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garden clearing and minimal design
Hi all,
my boyfriend and I have just bought a new place in the clapham brixton area and was wondering how to go about find someone to take care of clearing and designing a small garden with lawn, maybe a wooden patio, some trellises and plants. nothing too complex designwise, but they should then also take care of the work or organising it (clearing weeds, removing some concrete etc) at the moment we got some quotes but it looks like the designers are really going over our budget - one quote is way lower but that's because they seem weak on the design side and probably would simply keep the design to a minimum while concentrating on getting the work done themselves. .. also I am lost as none of these above have been recommended by friends but were found by us using links on the web... so just a bit concerned thanks in advance for any help from my new gardening community Michele |
#2
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garden clearing and minimal design
Michelle.
A bit of professional advice, I'm a landscape architect. and we carry out a lot of domestic design and build contracts. You have a choice of design only or design and build. but whichever you chose the most important thing is to like the designer and be on the same wavelength. If they want to impose their own design style on you or will not accept your brief (and budget) then you will not ever have a successful project and the experience will be disappointing. I have a guide to what to expect on my site. There are a few photos of past projects which may give you some inspiration http://www.arghamvillage.co.uk/nursery/ I hope this helps you in your selection. If the designer is telling you that your budget is inadequate then you should revise the budget or revise your expectations. This is quite different to ignoring your budget. Be careful there are a lot of people out there being garden designers and contractors.There are no set standards and building organisations such as the federation of master builders seldom have landscape contractors. Ask for names of three past projects and go see the work standard and talk to the clients.That way you can be sure you are getting a good contractor. Beware there are portfolios of garden design on sale for about £200 these are often used for passing off as a designer. Hope this hasn't put you off. have a look at www.landscape.co.uk (Landscape Design Trust) www.l-i.org.uk ( landscape Institute) also a good source of design is the horticultural / design colleges. Merrist Wood have a superb course why not commission one of the talented students. I am sure the college would help I trained at Greenwich uni (was Thames then) the landscape campus is at Dartford- oakhill road. Colleges often look for live projects for the students. I recall a private garden where we all did a design and the client chose and built the one chosen as winner. Hope ive been of some help If you want a professional opinion on any aspect of your choice feel free to email me direct. |
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