--- title: "Rock Paper Clippers — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/rock-paper-clippers-pfvwus-pf~881979281 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~881979281.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Rock Paper Clippers" category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/6a23f410042dd15a_0069-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "San Carlos, California 94070, United States" latitude: 37.4969 longitude: -122.2674 phone: "(650) 547-0650" website: https://rockpaperclippers.com rating: 5 review_count: 22 best_of_houzz_awards: 7 followers: 37 last_updated: 2026-09-16 --- # Rock Paper Clippers Original Houzz profile: [Rock Paper Clippers](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/rock-paper-clippers-pfvwus-pf~881979281) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** San Carlos, CA - **Serves:** San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, San Carlos, Belmont, Emerald Lake Hills, Highlands-Baywood Park, West Menlo Park - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (22 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2018–2026), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Eco-friendly - Woman owned At Rock Paper Clippers, our passion is updating old, tired spaces into beautiful, comfortable spaces that are kind to both the environment and your schedule. ### Services Provided - Landscape Design - Garden Design - Hardscaping - Landscape Plans - Patio Design - Drought Tolerant Landscaping - Custom Water Features - Design Consultation - Outdoor Lighting Design - Deck Design - 3D Rendering - Deer Tolerant Planting - Efficient Irrigation - Natural Stone Walls - Outdoor Living Spaces - Planting Design ### Areas Served - San Mateo - Redwood City - Menlo Park - San Carlos - Belmont - Emerald Lake Hills - Highlands-Baywood Park - West Menlo Park ### Typical Job Cost $85,000 - 450,000 Typical design cost is $3,500-$8,500. Installation of my designs ranges from $85,000-$450,000. Most commonly around $185,000. ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Rock Paper Clippers | | Address | San Carlos, California 94070, United States | | Phone | (650) 547-0650 | | Website | https://rockpaperclippers.com | | Followers on Houzz | 37 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — www.rockpaperclippers.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Rock Paper Clippers](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/rock-paper-clippers-pfvwus-pf~881979281) - **Website:** https://rockpaperclippers.com - **Phone:** (650) 547-0650 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - FX Luminaire Lighting Designer; Business of Design certified; Killam Colour Academy True Color Expert - **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2018–2026), for Service. **Affiliations** - [Association of Professional Landscape Designers](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/association-of-professional-landscape-designers-pfvwus-pf~92795973) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 22 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Violet & Vito, July 2026** > Kathy has been wonderful to work with from start to end. She's incredibly thoughtful and truly listened to our concerns, wants and needs. She's exceptional at what she does and we trusted her fully. We appreciated her honest feedback, her expertise and we highly recommend her for anyone considering a backyard renovation. I love how our yard has evolved and is not only beautiful with the floral and tree selections we decided on, but most importantly I'm so grateful that we can now host special parties and enjoy a beautiful safe space with our family. Thank you so much, Kathy! **Comment from Rock Paper Clippers:** > Thank you so much for this lovely review. Your project had a pretty zig-zagging path to it's final destination, but boy did it get there in the end! Seeing it come together like this is the best part of the job. It's so rewarding knowing your family is going to make so many memories in that newly functional, safe and beautiful space! Thank you for taking the time to write such a kind review. **★★★★★ — Irene, June 2026** > We were so thrilled with Kathy's design and support of our back yard renovation. It has transformed our life! It is so much better than we even dreamed of! The only problem is that now friends never want to leave our back yard! Kathy was so extremely responsive to what we wanted, giving us just the right amount of space to make our own decisions, but not so much that it was overwhelming. She was meticulous, responsive, and collaborative with our landscaper. She advocated for our needs and she has continued to follow up with us and help with questions that come up with this brand new space for us. HIGHLY recommend! **★★★★★ — HU-520110212, Jan. 2026** > We worked with Kathy on a very large, unkept property that we purchased with wild trees and overgrown vegetation everywhere. While we had some rough ideas of what we wanted, we needed a lot of guidance to turn those ideas into a clear, long-term vision. > > We spoke with a couple of landscapers before choosing Kathy, and what stood out immediately was the quality of questions she asked. She took the time to really understand what we were trying to achieve and helped clarify priorities we hadn’t fully articulated ourselves. We felt truly heard and confident that she understood our needs better than anyone else we spoke to. > > Kathy guided us through every step of the process. She coordinated with an arborist to identify which trees to keep, worked closely with the landscaper on tree removal, and arranged for a 3D model of our house so the design could be visualized accurately. The final design was everything we asked for and more. She thoughtfully enhanced our ideas and elevated them in ways we wouldn’t have imagined on our own. The video walkthrough she created of the final design was incredibly helpful, especially since this is a multi-phased project that will be completed over several years. > > She also broke the overall design into clear phases that aligned with how we want to implement the project over time. During execution, Kathy managed the project end-to-end, handling all communication with the landscaper. We didn’t need to get involved at all. When issues came up on site, she was quick to adjust her designs to accommodate real-world constraints. > > We are extremely happy with the results and have received many compliments from our neighbors. We are very satisfied with our experience and look forward to continuing to work with Kathy on the future phases of our project. We would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for a thoughtful, professional, and highly capable landscape designer. **★★★★★ — oomph1, July 2025** > We have just completed our landscape project with Kathy Brenner of Rock Paper Clippers. We could not be happier. When we started out, our lot was the product of 20 years of neglect and required a complete overhaul. After checking a handful of options, we settled on RPC. Kathy listened to our ideas and provided sensible and informed advice before delivering a spectacular plan that included both hardscaping and landscaping. In a project of this size, modifications were required, but Kathy was always there to help us adapt and to provide creative and practical solutions. The result is a front yard that is spectacular and will only become more so as the young plants mature. The backyard? We spend every moment we can enjoying it – comfortable, colorful, and unique! We highly recommend Rock Paper Clippers! **★★★★★ — Lori Markwell, June 2025** > We absolutely love our new front yard that now has the curb appeal we always wanted! We waited 30 years to redo our front yard that mostly consisted of overgrown junipers. Our neighbors across the street used Kathy to design both their front and back yards. Both turned out beautiful, so we decided to consult with her. After a consultation with Kathy, we knew we wanted to work with her due to her extensive landscaping knowledge, creative ideas, attention to detail and thoroughness. > Kathy designed a plan with drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, deer-resistant plants, flagstone walkways, and pavers for the driveway. It takes an artist to choose the right texture and color plants, group them beautifully together with rock boulders to look great. She remained actively involved with the landscape contractor during the implementation phase overseeing the placement of plants and stones. > Kathy also provided excellent recommendations for arborists and landscape contractors which made the selection process easier. We could not have chosen a better landscape designer that was fully committed from design through implementation. She continues to stop by to make sure the plants are thriving. **★★★★★ — Liz Min, Oct. 2024** > I just had to share my experience with Rock Paper Clippers because she has transformed a boring, old fashioned, blah space into something that makes me smile every time I glance outside. She designed multiple cohesive spaces allowing us to take full advantage of every corner. > > The design is a perfect mix of beauty and practicality, with plants that bloom at different times, cool hardscaping features, and cozy lighting that makes everything feel magical at night. And the fountains - don't skip fountains! They are perhaps my favorite part! > > What really stood out to me was the attention to detail. Every little thing was thought out, from picking plants that are perfect for our climate to choosing colors that just pop. She thought of everything - down to a sleeve to house a power cord in a bike shed should we decide to get electric bikes in the future! > > Overall, I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out. My outdoor space is now a vibrant, lush area that I love hanging out in. I highly recommend Rock Paper Clippers to anyone looking to upgrade their yard. **★★★★★ — Justin Ng, May 2024** > Kathy transformed our challenging hillside backyard from dated and overgrown into a backyard oasis. She carefully considered our needs (outdoor lounging area, decluttered hillside, fountain/lighting features) and guided us away from elements that would not fit our landscape or budget. After iterating our 3D design plans, Kathy provided terrific recommendations for contractors, arborists and vendors. During the build, Kathy was very detail oriented and hands-on to make sure everything was installed just right. We especially appreciated the education she gave on how to maintain our new landscape and supported us after the project was wrapped up. Highly recommend Kathy to anyone looking for an expert landscape designer who treats each project as if it were her own. Thanks Kathy :) **★★★★★ — K, Sept. 2023** > Our backyard was an eyesore when we bought our home. The deck was way too large relative to the yard size, and concrete was poured in the oddest places and angles. We finally committed to re-do the entire yard, and we are so thankful for Kathy’s vision, guidance and expertise. > We talked with a couple other designers, but they were nowhere as detail oriented as Kathy. We needed some hand-holding, and that’s what Kathy did. Kathy listened to our general ideas, and she put together a specific design for us. In addition to the design, Kathy also put us in contact with a couple of contractors with whom she has had positive experiences. We obtained proposals from them and selected one to perform the work. Kathy was regularly in contact with them, and frequently showed up on site to check the progress and make any necessary modifications. The final result was an outdoor dining/entertaining surrounded by a botanical paradise. It feels so serene back there now. We love it. > In fact, we love it so much that we also asked Kathy to help re-do our front yard! No more lawn mowing, and we love the lighting, tree, flower and plant selections Kathy recommended to completely change the curb appeal. > Highly recommend Kathy for your yard design! **Comment from Rock Paper Clippers:** > Thank you so much for your super thoughtful review. I'm so happy to hear that my intention for how a client will perceive my services has been successful. Your landscaping transformation was really exceptional and it's so rewarding to hear that you are enjoying the results! **★★★★★ — Debbie Hussey, June 2023** > We moved into a newly built modern farmhouse where the builder clearly saw the landscape as an afterthought…lawn in front with uninspiring shrubs, a nice deck in the back but the remaining terraced landscape and yard was just decomposed granite and more lawn! Of course, we did not want to waste water trying to keep the lawns green. > We were looking for more lounge space, play space and garden space. After meeting Kathy and hearing her process for designing our landscape, we were all in! She has a refreshing perspective, great experience with the layout of our backyard and a practical attitude. Kathy created a beautiful, robust design incorporating all of our wants and needs. We now have an enviable front yard of drought tolerant and native plants with a fantastic Japanese Maple tree and some boulders. Our terraced backyard now has dining space, lounge space with a fire pit and steel pergola, play space for our daughter and garden space. The rock walls, patio, lighting, etc. are all great and Kathy oversaw every detail. We could not be happier with the design, Kathy’s plant & tree choices, and her project management skills keeping everything on track. > I would highly recommend Rock Paper Clippers for any landscape project you have! **★★★★★ — Erin Bauer, Aug. 2022** > Kathy rescued our yard! > > Before working with Kathy, our yard was overgrown, chaotic, full of dead lawn and - thanks to a homemade pond from the prior owners - unsafe. We rarely spent time out there. > > We interviewed Kathy along with a few other landscape designers and were impressed with her knowledge of plants and her vision for what we could do with our space. We decided to move forward with Kathy and she helped us work through exactly what we wanted, suggesting design elements and layouts we never would have thought of. Once we had a landscape contractor on board to build out the design, she partnered with them to make sure the end result was perfect. Kathy helped us through the inevitable speed bumps during construction, guided us through decisions and answered all of our questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. > > These days, we spend almost every evening out in the yard. The layout is clean and functional, the plants are colorful and unique, and the lighting makes it a magical space. We love it and constantly get compliments from neighbors. > > Thank you Kathy for turning my confusing layout sketches and vague ideas into a beautiful yard we’ll enjoy for years! **★★★★★ — Alex, March 2022** > We were referred to Kathy last year when we're beginning to explore redoing the landscaping in our front and side yard, which were both in desperate need of updating the existing 90s landscape. Our decision to work with Kathy was solidified over the phone and in-person consults that we did to start the process. We were impressed with her local knowledge, great questions, and guidance as to what the process would look like. We also loved how communicative and transparent she was about timing and costs. > > We were thrilled once we received the master plan and couldn’t wait to see what it would look like once it was completed. Upon deciding to move forward, Kathy provided a list of contractors to work with and made a recommendation on who would be best for us based on the demo, plants, and stone work we wanted to do. > > Kathy helped to shepherd the process from start to finish. She was directly involved in guiding with precision the placement of the stones, plants, and lighting. Once the project was complete, Kathy did a meticulous review (helping to ID which plants didn’t make it through the planting process, adjusting lighting based on how the plants had settled, and ensuring we had the right irrigation and lighting equipment installed) and provided us with a comprehensive plan of how to care for each and every plant. > > We would highly recommend Kathy for any of your landscaping needs! **★★★★★ — renemeisner2013, Dec. 2021** > Our backyard had been ignored since we took out the kids’ playstructure. While we had a nice deck, the lower tier of the yard needed a serious update. We met with several landscape designers and Kathy really stood out as someone who is responsive, open, creative and straight forward. When we met with Kathy she listened to what our needs were and our aspirations for the space, and was very clear about what was possible. She had some unique design suggestions that helped create a unique feel to our space. In addition, she was very candid about budget considerations. The design process was fantastic, she came up with novel solution for connecting our deck to the lower tier and the renderings that she makes allowed us to visual the impact of different design features. Once we finalized our design Kathy helped us find Landscapers to perform the work, and once identified worked seamlessly with them. We added a mezzanine deck, replaced a wood retaining wall with stone, adding a beautiful fountain, repaved the lower section and added lighting and irrigation throughout. It is a pleasure to entertain in our backyard (perfect during COVID times). Besides being available all throughout the process, Kathy has continued to respond to questions and challenges to make sure the plants are healthy and growing. The best thing about working with Kathy is her creativity, pragmatism and availability. I highly recommend Kathy to anyone looking to update their outdoor space, and can’t wait to work with her on our next (front yard) project! ## Selected projects - [3D Design Videos](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/3d-design-videos-pj-vj~5995325) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 34 - [Traditional Woodland Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/traditional-woodland-garden-pj-vj~2298497) - Location: San Mateo, CA - Photos: 10 - [Outdoor Family Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/outdoor-family-room-pj-vj~2167464) - Location: San Carlos, CA - Photos: 9 - [A Little Zen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/a-little-zen-pj-vj~5802414) - Location: San Carlos, CA - Photos: 7 - [A Touch of France](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/a-touch-of-france-pj-vj~5802464) - Location: San Carlos, CA - Photos: 6 - [Jewel Tones on a Steep Slope](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/jewel-tones-on-a-steep-slope-pj-vj~2167468) - Location: San Carlos, CA - Photos: 8 - Description: We crammed so much into this wide open slope. The first flight of stairs ends at a mezzanine seating area bordered by vegetable boxes. Next flight takes you to the main covered patio with a view of San Francisco. - [Keepin It Outside](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/keepin-it-outside-pj-vj~5631786) - Location: San Carlos, CA - Photos: 4 - [Front Yards without Lawn](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/front-yards-without-lawn-pj-vj~2314109) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 12 - [Details](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/details-pj-vj~2167488) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 20 - [Architectural Elements](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/architectural-elements-pj-vj~2298255) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 32 - [Planting Design](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/planting-design-pj-vj~2298171) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 25 - [Grand Entertainer](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/grand-entertainer-pj-vj~7675850) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 1 - [Tranquility](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tranquility-pj-vj~7608534) - Location: Foster City, CA - Photos: 1 - [Canyon Views](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/canyon-views-pj-vj~7499212) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 1 [See all 14 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/rock-paper-clippers-pfvwus-pf~881979281) ## Ideabooks - [Designers](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/178239954/list/designers) — 2 ideas - [Liz](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/157084072/list/liz) — 5 ideas - [Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/146700692/list/kitchen) — 4 ideas - [Great ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/129803011/list/great-ideas) — 7 ideas - [Outdoor Kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/136493361/list/outdoor-kitchens) — 1 idea - [Italian Garden](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/132420453/list/italian-garden) — 1 idea - [Low maintenance planting plans](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/125335503/list/low-maintenance-planting-plans) — 8 ideas [See all 7 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/rockpaperclippers) ## Community Q&A **Q: What is the material of the tubular pipes used on the pergola?** *(in Photo Questions)* This appears to be aluminum. Just curious what was used to create this. Here in coastal Florida steel is not maintenance friendly. A: You are correct. Aluminum pipe. **Q: love the ornamental grass** *(in Photo Questions)* Is this blue fescue? A: yes, indeed. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-16.*