Design Process

Getting Started

Landscape Designer or Landscaper?

Your first port of call is always a landscape designer. A landscape designer is the outdoor equivalent to the architect or building designer for your home. If you are building or renovating, consider your garden as an integral part of your overall house/site design. Make your house look like ‘IT’ has been planted in the garden by starting the design process as early as possible.

A lovely garden adds between 10 and 20% to the overall value of your property so it is wise to have a realistic budget in place for the installation of your landscape

Stages

Stage 1 : Initial Consultation

This consultation is generally on site unless you haven’t commenced construction yet. We will discuss your lifestyle, family composition budget and anything else that may influence the creation of a garden that is uniquely suited to your requirements. A detailed brief will be prepared and emailed to you after the meeting along with a written itemised estimate for the design fee.

Fee: $500 + GST Metro area only

If you decide to proceed to a full design, I request a deposit of $500 + GST to confirm your intention to proceed.

Stage 2: Design Concept

This is the preliminary stage of the design. I carry out a site evaluation based on plans provided. I add anything not shown on these plans and photograph the site, noting any potential views (good or bad) The street scape, identify existing trees to remain. I then prepare a design concept based on the brief, in colour at 1:100 scale. It will include a style guide indicating materials and colours. We will have a meeting in my studio to discuss the concept. Payment is required for this first stage of your design when you collect it. 3D visuals are available at an extra cost

Fee Estimate Provided based on standard hourly rate of $200 + GST

Stage 3: Final Drawings

This stage starts with another meeting to discuss changes, amendments and development of the design. The plan will then be finalised to indicate dimensions, lighting positions, details where required, planting selections and scheduling and soil and cultural notes. Once the plans are complete I will contact you for a final meeting to discuss the design and refer you to one of my installing landscapers. They will quote directly to you, but I will remain engaged with the project during installation.

Fee Estimate Provided based on standard hourly rate of $200 + GST

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WHATS INCLUDED IN A FULL DESIGN

A detailed layout plan showing all hard landscaping, materials, levels, dimensions and lighting.
A tree plan showing the position of all trees
A planting plan showing all understorey planting
A tree and planting schedule show quantities and pots sizes for all plants on the plan. These are numerically cross referenced to your plan for ease of interpretation
Soil and cultural notes for the specification of soil preparation and other details
Lighting layout: Positions and types of feature lighting, mood lighting and foliage lighting
Material Selections

FEE: $200 per hour + GST (Payment is required for this stage of the design when it is collected.)