about 4 weeks time…

This steep grassy hill was always a pain (and hazard!) for mowing, and we were already here to redesign the deck & patio space so…

A waterfall wasn’t out of the question, and I sketched out what I would do if it were my own backyard.

(this is generally how I start on a blank canvas — treat it like it’s my own, then apply your preferences)

With a slope like this facing the home, we knew the sight and sound of a naturalistic waterfall could have a dramatic effect.

An estimate was drawn up and approved based on this perspective sketch (and accurate site measurements).

The homeowners returned from vacation to the sound of water, filling their backyard.

This was installed as a pondless waterfall, and later expanded to include a pond for koi.

While this worked out great for a lot of reasons (mostly the total creative freedom given by the client), the next step,

CAD layout, is crucial to accurate estimating and clear communications.