Designing original landscapes means tailoring each element to best fit the client and site.
We design in two phases:
Consultations
$100 / first hour
Designed to help us get a feeling for each other and the project at hand. We cover use of outdoor space, from entertaining to casual outdoor play, preferences regarding materials, from quality to sustainability and expectations of craftmanship.
Outcomes include:
- Mutual understanding of the overall project
- Rough ideas for the landscape plan
Landscape Design
Price $1200 - $1500 or by site
We understand the deepest level of your inspiration with landscaping, form lifestyle to maintenance expectations and the requirements of the actual site. We take pictures, measurements and elevations, looking at any current landscape issues, such as drainage and then begin to develop the plan.
Outcomes include:
- Rough estimates on materials, labor and time requirements,
- General landscape design, base plans for hardscapes and softscapes
- Project estimate
Landscape Install – Price based on Master plan
We will develop an itemized estimate and work with you on your budget, adapting the design as necessary in order to fit you budget and timing.
We develop an installation schedule based on project management procedures to ensure efficiency of the construction process, quality and a timely installation.
We communicate closely with our clients during the installation phases to provide updates and go over any changes that may be required during the installation phase.
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Consult
We give expert input on how to best develop a new existing landscape to meet the needs of the site, client and nature.
Design
Craft a master plan to realize your vision according to the needs of the environment, site and your lifestyle.
Build
Every step of the landscape construction process is closely managed to ensure outstanding quality.
We help you define and cultivate your outdoor living experience.
Grading
We consider existing contours and aim to minimize grading while channeling your water for optimal flow.
Rain Gardens
Manage and utilize storm water by collecting and allowing it to percolate into the ground, restoring the water mantel and slowing down the water flow and water pollution.
Transplanting
Adding or relocating mature trees in your landscape increases value and gives an instant result.
Irrigation
We ensure your type of irrigation system is efficient and water smart, we develop a program and schedule to prevent over-watering your lawns, trees and shrubs.
Hardscapes
Create the spaces that allow you to live outdoors comfortably and safely: paths, patios, terraces, decks, arbors and pergolas.
Decks
Being the hub of your outdoor living experience, patios create a space for togetherness or provide restful, insightful relaxation. Shape, location and materials are all considered to maximize these benefits.
Water features
Water energizes through sound and movement, allows for self-reflection through stillness, and serves as an ideal focal point.
The pond Landscape Symphonies designed and installed ahs become the foal point of our building. Everyone who enters stops by the pond first and just admires how beautiful it is. The finished product exceeded our expectations by far. If I had enough yard space, I’d have this company install one at home.“
- David B. in Sacramento, CA
Art in the landscape
The art we admire reflects what we value & who we are and adds a personal custom touch to your landscape experience.
Fire elements
These bring warmth, energy and life to your landscape, encouraging personal interactions and those special outdoor experiences.
Softscapes
Integrate your outdoor spaces into nature with the finishing touch of plants that ensure an ecological landscape, encourage sensory experiences through color, fragrance, sound, movement, shade, flow as well as define the spaces and provide protection.
Our backyard looks like something that would grace a building much grander than our little house. I can’t wait for my first BBQ to show it off!
Ron F. in Dixon, CA
Consultations
We want to understand the deepest level of your inspiration with landscaping.
Everything from lifestyle to maintenance expectations play a part in what the landscape will be.
Turning in Questionnaire
To best serve your landscape needs we need to understand your motivations, lifestyle, preferences and vision for your outdoor space.
This quick questionnaire makes our initial consultation much more effective.
On-Site Consultation
Our initial consultation is designed to help us get a feeling for each other and the project at hand. We cover: use of outdoor space, from entertaining to casual outdoor play, preferences regarding materials, from quality to sustainability and expectations of craftmanship, from thoroughness to timeliness. The outcome is rough ideas for the landscape plan, a mutual understanding of the overall project, and whether or not Landscape Symphonies is a good fit for your project.
Our consultation fee is $100 for the first hour and $85 for successive hours. If you decide to continue designing with us, we will credit this fee towards the next steps of the project.
Our Design Process
We design landscapes through a two step process. We begin with a thorough Program & Site Analysis.
We then create the design by balancing the Essential Design Principles with what we call the inner Design Principles.
Program & Site analysis
Typically a three to four hour session, this detailed interview captures your specific expectations and site requirements. We want to understand the deepest level of your inspiration with landscaping. Everything from lifestyle to maintenance expectations play a part in what the landscape will be. We take pictures, measurements and elevations of the actual site. We look at any current landscape issues, such as drainage and then begin to develop a plan.
The Essential Design Principles
Many factors are involved to develop, install and maintain a good landscape. But, for certain, everything flows from an intelligent and meaningful design. Here are the basic principles that we use at Landscape Symphonies to determine the success of a design.
- Determine Intended Use and Audience:
- Shared Spaces
- Private areas
- Functional Areas
- Define Universal aesthetics:
- Balance
- Focalization of Interest
- Simplicity
- Rhythm
- Proportion
- Unity
- Integrate Personal Aesthetic:
- Style
- Hobbies
- Entertainment
- Family Structure
- Attitude to the outdoors
- Habits
- Materials preferences
- Use of Outdoor Space
- Consider cultural Requirements
- Zoning
- Home Owners Associations
- Easements
- Setbacks
- Historical Areas
- Integrate Existing and New Materials:
- Integrate Hardscape Considerations
- Integrate Softcape Considerations
The Inner Principles
The Extra Effort is what sets Landscape Symphonies apart from other landscape firms; the esoteric and inner principles we design and build into every garden.
- Basic Esoteric Landscaping Concepts:
- Balance Between Human World and Nature World
- Contemporary and Timeless Aesthetic & Values
- Portraying the Natural Process of Transformation
- Use Inner Qualities of Natural Elements
- Follow Universal Proportions (Golden Mean)
- Balance the Emotional with the Intellectual
- Create Opportunities for Real Experiences
- Timing of Passage Through the Garden
Design Outcomes
Through this two-pronged approach, we are able to create a master plan for the landscape design, as well as a project price range.
Every element possesses physical, chemical, and energetic properties.
A good design harmonizes all three.
The foundation of the installation process is the Infrastructure
We build in the drainage, irrigation electricity and gas at this stage, while obtaining all necessary permits and following legal code. Depending on the project, we may work with grading to reshape the garden to fit the design, removing or adding materials as needed.
We then introduce the Major Elements
Any boulders or large rock arrangements, or trees in the design are added at this step. This is followed by placing the Major Architectural elements: pergolas, patios, walls, and water features all come in to the picture.
Finally, its time for the Softscapes
Now it begins to look like the landscape in the plan, with all the greenery, flowers, lighting, and finishing touch details that make the landscape unique, thoughtful, and personal.
After all is installed, it is time for a Walk Through
Together with the client we walk through the landscape drawing attention to features and providing detailed information on upkeep, maintenance, and safety. At this stage, we are happy to train our client's preferred maintenance person, to ensure the landscape stays in premium care and condition. Now the Landscape Symphony is in your hands, and ready for your grand performance of it!
Landscape Symphonies is more than a name:
it's the inspiration and understanding behind our work.
We believe the role of the artist is to inspire, serve, and cultivate the highest in humanity. As landscape artists, our work is to understand how to best blend the particular qualities of a site, the vision of the client, and the materials available to us, to inspire and serve the highest in clients, ourselves and nature. Our gardens merge scientific and artistic understandings into harmonies of color, sight, sound and space. We aim to craft landscapes which stir the emotional and sensory experience.
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"Martin was extremely helpful from design to finish. He provided excellent customer service. The quality of his work is second to none.
I highly recommend Landscape Symphonies, I will use them for all my landscape work. “
- Lisa, Sacramento. CA
Martin is the third generation in a family dedicated to designing and building high-end custom landscapes
Martin has an innate capacity for sculpting natural environments into expressive sensory experiences. Combined with his academic study of Architecture and Landscape Design, and over 27 years of professional experience, this capacity has been honed to craft outdoor spaces to their highest potential. As an Eco Landscaper, he is committed to ecological landscaping. He is passionate about contributing through active membership in the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and ReScapes CA.
Martin’s gardens are deeply informed by his wide reach of experience in the arts: art history and theater, music and dance, sculpture and painting.
Extensive international travel has allowed him to absorb and study landscapes from diverse cultures and continents.
Martin’s passion for lifelong learning is reflected in the care, individuality, and professionalism of each landscape he orchestrates.
Martin is a true gentleman. He took the time to really look at our yard and envision what would be best. He was respectful of our wishes and worked hard to accommodate our needs. His prices were very fair and our yard looks fabulous. We will definitely be calling Martin for our next landscaping project.
- Mark H. in Sacramento, CA
We offer an all inclusive custom landscape design and installation service.
Our landscapes are investments for living wealthy lives by creating spaces to enjoy restful reflection, spend time with loved ones, or host lively events. Homeowners benefit through increased property value and curb appeal. Our landscapes create safe areas for children’s play, deeper communication, and being invigorated by nature. Our Landscapes bring joy, well-being, and beauty to your daily life.
Landscape Symphonies designs and builds outdoor spaces that inspire, cultivate and serve the harmony between humanity and nature through:
Inspired spaces
We designs for beauty, function and harmony, to invigorate the experience of living.
Artful synergy
Each Landscape perfectly composes the natural elements with our clients vision of life.
Deluxe Quality
From Design to installation, we hand-craft each landscape to the highest standards.
Customer Service
Reliability and professionalism are as important to our services as our landscapes are.
The landscape design-to-install process is the best investment for your outdoor spaces.
The Design Phase
Our design process ensures our clients get what they want from their outdoor living spaces in a time frame and price range that fit their needs, adding value to their investment and improving quality of life. Our landscape designs are based on client tastes, site considerations, and maintaining harmony with nature.
Being happy at home is the foundation for happiness throughout our lives.
A design is not finished until it is actualized as a landscape. As a result, we believe that installation is the natural continuation of the design, and by having the original designer build the landscape, the installation phase continues to be creative, alive and fluid. Learn more.
The Building Phase
Landscape installation is a living and creative endeavor. As we move forward into actualizing a landscape, we work closely with our client to ensure the outcomes match their vision and design.
Our project management procedures ensure high quality outcomes by following the best processes, and maintaining excellent communication throughout. We show up on the dates of service agreed upon. We complete the job in the agreed timeline.
The installation is not complete until the landscape meets the highest standards of beauty and functionality, and both ourselves and the client are completely satisfied with the results. Learn more.
My wife and I had the good fortune to work with Martin in October of 2013. Martin was very prompt, and always courteous. He took care in listening to my desires for the project and working up a very thorough proposal based upon the ideas.
Martin and his team at Landscape Symphonies restored my faith in contractors. I feel very blessed to have found him, and cannot recommend his work highly enough. You will have peace of mind working with Martin. He is truly a wonderful man.
- Eric W. of Roseville
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