Initial visit and site survey
This first visit is to help me understand what you want from your garden as well as gather information about the site.
I am very keen to give you the garden of your dreams so I will be asking you about all the things you ever wanted in your garden, and probably also about things you never thought about before. My aim will be to give you all these things. I will strive to tick as many items on your wish list as possible but part of my role as a Designer is also about creating a space that works… If you wish for a Jacuzzi, an orchard and a greenhouse in a space the size of a shoe box, we probably will need to review the list and narrow it down to the real essential.
To help me try to understand you a little more, feel free to gather some photos or art you like whether on paper or via Pinterest. These could be related to a garden you have seen, holiday pictures, art pieces from a museum… Anything that could help me understand your tastes will be helpful. (But don’t worry if you have nothing to share, I am good at detective work and will use other clues to help me find out more about your tastes).
Once I have found about more about your tastes, we will discuss the sort of budget you have in mind for the new space. Speaking about money can be a little tricky but it really helps me to have this information so that I can see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. (Again, if you really don’t know what to spend, we can figure this out while we chat)
Finally, I will survey the site, making sure I have accurate measurements and some pictures to start the design process at home.
At this stage, you will have not signed up for anything or had to spend any money. All it will cost you is a cup of coffee (black with one sugar for me please) and worst case scenario, if nothing comes out of this visit, we will all have enjoyed a nice conversation together.
Second visit
A few days later, I will ring you back to organise a second visit to discuss my proposal. (If the site or design is more complex, this might take a week or a little more).
When we meet again, I will bring the plans for your new garden and the following will happen
-I have done a very good job at listening to your wishes, you love the plan and want to move on to the next stage
-I have done a good job but you feel that some tweaks are needed and I will address them in a reviewed design
-You do not feel that this is the garden you wanted and can either send me back to the drawing board or decide that you would rather ask someone else to work for you.
(Any of these options is possible, even if obviously option One or Two are better for me… It is important that you feel happy with the design. Commissioning a garden is an act of trust and if you feel that I am not the right designer for you, it is better to say it at this stage. Having said that, there is also the possibility that after our initial meeting I do not feel a strong enough connection to the site or your wish list and would suggest you ask someone else to do the work. I am a strong believer that if you cannot get passionate about a piece of work, it is probably better to leave it.)
During this second visit, I will also provide you with an estimate of cost for the implementation of the design so that you can understand how your money will be spent. This could be an opportunity to decide to spend more on a specific item and less on another, having a better understanding about costs.
This is also a time when we might discuss various phases in the implementation work to spread the cost over a longer period if relevant
Next steps
Depending on the complexity of the work involved and your personal wishes you then have several options
-You can ask me to build and plant the garden (a service I can provide when the construction is straight forward)
-Build the garden yourself, based on the plans
-Ask a builder you know to take on the work, with or without extra input from myself during the building phase. In this case, you can later ask me to come back to do the planting, do the planting yourself or ask your builder to do it.
-Ask me to find a builder to deliver the design fully or up to a certain point
Luc Gardens 