How to choose a designer who can make your vision a reality
It’s important to consider the design of your home and garden holistically. It’s especially important as properties become smaller and owners’ expectations for their external areas grows. If you hire a designer, you can ensure your dreams come true within your budget. So, how to choose your designer?
Finding a designer
Creating a new swimming pool, cabana and landscaped garden is a big investment, so you need to get it right the first time, which in many cases will mean a landscape architectural designer. Most can design a holistic garden but few also have an intricate knowledge of pools and cabanas. Ask to see their portfolios and when shown a beautiful image, ask what they specifically designed.
Also, a few simple questions in the first phone call will quickly show you how knowledgeable they are. For pools, for example, you might ask a question like “What are the typical depths of a family pool?” (answer is 900mm to 1800 mm); for cabanas, “What is the minimum habitable ceiling height?” (answer is 2400mm).
Making a wish list
Read up on the latest technology and design. Once you’ve done a little homework and have considered your needs and wishes, you can decide what it is you want from your outdoor areas. When you convey this to your designer, they should be able to let you know what is feasible given the size of your property and local regulations, and provide a broad range of costs.
It’s often difficult to put ideas into words, especially when you need to agree with a partner. By collecting images that convey what you want, you can give your designer a good sense of what you’re interested in for the gardens, pool and any outdoor structures.
Initial Consultation
During an initial consultation a designer will ask about your likes and dislikes, your lifestyle and requirements for your external area. A good designer should listen to your ideas and try to integrate them into a design. If they think your ideas are not suitable, they should also
be confident enough to say so, give reasons why and then give alternative ideas. They shouldn’t simply just dictate their own taste to you.
A landscaper designer can help you by making suggestions as to what would suit your external area and ensure that how you intend to use the space will work. At the end of the consultation, the designer would normally provide you with a fee structure.
When you meet the designer, ask to look at before and after images of projects. These shots are visual proof of ability.
Working out a budget
Decide what you want to spend on your project. Speak with your designer to get a sense of what your project will cost and if you have a realistic budget. It’s best to know up front as you may have to adjust your expectations or stage your project as funds become available. If so, the order in which works are done is crucial and an experienced designer should be able to help you with scheduling so areas don’t need to be reworked or items are forgotten.
The approval process
A contemporary cabana may be as simple as a covered pergola with moveable lounges and a barbecue. At the other end of the spectrum, it can be an elaborate structure incorporating luxurious bathroom and kitchenette facilities with daybeds and a bar. What you build will depend on your lifestyle needs, the available space and, of course, the budget.
John Storch is a landscape architect, swimming pool and cabana designer, and director of Sydney-based practice, A Total Concept.
This article was originally published in Outdoor Design.
