Landscape Designer or Landscaper?

If you are considering creating a new garden or landscape you should begin with a designer.
A Landscape Designer is equivalent to the architect of your home or renovation. Like architects, Landscape Designers have no vested interest in the construction component. We are an advocate for the client throughout the process and working solely for the client's needs, not for what we can build.

When building or renovating, the outdoor space should be considered as an integral part of your overall house design, in terms of budget and planning. Correctly designed and implemented, a budget of between 10% and 15% of the overall value of the property on the outdoor space will offer immediate return on that investment and in most cases it will be much greater.

The design process will cover functional and aesthetic requirements as well as budget and timelines. Consultation is ongoing with ideas developed as we move along.

If you require someone to build the garden a professionally laid out design will assist you in obtaining accurate quotes and save time and money during the build by dispelling any confusion. In most cases the design will easily pay for itself.

The Design Process - Steps

1. Initial Consultation - Residential

The initial consultation can be treated as a standalone process or as a starting point for the design service we offer.

We will meet with you on site to discuss your vision and ideas and develop a shared view for your garden. Specific gardening questions can be raised. Water management such as the installation of rainwater tanks and grey water recycling may be discussed too. Notes, sketches and photographs are taken during this time.

Fees for the initial consultation:

$300 incl. GST for a one hour consultation and 30min travel each way to the property.
$100/hour incl. GST for any additional consultation time beyond the first hour.
$100/hour incl. GST for additional travel time.

Fees are payable by cheque or cash on the day of the consultation.

Following the initial consultation, a design brief and fee proposal outlining the scope of works will be forwarded for you to review and sign.

*Country Properties
Our services are not constrained to the general metro. area. If you have a country propety of home outside of the general metropolitain area that needs our help, please contact us for more information regarding any surcharges that may apply.

On receipt of the signed fee proposal we visit the site again and conduct a full site analysis, take digital images and document all relevant landscape design information.

At this stage we ask that you have ready a copy of any relevant plan or survey of your property, so we can provide a more accurate and efficient service. If you have no plans of survey we may need to engage the services of a land surveyor. Alternatively if the site has a simple terrain a survey can be undertaken by ourselves and charged at the stipulated hourly rate.

Based on the design brief, we will prepare a plan outlining the proposed landscape design, structural elements, planting style and material suggestions.

3. Detail Documentation

After consultation and confirmation that you are happy with the Design Concept Plan the next step is to prepare detailed drawings for use by a landscape contractor to accurately price and construct. These drawings may include the preparation of the following:

i. A Plan that shows the layout of all hard and soft areas of the proposed garden, a hardscape materials schedule and construction specifications.
ii. A Planting Plan that shows all areas of the proposed garden, a detailed plant list with plant names, quantities, pot sizes.
iii. Construction Details & Elevation Drawings (where required) that show any required detail drawings and elevation drawings for relevant components.
These drawings may vary as they depend on the individual site and the scope of the design.

4. Contract Administration

As we are not a landscape construction company we will act on your behalf as an independent advisor, sourcing quotations, supervising site works and ensuring that the proposed landscape is constructed in line with the intended design.

Construction

A foundation of a good design means little without a team of committed and experienced construction personnel bringing it to life.

In addition to a general landscape contractor, companies that specialise in lighting, irrigation, water harvesting, swimming pool, etc. may be called apon to assist with the development of the landscape.

We bring together and work closely with these specialists to take the design from concept to reality.

Maintenance

To ensure that the landscape fulfills it’s design intent into the future it is recommended that a maintenance program is put in place.

We can recommend garden maintenance teams or provide expertice in tailoring a maintenance program for the client to implement themselves.