---
title: "Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/grounded-richard-risner-rla-asla-pfvwus-pf~1795257770
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1795257770.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA"
category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d393d5020b6f9ae5_7349-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "Encinitas, California 92024, United States"
phone: "(760) 518-7106"
website: http://www.designgrounded.com
rating: 5
review_count: 11
best_of_houzz_awards: 12
followers: 1121
last_updated: 2026-09-03
---

# Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA

Original Houzz profile: [Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/grounded-richard-risner-rla-asla-pfvwus-pf~1795257770)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers
- **Location:** Encinitas, CA
- **Serves:** San Diego, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, La Costa, Napa, Santa Cruz, Encinitas, Palm Springs, La Jolla, Solana Beach, Malibu, Cardiff By The Sea, Del Mar, Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, Camp Pendleton, Del Mar Heights San Diego, Mexico/Central America, Ranch Santa Fe
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (11 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 12 awards (2013–2026), for Design, Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 100,000 Ideabook Saves

Best of Houzz every year since 2013.
Award winning landscape designs, ASLA SD Residential Design Awards 2009, 2014 & 2018. As seen in Dwell, Dwell home tours, Modern luxury, Modernism magazine, CA Modern Magazine, San Diego Home & Garden, Rivieria Magazine, Luxe Magazine, Luxury Outdoor living magazine and Mid-Century Modern magazine. Our design approach is modern, minimalist, contemporary,  mid-century modern, with Japanese influence.

### Services Provided

- Landscape Design
- Garden Design
- Hardscaping
- Landscape Plans
- Patio Design
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Site Planning
- Custom Fire Pits
- Pool Landscaping
- Custom Water Features
- Swimming Pool Design
- Gazebo Design & Construction
- Design Consultation
- Outdoor Lighting Design
- Deck Design
- 3D Rendering
- Project Management
- Drafting
- Organic Gardens
- Pond Construction
- Shed Design & Construction
- Edible Gardens
- Custom Bocce Ball Courts
- Living Walls
- Greenhouse Design & Construction
- Natural Swimming Pools
- Potted Plants
- Dog Run Construction
- Artificial Living Walls
- Rooftop Deck Installation
- Green Roofing
- Barn Design & Construction
- Landscape Supplies
- Architectural Design /Container housing design

### Areas Served

- San Diego
- Oceanside
- Escondido
- Carlsbad
- Vista
- San Marcos
- La Costa
- Napa
- Santa Cruz
- Encinitas
- Palm Springs
- La Jolla
- Solana Beach
- Malibu
- Cardiff By The Sea
- Del Mar
- Fairbanks Ranch
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Camp Pendleton
- Del Mar Heights San Diego
- Mexico/Central America
- Ranch Santa Fe

### Typical Job Cost

$100, 000 - 1 mil +

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA |
| Address | Encinitas, California 92024, United States |
| Phone | (760) 518-7106 |
| Website | http://www.designgrounded.com |
| License Number | RLA -   Ca.4808   Az.39140 |
| Followers on Houzz | 1121 |

**Social profiles:**
- Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grounded-Modern-Landscape-Architecture/104391656319996?ref=hl

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/grounded-richard-risner-rla-asla-pfvwus-pf~1795257770)
- **Website:** http://www.designgrounded.com
- **Phone:** (760) 518-7106

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- ASLA San Diego residential design awards
- SD Home of the year
- Orchid, SD Orchid & Onion awards
- Dwell - Home tours
- CLCA Design Awards

- **Best of Houzz:** 12 awards (2013–2026), for Design, Service.

**Affiliations**
- [American Society of Landscape Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/american-society-of-landscape-architects-pfvwus-pf~2014062207)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 11 reviews**

### All 11 reviews

**★★★★★ — Juniper Landscape Company, June 2016**

> We have worked on a number of Rich's designs as a landscape contractor. I like Rich's style, it is fun and playful while being interesting and unique. He does great design work and we enjoy being on his projects. Rich is always informative and responsive and is a good person to work with. Thanks!

**★★★★★ — TLC Spaces LLC., June 2015**

> Richard was very helpful and gave me great advise as his services were out of my budget. He was very friendly and got back to be right away on all of my questions. You can tell he is very detailed oriented and even though I could not afford his services, gave me great advise and other recommendations that were a better fit within my budget. Great to work with, and his work is absolutely stunning!

**★★★★★ — hilltop24, May 2014**

> Rich Risner is truly remarkable. He was able to incorporate everything we wanted in our yard and bring it together in a one-of-a-kind location. He magically brought together fire, water, recreation, views, and multiple levels, all into a place that feels like hotel resort. What is so special about the space is that his vision and design maximizes every square foot.  I would refer Rich to anyone who wants to enjoy their yard in a way that makes it special every time.

**★★★★★ — krocfamily, Nov. 2013**

> Rich Risner is a highly skilled landscape designer, who did an excellent job with my home.  He is very talented, and knows how to marry a clients wishes with cool modern design.

**★★★★★ — igalton, Oct. 2013**

> Rich Risner designed our back yard. After meeting with him to discuss what we wanted, we paid him a one-time fee to visit our house for a day and draw up plans. It was money well spent. His design turned out really well. It is completely in line with what we told him we wanted, but far better than what we'd initially envisioned. Rich is very creative, but he's also a good listener. He came up with a lot of great suggestions that would not have occurred to us, yet did so in the context of the style we told him we wanted and how we wanted to use the space. Rich was also very available and provided helpful advice to us during the construction phase of the project. We would definitely hire Rich again.

**★★★★★ — Morgan Jenkins, Oct. 2013**

> We own an Eichler and wanted to do a complete landscape overhaul and build a pool that would reflect and compliment the midcentury modern design of our house. I found Rich Risner and right from the start he was great to work with. He completely understood the aesthetic we were going for, he worked within our budget, he was clear and concise and gave us the most detailed plans anyone has ever seen! He really went above and beyond when it came to the design. He took our ideas to a whole new level that we would have never came up with on our own. The communication was easy and we never felt that he didn't understand or get what we wanted, if he had any questions he would always ask and was very open to suggestions and critique. His eye for detail is astounding, truly. His designs are really a work of art. I can highly recommended Grounded Modern Landscape/ Richard Risner. In fact, I have another project I want him on, wouldn't go to anyone else.

**★★★★★ — yuliegirl, Oct. 2013**

> We had the pleasure of working with Rich on a newly constructed home that had yet to be landscaped. Our initial meeting consisted of a thorough walk of the property as well as the interior of the home. Rich’s guidance was excellent and his focus on creating a space that “lives well” was evident in the conversations leading up to the design. Rich was able to seamlessly blend the modern design elements we hoped to incorporate in the design with the overall natural surroundings that were already present in the neighborhood. When the design finally emerged, we were thoroughly pleased. The design was essential in guiding the land scape contractor and we were pleased with the final results. Rich was professional, responsive and a pleasure to work with. His creativity in tackling the project was fun to watch as was the actual sketching of the property. I can highly recommend Rich’s design services and hope to use him again in future design elements on our home.

**★★★★★ — Walker, Oct. 2013**

> We used Rich to complete a full design for our front and backyards.  We had many ideas in our head and pictures of things that we liked, but we couldn't figure out how to make it all work.  Well, the best part of our entire landscaping/pool project was working with Rich.  He was professional, prompt, and responsive.  Mr. Risner is open to discussing alterations of his plans and always seemed willing to work on modifications as our project progressed.
>
> The end result of our project was a yard that went well beyond our expectations and we owe so much of that to the creativity and originality of Rich.  Highly recommended.

**★★★★★ — Robin Gordon, Sept. 2013**

> My husband & I had been contemplating what to do with our backyard.  We knew it would be a huge project and that we needed professional help. We started by doing some research on the internet.  We reviewed many websites, looked at dozens of portfolios.  Very few matched our vision.  We finally narrowed it down to a few Landscape Architects, some were local (LA) but our favorite portfolio was from Grounded.  Grounded was all the way in San Diego...would they come up to LA?  We worked our way through the local folks...nothing was clicking.  I finally contacted Rich Risner at Grounded and, to my surprise, he was happy to make the trip to LA.  When we met, I showed him some ideas (pictures) I'd collected over the years.  He asked me some very GOOD questions.  For example:  how did I want to use the space?  did I enjoy caring for plants or did I want low maintenance? who would using the space...animals/children?  And then we talked about features...water, firepit, kitchen, bar.  When Rich came back with the drafts...that's when I really knew we'd found the right person.  He is very patient and offers many options.  We advised him that we need to some of the work in stages so he showed us how we could do that based on our MUST Haves vs. NICE to Have.  He made no less than 3 visits, fielded many calls, answered lots of questions and held our hands through completion.  We are SO happy with our backyard.  I hardly recognize it.   I will be calling Rich at Grounded to do our front yard project when we're ready!

**★★★★★ — maybritth, Sept. 2013**

> I hired Rich to draw the plans for the landscaping in our back yard.  We own a mid-century modern home that had been neglected for years.  The back yard was full of tan bark and weeds.  He came up with a modern design that was easy to implement and looks unbelievable.  He was extremely easy to work with and very responsive.  He also gave me an extensive list of contractors he recommended.  I cannot say enough good words about Rich!  I give him the highest recommendation possible.

**★★★★★ — VictoriaJane, Sept. 2013**

> Rich Risner of Grounded is one of the most talented landscape architects you'll find.  The vision that he brought to our project was remarkable. He completely transformed the exterior of our home with a warm, modern style.  The many compliments we've received on our landscaping is a strong testament to Rich's talent.

## Selected projects

- [La Jolla mid-century modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/la-jolla-mid-century-modern-pj-vj~7551255)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 11
- [SAGEBRUSH RESIDENCE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sagebrush-residence-pj-vj~7551151)
  - Location: San Diego, CA
  - Photos: 11
  - Description: a beautifully designed outdoor lounge area with a modern, minimalist aesthetic. The focal point is a built-in, open fireplace with a sleek, marble or stone surround, adding warmth and ambiance to the space. Adjacent to the fireplace is a sunken seating area framed by concrete and wooden bench-style seats, illuminated subtly with recessed lights that create a cozy atmosphere in the evening. The surrounding landscape features drought-tolerant plants, including succulents, grasses, and a prominent…
- [Pivot 2- Point Loma San Diego](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pivot-2-point-loma-san-diego-pj-vj~2999815)
  - Location: San Diego, CA
  - Photos: 19
- [Parallelogram Plunge La Jolla](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/parallelogram-plunge-la-jolla-pj-vj~1225189)
  - Location: La Jolla, CA
  - Photos: 14
  - Description: This project is a modern entry courtyard renovation in La Jolla, CA. Designed by Richard Risner at Grounded Landscape Architecture and installed by Envision Landscape Studio.
- [Modern Pivot La Jolla](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-pivot-la-jolla-pj-vj~1225351)
  - Location: La Jolla, CA
  - Photos: 10
  - Description: This project was designed by Rich Risner at Grounded Landscape Architecture and installed by Land Aesthetic.
- [Outdoor Design Project - San Diego](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/outdoor-design-project-san-diego-pj-vj~6815509)
  - Location: San Diego, CA
  - Photos: 32
- [Malibu Estate](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/malibu-estate-pj-vj~6665365)
  - Location: Malibu, CA
  - Photos: 12
- [Design Details by Grounded Landscape Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/design-details-by-grounded-landscape-architecture-pj-vj~5498514)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 69
  - Description: Grounded - Landscape Architecture project details.
- [Mirola House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mirola-house-pj-vj~943463)
  - Location: San Diego, CA
  - Photos: 18
- [Hillcrest](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hillcrest-pj-vj~1965774)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 22
- [Palm Springs](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/palm-springs-pj-vj~1958830)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 17
- [Contemporary Olivenhain Hillside](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-olivenhain-hillside-pj-vj~1356549)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 34
  - Description: Hillside vanishing edge pool with extensive outdoor entertaining and play areas.
- [Outdoor Office Space](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/outdoor-office-space-pj-vj~1356564)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 20
  - Description: Outdoor office space with outdoor meeting areas.
- [Modern Prefab House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-prefab-house-pj-vj~1348586)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 15
- [Modern Solana Beach Pool](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-solana-beach-pool-pj-vj~1348558)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 7
- [Del Mar - Outdoor room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/del-mar-outdoor-room-pj-vj~29678)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 6
- [Contemporary Island Style Hymettus](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-island-style-hymettus-pj-vj~1348210)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 19
- [Contemporary Muirlands Vista Way La Jolla](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-muirlands-vista-way-la-jolla-pj-vj~1348101)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 16
- [Modern Mirola La Jolla](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-mirola-la-jolla-pj-vj~1348070)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 10
- [Modern Torrey Pines](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-torrey-pines-pj-vj~29686)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 12

[See all 28 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/grounded-richard-risner-rla-asla-pfvwus-pf~1795257770)

## Community Q&A

**Q: tan gravel** *(in Photo Questions)*

What is the tan gravel used here?

A: Its Gold Chip Seal.

**Q: What is the width of the dark stripes** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: The banding is 10" wide.

**Q: Hi- Love the gabions! Where did you source the rocks? Thanks** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: Southwest boulders & stone, in SD.

**Q: raised planter materials?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Are the raised planter beds made the same way as the wall (I read the answer to the previously submitted question)?  Or, is that a different product?

A: If they have the pure white stucco then they are made with steel reinforced/grout filled CMU block, some of the other walls that are not white are poured in place concrete with a board formed finish.

**Q: Love the pool. Do you have the dimensions by chance?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: The windscreen block was a special order at 8" thick.  We really worked hard to keep the MCM style on this one.

**Q: One of my all time favorite homes! Stunning!** *(in Photo Questions)*

Is the white exterior stucco?  Thank you.

A: Thanks. And yes, pure white stucco.

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-03.*