It All Starts with an Idea (and a Budget)

At Platylobium Landscape Design, our process begins by sitting down with the client and the landscaper to establish a clear brief and budget. This foundation is crucial. When everyone is up-front from the beginning, the result is not only more achievable, but more enjoyable for everyone involved.

For our recent project in Highton, our wonderful clients came to us with a strong vision: a garden that felt true to the original 1970s character of the home, used native plants, and stayed within a clear budget. These kinds of honest, specific priorities are gold for both designers and landscapers.

Refining the Design to Meet Reality

With a clear brief in place, we created an initial concept plan — one that reflected the aesthetic and functional goals of the project. From there, the quoting phase began with the landscape contractor. The first round of quoting rarely hits the mark perfectly. And that’s completely normal.

Budgets aren’t static. Priorities shift once you see numbers next to ideas. And that’s where the collaboration really begins.

Landscapers often spend a great deal of time reviewing line items, revising scope, and collaborating with us as designers to adjust elements without compromising the integrity of the vision. This may mean choosing different materials, scaling back or rethinking areas, or staging works over time. Some landscapers may charge a small fee to explore multiple quoting options — a fair exchange considering the depth of experience and time invested. In comparison to the overall cost of construction, this fee is a drop in the ocean, especially when you consider the clarity and alignment it brings.

The True Value Lies in the Process

This pre-construction phase is not just valuable — it’s essential. It’s where mutual respect, communication, and shared vision between client, designer, and landscaper makes all the difference.

As our Highton client, put it:

“When a project works, it seems so easy! It makes me wonder, why can’t it be this way every time? The essential elements are mutual respect, ability to listen, arriving at a shared vision and people like you and Chris who deliver what you promise on time and within budget. Kudos!”

We couldn’t agree more. And it’s teams like Atlas Concrete and Landscape and Zorbas Gardens that help bring our designs to life — with precision, patience, and professionalism.

So, here’s to the unseen but deeply valuable work that happens before a shovel hits the ground. It’s where good landscapes become great ones.