Who Needs a Design…?

When considering upgrading an outdoor space most people have a lot of great ideas and are aware of their own personal style, which leaves them questioning, "why should I bother involving a designer?"

Let’s start with the investment. Whether adding curb appeal or creating an outdoor living room, landscaping is an extension of your home, most people’s greatest asset. When investing in your property, you should have the confidence that what you are getting is both functional and beautiful. Everyone has expectations when spending their hard-earned money, and having a clear design and methodical construction plan will ensure you get what you want.

On the topic of investment, having a methodical construction plan is key to maintaining a budget, no matter what the size.

Landscape design requires the knowledge of construction practices and the understanding of landscape materials, including all varieties of plants. Unlike an interior renovation, a landscape project involves a living environment with unique conditions and requirements. Having a master plan that can be phased over several years is a fantastic way to maintain a budget and achieve all your desires. However, achieving these requires some expertise. Specific priorities can be met, and properly planned phases can avoid having to disrupt recently completed work due to lack of consideration, changes in the scope of work, or the lack of planning for the equipment and accessibility of an area. Most people wouldn’t renovate a bathroom and hope to upgrade the plumbing the following year. A designer can provide a budget conscious plan to avoid these mishaps. A phased plan will avoid re-construction and will ensure the efficient use of materials; keeping a project on budget, no matter what the time line.

Have you checked out Pinterest lately?

The creativity in landscape design is endless. Most clients have an idea of what they are looking for and what aesthetic they prefer. This a great start. It is a designer’s job to translate these ideas into a formal drawing with dimensions and materials, and to consider several criteria and existing conditions to develop a successful design. These criteria include items like site grading, local by-laws, and localized climatic factors that influence spatial planning and plant selections. It is through the development of a design that creative solutions to functional or aesthetic challenges can developed and refined. The success of a design hinges on many factors and it takes specific knowledge and experience to ensure that proper consideration is given to the specific conditions.

Here is a quick checklist for your next landscaping project:

[if !supportLists]- [endif]Be sure the design makes the space functional and beautiful

[if !supportLists]- [endif]Landscapes evolve and need some level of care, plan for this

[if !supportLists]- [endif]Pragmatic plan for installation, options for phasing

[if !supportLists]- [endif]Logical order for construction, efficient use of materials (save time and money)

[if !supportLists]- [endif]Address on-going and future issues

[if !supportLists]- [endif]Think outside the box