Notebook

Design tips

Short, applicable notes from studio reviews—written for homeowners and collaborators who care about craft.

  • AAnchor the view. Decide what should read at the end of a path—a pot, a tree, a framed glimpse—before filling borders.
  • BLimit paving types. Two primary hardscape materials usually read clearer than four half-integrated ones.
  • CLight in layers. Combine low path wash, mid shrub fill, and a single accent—avoid uniform floodlighting.
  • DDesign for dry feet. Surface pitch and joint spacing matter as much as stone color for year-round comfort.
  • ELet plants breathe. Crowded planting looks lush for a season, then competes for water and light—space for mature forms.
Terrace and architecture

Detail

Outdoor aesthetics

Beauty follows coherence: a restrained palette, repetition at a human scale, and maintenance that matches your appetite for care.