Your Space
Think about your wishes for your outdoor space. Before you make an appointment for a consultation consider what you want. If you’re just looking for containers to be planted or a few things in the ground, are there colors you hate? Do you have containers now? If not, do you want to choose them or have us do that?
Will you ever or never sit outside? Maybe you like to enjoy your garden from inside looking out. Do you like to lounge in a chaise and read a book, snooze in a hammock or sit around a table with friends? How big is the table? For four, or more? Do you barbeque? Is it free standing or do you want a built in model?
Do you have children? If so what are their space needs? Is there a dog to contend with? Is it his space or yours? (I, too am a dog owner.)
How much time do you want to spend caring for your garden? Remember it always needs to be watered, even when you’re out of town for a week or a month or even just a very hot weekend..
Does a water feature interest you? It could be a purchased fountain with a bubbler, an in ground pond with a waterfall or an above ground pond with a seat wall…and fish…even in winter. I recommend water features but you should know they are not maintenance free.
Do you have pictures of what you really like? Budget is certainly a consideration and you should have an idea of yours in mind. But in terms of designing, we like to think big and here’s why. A design can be done in phases. It’s better to have the big idea and phase it than to start with a small budget and try to add to it piecemeal down the road.