Move over Kendall Jenner

This Montecito client looking good beneath her climbing roses and arbor

Landscape Design is like Fashion design

The Met Gala, fashion design’s biggest evening was May 1st and I never miss watching the Live Stream of the Red Carpet. It is an over-the-top, ostentatious display of wondrous proportions. In honor of the Met Gala, I was reminded how landscape design is like fashion.

Designing a landscape is like fashion design. You can go over the top or be subdued and classic, but whatever you do, it should be a reflection of you.

As much as we love the wild displays on the runway, it isn’t what you’ll wear every day. So what to do?

fashion trends

Just because something looks fabulous on Kendall Jenner (the highest-paid model in the world) doesn’t mean it will look good on you or me. Succumbing to the latest fashion trend is not necessarily the smartest move. The same concept holds true in landscape design. Falling for the latest trends, in either case, can be disastrous.

This classic Montecito Mediterranean villa and landscape is the perfect expression of balance and scale

where to start

The first thing a fashion consultant would do is assess your physical assets and take into account your not-so-flattering features. The goal is to make the most of your assets while making your less-than-perfect features “disappear”. What does all this have to do with landscape design, you ask? Everything!

Your property has features that should be exploited and some that should be ignored.

Start by walking around your property and finding what is RIGHT about it.

This Southwest style house is softened by surrounding it with drought tolerant colorful plants. Mexican sage, Mexican Marigold, Salvia Greggii, and others.

 You know when it’s right so What is wrong?

Have you ever gone to the nursery, bought a bunch of plants because they were in bloom, on sale or whatever and when you got them home, they just didn’t seem right or worse, they never got planted and are still sitting behind the garage, dead?

Do you look at some part of your landscape and know it isn’t quite “right” but you don’t know what’s wrong?

Perhaps the problem is that you haven’t taken the time to look at the bigger picture.

Classic Rose Garden in Montecito with Italian cypress, boxwood hedges, bearded iris, shasta daisy and roses of every color

Balance and Scale

I know you can think of some violations of proper balance and scale in the fashion arena; a tiny woman overwhelmed by a massive dress. All you see is the dress, not the woman.

The same principle applies to landscaping; the elements should flow and be in balance with one another. The plants, hardscape and the like should be in scale with the house. Perhaps you have seen examples of this being violated, I know I have.

Permeable paving of decomposed granite bordered with drought tolerant plantings of dwarf olive, heliotrope, lavender, Mexican marigold, and Mexican sage

Hardscape

Your hardscape and driveway are like a picture frame and should complement the art without detracting one’s attention away from the painting. The same goes for your hardscape it should be in balance with the property and the plantings; no feature being out of scale with the others.

Make the Most of what you have

Your property is an asset, in times like these you need to make the most of what you have. By focusing on the best aspects of your property you can build from there. You can spend a lot of money and time and never really “get there” with your landscaping and no one wants that.

Beautiful garden with firepit in DG courtyard bordered by nepeta, teucrium, shasta daisy, pentas, oakleaf hydrangea, coastal live oak, citrus trees

Get the Look you really want

We are the experts in property assessment and “getting the look”.

It is something we have done for over 50 years. So, give us a call.

For a FREE Home Garden Consultation, Call Today 805-969-3984 or schedule here.

Until next time, fill your garden with joy! xo Lisa & Chris