--- title: "Optic Verve LLC — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/optic-verve-llc-pfvwus-pf~596325398 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~596325398.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Optic Verve LLC" category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/0c93544f0281b5a2_5423-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Portland, Oregon 97217-1421, United States" phone: "(503) 704-9869" website: http://www.optic-verve.com rating: 5 review_count: 37 best_of_houzz_awards: 6 followers: 45 last_updated: 2026-09-06 --- # Optic Verve LLC Original Houzz profile: [Optic Verve LLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/optic-verve-llc-pfvwus-pf~596325398) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** Portland, OR - **Serves:** Portland, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Aloha, Lake Oswego, Bethany, Tualatin, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, Lents, Cedar Mill, Oak Grove, Oatfield, Gladstone, Oak Hills, Rockcreek, Cedar Hills, West Haven-Sylvan, Jennings Lodge, Garden Home-Whitford, West Slope, Sunnyside, Clackamas, Raleigh Hills, West Haven, King City, Metzger, Durham, Maywood Park, Rivergrove, Johnson City, Barberton, Felida, Five Corners, Hazel Dell, Lake Shore, Marylhurst, Mill Plain, Minnehaha, NE Portland, NoPo, Orchards, Salmon Creek, St Johns, Vancouver, Walnut Grove - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (37 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2016–2026), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 500 Ideabook Saves I design exteriors as well as interiors. Creating gardens are my passion, but what good are they if they are not accessible from the interior - visibly as well as physically? The two are intrinsically linked. I take pride in my unique way of seeing potential, as well as developing solutions that will enhance and expand the livability of your home, whether inside or out. I am an excellent space planner, and I have a hard time thinking inside the box. My solutions are not usually run of the mill, and I do not generally follow trends. Instead, I use all available parameters and criteria to create a functional, timeless design with staying power, suitable to its location, and representative of its owners preferences and budgets. I experience the world as space defined by color and contrasting textures, and I am a functional tetrachromat. As a complement to my website, I maintain two blogs. One - The Creative Flux - focuses mostly on design, materials and color, and was originally created to spread awareness of new sustainable building materials. The other - Flutter & Hum - is where I explore gardens and plants, as well as document landscape projects. You can read more following the links below. www.thecreativeflux.wordpress.com www.flutterandhum.wordpress.com ### Services Provided - Landscape Design - Garden Design - Hardscaping - Landscape Plans - Patio Design - Drought Tolerant Landscaping - Site Planning - Custom Fire Pits - Custom Water Features - Swimming Pool Design - Design Consultation - Outdoor Lighting Design - Deck Design - Shed Design & Construction - Edible Gardens - Living Walls - Natural Swimming Pools - Potted Plants - Architectural interior design - Bathroom design - Color consultations - Creative screening solutions - Curb appeal - Custom furniture design - Custom lighting solutions - Custom planters - Exterior design - Garden structures - Gazebo design - Hardscape design - Interior design - Kitchen design - Low maintenance gardens - Master planning - Material consultations - Multipurpose spaces - Native and wildlife gardens - Plant ID - Plant procurement - Planting plans - Privacy issues - Rain garden design - Shed design - Small space optimization - Space planning - Trellis and pergola design ### Areas Served - Portland - Hillsboro - Beaverton - Tigard - Aloha - Lake Oswego - Bethany - Tualatin - Happy Valley - Milwaukie - Lents - Cedar Mill - Oak Grove - Oatfield - Gladstone - Oak Hills - Rockcreek - Cedar Hills - West Haven-Sylvan - Jennings Lodge - Garden Home-Whitford - West Slope - Sunnyside - Clackamas - Raleigh Hills - West Haven - King City - Metzger - Durham - Maywood Park - Rivergrove - Johnson City - Barberton - Felida - Five Corners - Hazel Dell - Lake Shore - Marylhurst - Mill Plain - Minnehaha - NE Portland - NoPo - Orchards - Salmon Creek - St Johns - Vancouver - Walnut Grove ### Typical Job Cost $1,000 - 100,000 I will happily work with any budget! ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Optic Verve LLC | | Address | Portland, Oregon 97217-1421, United States | | Phone | (503) 704-9869 | | Website | http://www.optic-verve.com | | Followers on Houzz | 45 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Optic Verve LLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/optic-verve-llc-pfvwus-pf~596325398) - **Website:** http://www.optic-verve.com - **Phone:** (503) 704-9869 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Work featured in Renovation Style Magazine - WA Master Gardener 2014 - Best of Houzz Service 2016, 2020, 2021, 2023 - Featured on Garden Time TV (1) 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSTIqT6lEFE&t=56s - Featured on Garden Time (2) TV 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S21Od-XI2I&t=87s - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2016–2026), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 37 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Eve, Dec. 2025** > Working with Anna was a delight on all fronts. At our first consultation, she immediately understood my objectives for designing my long, narrow, parking strip (that gets blasted with afternoon sun), and she quickly delivered a sketch that ticked every box.The plantings stayed low to the ground (for visibility), included lots of pollinator plants for my bees, lots of the contrasting silvery foliage I'd requested, and mostly low maintenance plants with year round interest. There are multiple stone pathways to let people easily cross it, but they have a meandering, naturalistic feel that adds charm to the narrow, awkward, plot. > Anna's eye for plant combinations is impressive, and even though the plants just went in, and are still quite small, and it's also the middle of a warm, soggy, winter, I've already had THREE different neighbors reach out to tell me how much they love it. Can't wait to see it filled out and flowering! > Planning, soil prep, procurement, and planting all went smoothly and quickly. Anna and her trusty sidekick Honorio were a great team, warm and communicative. I'm already eyeing other "problem" areas to transform with their help. **Comment from Optic Verve LLC:** > Aww, thank you Eve - the pleasure was all mine! It’s going to be really fun to see all the plants fill in. **★★★★★ — Don Robinson, Feb. 2025** > The exterior wood siding and trim of my 1942 house really needed new paint, but I wasn’t sure what color scheme to use, so I reached out to my neighbor, Anna Kullgren, who I knew had her own design business and had a reputation for helping others choose great color schemes. Boy, that was a good decision. From the get-go, Anna encouraged me to drive around town to take pictures of color schemes I was comfortable with and then asked many questions about my choices to get a sense of what I envisioned and what I would be comfortable with—before she presented color scheme recommendations. > > I wanted warmer colors to offset the very gray days we have here in Portland throughout the winter months. I was leaning toward a dark orange base color with shades of gold and green for the trim. Fortunately, Anna convinced me to go with a less-orange rustic brick. To this day, I receive compliments on the color choices. I strongly recommend Anna when choosing your colors. **★★★★★ — smerten19, Feb. 2025** > Anna is an absolute gem and a delightful person to work with. We found her through Houzz and couldn't be happier with every project she's helped on. We initially worked with Anna on colors for our historic house - first the exterior and later for interior colors, and then for our landscape design. She is so knowledgeable about color theory, loves bold combinations, understands how to build a whole house color plan and helped us pick out a unique palette that still takes my breath away. We have neighbors CONSTANTLY asking us for our colors and even one bold lady who was on our porch with a color deck, trying to copy our colors. Inside our house, we have some spaces that are bold and others that are more serene but everything makes sense and the colors work beautifully together. > > Anna is also a talented landscape designer with an encyclopedic knowledge of plants. She has created a thorough landscape plan for our front and back yards, taking into account our chickens, desire to have a vegetable garden and fruit trees and she shares my love of tropicals and faux tropical plants that can grow in the PNW. Not only did she create our plans, she gave us great sources for buying plants and everything we need. I'm astounded that she was able to fit in all our asks on our small lot: deck for entertaining, hot tub, chicken coop, veggie garden, fruit trees, etc. I can't recommend Anna highly enough - she's remarkable! **★★★★★ — Alex, Dec. 2023** > We worked with Anna to create a landscape design for our house in the Hawthorne neighborhood. The space was relatively small, and we were having trouble figuring out how to make the most of the space. Anna provided a great layout that involved extending the usable space in innovative ways. Repositioning a deck we needed to rebuild either way, and adding a ton of natural light to a new living/relaxing space in the garage. > > Definitely recommend 10/10!!! **★★★★★ — back yard landscape, Nov. 2023** > Anna was delightful to work with! We needed help finding plants that were shade tolerant, grew well in clay, and were resistant to deer. We wanted input on plant placement and how to make the most of our wooded, steeply sloped back yard. She created a plan that took all that into account, but also paid attention to how the landscaping would be viewed from inside our house. She was onsite several times throughout our project and was always available by text or email to answer our many questions. She also shared resources like the best nurseries, products, and landscaper to help us implement her plan. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Anna! **★★★★★ — Amy Lindeman, Oct. 2023** > I highly recommend Anna for any project you have. She is creative and experienced and not afraid to veer away from complex landscaping projects. We bought an old North Portland complete fixer with a complicated lot layout and she helped us to come up with a plan that incorporates our current layout. She took an odd small yard and created a space for us to have guests, relax, and enjoy. Our project has been very slow moving as we complete different aspects of our remodel. Anna has been able to adapt and adjust as needed and step in as we complete different projects. We had her create a plan for both front and back yard, with plants and hardscaping. She sourced and delivered all plants and placed them in the correct spot to be planted by us. Her prices are great. She is personable and kind and a great communicator. **★★★★★ — Heather Evans, June 2023** > I recently had an appointment with Anna Kullgren of OPTIC VERVE to get her assessment regarding a color that I had selected for a kitchen cabinet update. I can honestly say that she saved me from a near disaster in color choice. Her opinion that the color was lacking in contrast to other colors featured was totally correct! Anna has an educated AND intuitive sense of color and design. She is amazing!!! > > I found Anna to be straightforward, NOT intimidating, and supremely knowledgeable. She is charming, has a sense of humor. and easy to work with. She spent time with me discussing the merits of other colors and why they would work harmoniously. I was delighted with our meeting and felt that she was a person that I could always call for advice on any other decorating dilemmas. I highly recommend Anna and her company Optic Verve. > > I found Anna and Optic Verve through a previous recommendation on Houzz. So thankful for that introduction!!!!! **★★★★★ — HU-665480125, March 2023** > Anna is WONDERFUL! Her knowledge for landscape design is amazing! She helped us create a beautiful plan for our yard, working with us to match our preferences for upkeep, our desire to have lots of color, and to make our space more "interesting!" Anna is fun to work with! Her love for the garden is contagious! Thank you Anna! **★★★★★ — William Malmborg, Oct. 2022** > Anna worked with me to change our back patio from dark and uninviting to lush green with many interesting points of interest. > Anna is very knowledgeable about all aspects of landscaping. She is outgoing and very personable. > You will definitely have a positive experience when you meet her. > Will/Sheri **★★★★★ — Julie Rogers, Aug. 2022** > The first thing to know is I was NOT a plant geek. My yard was too big for me to handle and I needed a landscape that did not require constant care. Low maintenance was my priority. Anna showed me her plan and I thought it was interesting. Certainly, nothing I could have come up with. We planted her vision about six months ago. > WOW, now my yard is a showcase and the maintenance is very reasonable. I can see the vision and am excited to work with her again for the next phase. > I highly recommend Anna and Optic Verve. > Julie **★★★★★ — Norman Barnett, July 2022** > Anna Kullgren is a delightful, competent landscape designer who, in our case made a suggestion that changed out plan regarding new plants in a hot, sunny area which gets no irrigation! In addition, she was able to supply plants that should do well in such an area and be beautiful after initial watering in. That is a very rare combination in our experience! **★★★★★ — A K, Feb. 2022** > I was drawn to Anna as a longtime follower of her excellent gardening blog, and so approached her about the possibility of consulting with me on a privacy screen project for my small garden. Because she lived quite a distance from me, I asked if she’d be willing to do it via FaceTime. She agreed to give it a try and it was a fabulous success! I sent “before” pictures of the site, with notes on my intentions. During the consult time, she would show me idea sketches, while I was able to look up her plant suggestions on a separate device. At the end of our time together, I came away fully satisfied and excited about the plan. She followed up with emails of support. Anna is very experienced and knowledgeable about design and plant varieties, and she is such fun. Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying experience. ## Selected projects - [Inner Courtyard Sanctuary](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/inner-courtyard-sanctuary-pj-vj~7380333) - Location: Washougal, WA - Photos: 6 - [Ditch the Lawn!](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ditch-the-lawn-pj-vj~7380243) - Location: Camas, WA - Photos: 9 - Description: A former lawn transformed into a climate-adapted, pollinator-friendly, flowering oasis with a simple pathway connecting the front door with the sidewalk. - [Stevens Crawford Heritage House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stevens-crawford-heritage-house-pj-vj~7380295) - Location: Oregon City, OR - Photos: 8 - Description: A historic Edwardian house in Oregon City that is also a museum. The surrounding garden is slated to receive an overhaul in order to create an inviting outdoor event space. Optic Verve created the Master Plan for that renovation in 2023. I believe the project is currently in the Fundraising phase. - [Brightwood vacation rental](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brightwood-vacation-rental-pj-vj~7383493) - Location: Rhododendron, OR - Photos: 13 - Description: The task at hand was to soften the look and improve the outdoor space around this vacation rental, located under the tree cover of the Mt Hood National Forest. We used primarily native Pacific NW plants except in the long planter we constructed along the house. In it, we planted tough, evergreen plants that embraced the more contemporary aesthetic of the house. This was the result of a garden design consultation followed by plant procurement. - [A Happy Kitchen!](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/a-happy-kitchen-pj-vj~7380306) - Location: West Linn, OR - Photos: 4 - Description: I love to work with people who are not afraid of color! In this case, much of it was already there, but she had fallen in love with a rich teal hue and wanted a change. Though she was prepared to throw the proverbial baby out, in the end it proved unnecessary. The right color can do a lot to pull a space together, and this project is a good example of it. - [Vancouver Villa - backyard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vancouver-villa-backyard-pj-vj~7050912) - Location: Vancouver, WA - Photos: 12 - Description: An ongoing project started in 2021, involving concrete work, and reducing lawn area. The lower garden is mostly used for viewing, and the mostly low maintenance plantings serve to bring in birds and insects. More to come... - [Vancouver Villa - front yard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vancouver-villa-front-yard-pj-vj~7050910) - Location: Vancouver, WA - Photos: 7 - [New house, new garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-house-new-garden-pj-vj~7050908) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 11 - [Steel wall and dashing displays](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/steel-wall-and-dashing-displays-pj-vj~6510982) - Location: Beaverton, OR - Photos: 9 - Description: This slippery sloping front yard was transformed to a flat, easily walkable surface, connecting the front garden with the side gate, with the help of a low steel retaining wall. Large, sculptural wood frames, doubling as shelf space for the owner's extensive container plant /garden art collection, were erected. They also create a transparent screen between the house and the street. The area below the wall was planted with trees, shrubs and perennials, adding yet another layer. For Phase 2, the h… - [A plant lover's paradise](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/a-plant-lover-s-paradise-pj-vj~6511177) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 18 - Description: These photos are from my own cramscaped garden. It's where I test my ideas, learn how far plants can be pushed in one way or another, problem-solve adverse conditions, play with plant combinations, and figure out how to maximize small garden spaces. In short, it's my my learning lab. It has evolved organically over time since 2006, and has gone from being our kids' play space to a favorite teenage hangout. The garage was expanded by a previous owner, so the backyard space available for a garden… - [Soothing colors for a tranquil garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/soothing-colors-for-a-tranquil-garden-pj-vj~7051228) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 8 - Description: A total redo of the exterior house color, transitioning from a comfortable, warm brown to cool, contemporary colors, amplifying cues from the surrounding landscape, giving everything a fresh look. In all honesty, the brown looked very right too, but sometimes you just have to switch things up a bit. Change is good! - [Urban homesteading meets hangout space](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/urban-homesteading-meets-hangout-space-pj-vj~6511022) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 6 - Description: A family of foodies, a chance to grow your own food is as important as a cool space to enjoy each other's company. An existing stone plinth was incorporated into the design of a semi-open pergola. Half is covered and the other half will support a grapevine turning it into a shady, verdant room. As part of Phase 2 of this project, raised beds and a greenhouse will be added. - [St. Scholastica Strolling Garden, Mt Angel Monastery, OR](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/st-scholastica-strolling-garden-mt-angel-monastery-or-pj-vj~5730433) - Location: Mount Angel, OR - Photos: 7 - Description: As a complement to the 130' Sequoia planted by one of the original Sisters in 1893, this strolling garden/seating area was designed as a destination to the spiritual walks offered to the community. It incorporated an existing bell and flag pole, and also includes a new peace pole. The pathways were made using a gravel lawn technique for safe, secure footing, inspired by the medieval labyrinths walked to search for the meaning of life, but simplified into geometric forms, that form a Benedictine… - [Bringing the outside in](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bringing-the-outside-in-pj-vj~2749210) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: The challenge was to turn a small, dark, non-functional kitchen into a bright, happy place with space to cook, and room to move around in. Although not part of the client's original plan, the idea of switching one of the windows out for a door, in order to access the adjacent balcony, soon became the main idea. All balconies of this 1950's apartment building had recently been glazed in, so doing so would not noticeably alter the facade. Even so, we had to jump through some legislative hoops in o… - [Hot colors for a hot garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hot-colors-for-a-hot-garden-pj-vj~7051206) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 4 - [A cutting garden for the Sisters](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/a-cutting-garden-for-the-sisters-pj-vj~6514813) - Location: Mount Angel, OR - Photos: 2 - Description: Planted in late 2020, part of this beautification of the Benedictine Campus in Mt Angel will serve to provide the Sisters with a variety of cutting materials for their bouquets. During lockdown, they started making bouquets, so a lot of unusual shrubs with interesting leaves, berries, thorns, etc. were incorporated into the 100' bed and in other areas around the parklike campus, while still retaining an air of formality. More photos to come, as things fill in. - [Marian's minimal maintenance - front garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/marian-s-minimal-maintenance-front-garden-pj-vj~2088587) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - [Horse head on houseboat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/horse-head-on-houseboat-pj-vj~6513102) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 7 - Description: Located on the Willamette River, where winds sometimes reach over 60 mph, the existing potted shrubs and trees were nailed to the decking in a complicated attempt to remain standing. We switched them out for more "swishy" plants that would not create instant wind sails. All planters were re-used, but we added a sturdy stock tank to grow raspberries. A fabulous driftwood log towed from the river bank became the foil for the planted skull of the owner's favorite horse who used to roam the plains o… - [Lisa's perfect perch](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lisa-s-perfect-perch-pj-vj~6511040) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: An underused, wide open, weedy backyard was reorganized into several spaces for different functions. The transformation is ongoing, but the main feature was the construction of a raised deck, level with the main floor of the house. A future change is to replace a bedroom window with French doors. More photos to come... - [Curb appeal, mixing old with new](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/curb-appeal-mixing-old-with-new-pj-vj~2096316) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 9 - Description: Plant selections for three areas around a new driveway/dry riverbed - one shady, one partially sunny, and one in hot sun. Some mature plants were left intact, and many more added, to create a lush "river bed", as well as a durable, textural, colorful screen shielding the sunken garden from the street and adjacent parking space above. The planter was commissioned later, to echo the red of the door. [See all 40 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/optic-verve-llc-pfvwus-pf~596325398) --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-06.*