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After 20 years of garden design, what is your design philosophy?
My
philosophy toward garden design is based on two key things: the active
involvement of my clients in their garden design, and the use of natural
elements in those gardens.
Why are these two things so important?
In
my experience, I create the best gardens when I work with clients who
want to be involved in the design. When my clients participate, they
become more invested in the choices we make, and they ultimately find
their garden more personally fulfilling.
As for natural elements, the use of natural elements in the garden puts us
all closer to Nature. I truly love working with clients who value
Nature and want to have access to it in their homes and gardens.
Particularly
in urban environments, many of us lose touch with Nature. We get caught
up in day-to-day activities and lose our ability to connect with the
natural world. By adding natural elements to our homes and our lives, we
can be reminded of the wonders of Nature.
People definitely
benefit by being in lush and soothing natural environments. It's
therapeutic, it's interesting, it's educational, and it's very
fulfilling. My goal is to help people integrate Nature into their daily
lives so they too can receive these benefits.
"Transformation" seems to be important to you. Can you tell us why that is?
There
are two main reasons why people hire me to design their outdoor or
indoor gardens. They either don't have a garden right now and they want
one, or they don't like the garden or landscaping they currently have
and they want to change it. Either way, they're looking to transform
their space into something they'll love--into something that uniquely
reflects who they are. My entire design approach is built around doing
this for my clients.
How do you begin your design projects?
I
start by listening, taking notes and asking questions so I can
understand all of my client's needs and desires for their new garden. In
doing so, I find that my clients need a garden design that will address
all aspects of their particular lifestyle. For example, some of my
clients work at home and they need a garden they enjoy looking out upon.
Others need areas for entertaining defined for their typical number of
guests, we may need a roomy landing or stairs that double for seating.
Some have elderly parents as frequent visitors, while others have pets
that need ample room for romping, or a child with special needs. I then
use images, drawings and discussion to communicate possibilities for
balanced garden design. It can be a lot to keep track of but my clients
will be actively involved digesting the possibilities, expressing their
inspirations, and getting clarity on their priorities as we proceed.
Another
thing I do is make sure that I understand my client's budget and
timeline. I always ask how much money they want to invest and how much
time they have to achieve their end result. In my experience, if a
project doesn't meet a client's financial requirements, then they won't
be happy.
Additionally, many of my clients make both an emotional
and financial investment in their gardens. For example, I have one
client who financed her garden design from money that she inherited when
her mother died. For her, the garden was way more than a real estate
investment or a place for outdoor entertaining. It was also a way to
remember her mother. I really like working on projects like this that
involve my client's heart and spirit.
Why is client collaboration so important?
It
goes back to what I said in the beginning. I have found that
collaboration is the best way to make sure that my clients are 100%
fulfilled at the end of the project. And all of my client have opinions
and ideas that their garden design needs to be based on. Even if they
don't think they have ideas, in fact, they always do.
I always
encourage my clients to share their ideas with me. Sometimes they're not
sure their ideas are do-able or they're not sure they should even bring
them up to me. By helping them explore their ideas even further, and
get more in touch with the emotions behind their ideas, I typically can
come up with other design solutions that will fulfill their desires even
more. This type of result cannot be achieved without client
collaboration.
Don't all designers collaborate with their clients?
No.
There are designers that are like famous artists. People hire them to
get that artist's particular look in their backyard. There are also
designers that are known for a certain style. Often the client wants
that exact style and they don't want to be part of creating it. These
types of projects don't require much client collaboration.
I'm
different in that I collaborate with my clients by encouraging them,
guiding them, educating them, and giving them permission to take time
and explore what they really want from their garden. I also encourage
them to explore their own unique creative inspiration. Most importantly
though, I listen to what they really want and give them options for
receiving it.
It sounds like your collaborative process helps clients better understand who they are.
Yes,
that's true. My work is all about helping people reach inside
themselves to find out what's going to make their garden rich on a
practical and financial level, as well as an emotional level. I think
that many designers don't know how to sit down and really investigate
who their clients are and where they want to go with their lives. This
is where I approach things differently.
Is there anything else that you'd like to share about what guides your design philosophy?
I
really want my clients to trust me. They're not just paying me for a
service. They're entrusting me with who they really are as people and
it's part of my philosophy to honor that. It's an honor that my clients
allow me to step into their worlds and help them integrate Nature into
their lives. It's why I do this work.
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