Our Process

INITIAL MEETING

The journey normally starts with a garden design consultation visit on site, whereby we can begin to understand your overall objectives for your garden, as well as your specific needs and requirements. It also allows us to get a sense of the space, and to start to develop the initial design brief.  The design process is explained and discussed with you, the client, at the initial meeting. Following this meeting we will email you with a Design Fee Proposal and a written preliminary design brief for your approval. There is a charge for this site visit, which covers my time for the call out as well as my admin time post-visit.

In preparation for this meeting, it is helpful if you’ve formulated some broad ideas in terms of what you are hoping to achieve with the space, what works, and what doesn’t currently work, and can communicate these at this visit.

It is also helpful for you to have done some research in order to have a realistic idea about the build budget that you have set aside for your project. As a rough guide, you should be expecting to invest around 7-10% of the value of your villa on the garden build.

SURVEY

To get started, we require an accurate site survey (in AutoCAD format). This site survey records the layout of the site, all key features, as well as levels and utilities. Most homeowners will have been given a site survey when they bought their home, and/ or when they made previous alterations to their home. Should this not be available, a new survey will be required. For smaller projects, we may carry out the survey ourselves. There may be an additional fixed fee for this service. For larger projects, we will commission either a landscape contractor or a professional surveyor, depending on requirements.

DESIGN Fee

Once you have approved the summary of the design brief that I will have emailed you after the initial meeting, I will then be able to put together the design fee proposal. The design fee depends on many factors, and is mainly based on the design time, which is influenced by the complexity of the design brief, as well as the size of the garden.

Homeowners looking to invest in their property are advised to opt for the full design package, This includes the concept design (masterplan), as well as developed detail design, and is in the region of 6-10% of the build budget, depending on the amount of detail you require.

If you are a tenant, or on a restricted budget, and simply looking for help with structure or layout (without the financial investment into the developed detail design), we can provide a concept design only, without the developed detail design. This is suitable if you have the knowledge and confidence to work out the details on your own, or with your chosen contractor (without further designer input).

Concept Design

Based on the approved design brief, we will begin the concept design which shows the overall layout of the garden. My concept designs include a 2D garden plan along with plant and material mood boards that allow our clients an early insight into the visual direction that we are planning to design towards. This stage does not include final material choices, levels, or any intricate details of any design features such as the swimming pool/ jacuzzi, outdoor kitchen, shade structure, lighting or planting design.

3D VISUALS

We can provide 3D visuals (including fly through videos), for an additional fee. We recommend 3D visuals in order to assist with a full understanding of the proposed design.

Revisions

We will agree a fixed number of included revisions at the start of the design, depending on the complexity of the project. Additional revisions, and/or additional changes that have not been agreed and set out in the initial brief will incur an additional fee.

DETAIL Design development

Once the initial outline plan has been agreed, it is then developed further by adding another layer of detail to the design. This may include for example planting design details, material details such a paving detail ( material choices and paving/tile layout design), and architectural drawings/ sketches for constructed elements such as pergolas, outdoor kitchens, swimming pools. etc.

Bill of Quantities and Initial Quotations

Drawings are developed, and a scope of works and bill of quantities drawn up. These are shared with the landscape contractor in order to prepare the cost estimate. Quotations will vary depending on final material choice, complexity of design and details required.

Construction drawings

For bespoke features, construction drawings may be required to ensure that the feature is fully ‘worked out’ and that the contractor has an accurate design to build to. This would include, for example, ‘shop drawings’ for swimming pools (also required for DM/DDA and community approval), bespoke pergola details, outdoor kitchen detailing, bespoke fireplaces etc. Landscape contractors usually charge an additional fee to provide shop drawings.

PLANTING PLANS

Planting mood boards are provided for large schemes to help you visualize the final outcome. Smaller schemes will be provided with photographs of key plant species to help clients recognise latin names. The planting plan will show the location of each plant, which will be used for setting out plants on the planting days. The planting schedule will include details such as plant names, quantities, sizes, and any special specifications and will be used for costing and finally ordering plants.

MONITORING CONSTRUCTION OF HARDSCAPE

This option is recommended if you wish us to monitor the installation of the garden to ensure that the design vision is executed to the last detail. Overseeing the works carried out by the landscape contractor gives you peace of mind that any issues that arise are resolved without unnecessary delay and there are no surprises at the end. This option is recommended if you work full time and are not home during the day to monitor the build yourself, or if you simply prefer to have this taken care of by someone else. I will personally regularly attend site to ensure all external works are carried out to our detailed plans, monitoring and managing of the project during the construction phase. Prices are calculated at an hourly rate, or as a percentage of the build.

MONITORING INSTALLATION OF SOFT LANDSCAPING

Once we have an approved Planting Plan and an agreed budget, we can manage the whole process from plant sourcing, ordering, deliveries, setting out and overseeing the planting installation. Prices are calculated at an hourly rate. Ground preparation is fundamental to the success of the newly installed trees and plants, and we therefore, as a preference, insist on preparing all planting beds to our recommended specifications.

LIGHTING DESIGN

We very much recommend that a lighting scheme is designed to support and enhance the overall landscape scheme.  A well-lit garden can provide significant pleasure, and really extends the time that your garden can be seen and used. We recommend enlisting the expertise of a lighting specialist for this.

IRRIGATION

It is highly recommended that you consider installing an irrigation system to ensure that the investment made into your plants is protected.  Without adequate and regular watering, your plants cannot establish to their best potential, and in worst case scenarios this can also lead to a high rate of plant failures.  Think of an irrigation system as a good insurance policy.

ADDITIONAL CONSULTANCY

If you need us to attend meetings with other parties, such as planners, freeholders, architects etc., which have not previously been defined in the scope of our works, then these activities will be billed separately at our current hourly rates (available upon request).  Alternatively, on large projects you may wish us to advise only, on other areas of your garden/estate, and again this can be provided on a time fee basis.

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