Both. We have a full in-house team and we also bring in specialists when it benefits the project.

Our core field crew is 10–12 full-time employees — these are the craftsmen who are with us every day and know our standards inside and out. We also have a 7-person office and design team supporting the project from start to finish.

For certain trades we partner with trusted experts we’ve worked with for years. This lets us maintain quality, stay efficient, and make sure the right people are doing the right parts of the job.

It depends on the scope. We offer everything from a $350 one-hour design consultation to full construction-ready plans. Most smaller projects fall in the $2k–$6k range. Larger or more complex projects, especially those requiring City or Coastal approvals, are typically $10k+ or about 5–8% of the project budget.

We invest in thoughtful design up front so the build goes smoothly and avoids costly surprises

Yes — we do. Our design services are flexible depending on what you need. That can be anything from a one-hour on-site design consultation to help you think through ideas, all the way up to a full set of plans suitable for permits, HOA or Coastal Commission review, and construction.

We’re happy to meet you where you are in the process and give you the level of support that makes the most sense for your project.

We discuss budget at the very first meeting — not as a negotiation, but so we can be realistic and respectful of your goals. With 20 years of experience, we understand what things actually cost, and we tend to include more detail. That can mean our initial numbers look higher, but they tend to help avoid surprises later.

If you have a firm budget, we’ll guide the design toward about 80% of that number to allow room for unknowns and keep the project on track. Our goal is to align design, expectations, and investment from the start so you get a beautiful result without costly changes

Yes — we’re happy to build from another designer’s plans. The most important thing for us is that the design is strong, makes sense for the space, and aligns with the realities of construction and budget.

We’ll review the plans first to be sure they’re clear, buildable, and a good fit for our approach and standards. The project also needs to be within our geographic service area so we can manage it properly.

If everything aligns, we’re more than happy to collaborate and bring the design to life.

Absolutely — we do offer complimentary initial estimates.

That said, our process is a bit different from trades like roofing or carpet cleaning where a quick square-foot price works. We’re a design-driven landscape studio, so the best results come from understanding your property, goals, and budget, then tailoring a plan that fits.

Our free estimate gives you a realistic starting range based on your scope and priorities. Once we’re aligned and ready to move forward, we offer detailed design and construction proposals that map out materials, phases, and investment options so you always know exactly what to expect.

We work with a wide range of budgets and will guide you toward solutions that make the most of your investment.