My design package includes a 2D building and planting plan, detailed and to scale, a 3D walkthrough of the final space, mood boards, material sourcing, lighting and help on how to find a hard landscaping contractor, as needed. My fees start at £120 an hour for smaller projects like a play or entertaining area with planting or a full garden design package starting at £380.
First comes the site survey and analysis. On smaller projects we’ll measure up, and make sure we include those things you want to keep. A much-loved tree, a water feature, an eye-catching statue, or your outdoor office, which have to be have space in your new garden.
For larger projects that involve major excavations, it is advisable to have a professional survey done or use the one you had done when you bought the house, to identify anything hidden beneath your property like mains drainage or electrical works.
I can come up with some concepts, whether you want some small projects to begin with or would like a bigger plan. Sometimes as we talk the concept starts to form itself. We will work with the space we have, the soil structure, the aspect, the exposure to wind and weather.
At this stage, when you can see a concept plan drawn up, you tell me what you want to take forward, how the colour palette is working for you and whether we need to look at some of the features again to completely meet all your needs.
Remember this is your space so if there is anything you want to change, I can do that for you before we finalise your master.
Finally, we will have a master plan with drawings to give to your hard landscaper with the construction specifications, cutaway elevations for steps or banks, even water or electrical outlet suggestions if we have decided on these. Everything you need to give to the builder who is making your garden.
The second set of documents is your planting map with bubble drawings showing where the all important shrubs, perennials, trees, specimens, fillers and containers all live in your new space. The 2D map contains full descriptors of the plants and eventual height and spread as they grow. There will also be final 3D illustrations and overhead shots to give you an idea of how it will look when those plants start to fill out.
I am happy to be there when the plants arrive in their pots and make sure everything turns up and ends up in the right place according to the plan. That is one of my favourite parts of the job.
Welcome to Elmsgate Design 