Robin GustinI | Landscape Designer

Here are some of our top pro tips we are happy to pass on to anyone considering a yard buildout or remodel:

• Design for Changes to Life Stages: We caution against designing for a particular stage in a client’s life and instead help them think through what’s to come. Make sure the vision addresses future stages, which isn’t always obvious… like say, when you have toddlers, that someday you’ll want your space to be a teenage hangout.
• Cohesive Overall Style: One of the biggest mistakes we see is lack of cohesive style: elements placed with not enough thought to how they flow in the space, or worse, add-on elements that stick out. When done right, new elements can really elevate a space. But just adding something new doesn’t always work. Attention to the overall design aesthetic is often overlooked. The right designer will always keep cohesiveness in the forefront. 
• Architectural Framework: Another mistake we encounter a lot are build outs that are not consistent with the architectural style of the home. There are ways to create a transitional style that stretches the architectural framework, but instead we see a lot of conflicting elements and materials mixed together that require fixing. A good rule is to stick closely to your home’s architectural style in the front and use the back yard to draw more from your interior style but still keep your “transitional” choices not too far off from your home’s architecture. 
• Resale: Designing something that is too specific to your own taste or life stage, adding an update that sticks out from the rest of the yard, or veering too far from your home’s architectural style can be a problem when it comes time for resale. Even if you aren’t planning to move in the near term, the resale implications of your landscape project should still be part of your considerations. A good designer will help you address those choices.
• Property lines: You are not stuck with a yard layout based on your property lines! Just because your property has a weird shape doesn’t mean your new yard has to. Your designer should be able to create the sight lines and layout that give you the look and function that is best for how you want to use your space.