Douglas Landscape Design

Working with Nicole has been my favorite part of my outdoor remod. She's the perfect mix of creative and pragmatic. Plus, I appreciate her focus on sustainability and water converservation, which she bakes in without sacrificing beauty. Staring at my back 40, which was flat dirt would have been overwhleming and daunting without her vision and "no challenge is too big" attitude.

We are very happy with our front yard which was recently completed by Douglas Landscape Design. My wife and I called Nicole (of Douglas Landscape Design) with a general outline of what we wanted to do with our front yard, and she was able to take our ideas and transform them into a beautiful completed yard. She has an extensive knowledge and love of plants, and this came through clearly in her work. She recommended plants that worked well for our aesthetic preferences, for our child (who puts everything in his mouth) and have low water requirements. This included kurapia, a low water alternative to grass. She helped us envision tree-trimming, fences, and a patio. She then connected us with an excellent contractor and worked closely with them to ensure the project turned out as planned. She was quick to respond to our questions and continues to consult us ensure that our plants thrive. The project turned out much better than my wife or I expected, on time and within the budget. We enjoy our yard almost daily, as compared to never using it before. I recommend her highly!

Nicole was so great to work with! We purchased a new home and wanted to completely change the landscaping to a more clean minimalist look. She was able to take our ideas and came up with a gorgeous design. We loved the process with her, it was super easy and straightforward. We also really appreciated her checking in on every step of the way. We started with ideas and pictures for what we was looking for. And then she took that and we immediately went over plants that we liked and didn't like. The only homework we had to do was go out and choose gravel and big pots for the front (which was really exciting). For the final steps we then did a thorough walk around the property where she was extremely detailed on where everything would go and how it would look. Her expertise and knowledge of plants and landscape, thorough communication, as well as the landscaping team she recommended for installation really made the project a tremendous success. We couldn't be happier with our new yard! Getting lots of compliments from our neighbors!

We were beyond pleased with Nicole's expertise, skills and connections in helping us transform our large dull and blank property into a beautiful space... in addition to gaining some great "curb appeal". We had a large project, and Nicole was timely, detailed, thorough and thoughtful in her plans. We couldn't be more happy with the outcome!

Our most meticulous friends referred us to Nicole. After they vetted her, she had designed their backyard. We were thrilled with her work. She understood our style theme and enthusiastically created a backyard that included both hardscape and plants, She met every deadline, suggested several options, and was responsive to our feedback. She's able to balance being both professional and very friendly. During installation, Nicole brought over the selected plants and helped with final changes to our plan. Our whimsical and hummingbird friendly garden is set, and we will be able to have our dogs outside without anything being ruined!

Nicole was prompt in her response to my inquires for estimates and questions concerning my landscape design. She provided suggestions regarding what plants would be most appropriate for the area that I live, was punctual for our meetings, and delivered what was agreed upon in a timely manner. She was very easy to work with, and even stopped by my house several months after the job was completed to see how the plants were doing. Nicole would definitely be the first person I’d call if I need a landscape designer in the future.

We are so pleased with the landscape redesign Nicole managed for us. She took our vague ideas of how we wanted our property to look and turned them into a beautiful, well-executed landscape project. While we loved the design she created, her knowledge of plants, materials, good landscape practices, and recommendations for local contractors really made the experience worth it. Two thumbs up and five stars!

Our yard is a challenge; large, terraced and almost entirely shaded. Nicole did an excellent job selecting and placing a plant palate with a variety of complementary colors and textures that grow well in full to partial shade. The yard looks fine two months after installation. It should look fantastic after a couple years of growth. Nicole also had an excellent working relationship with the company that did the installation.

I had an excellent experience with Nicole of Douglas Landscape Design. After seeing her Houzz reviews and looking through her photos of past projects, I contacted her via Houzz for a front garden redesign. She immediately sent a reply and we set up an initial in-person consultation. During the consultation, I shared my Pinterest page of ideas and we discussed the overall vision I had in mind. Nicole then followed up with a shared Houzz ideabook full of plant samples as well as arbor and raised planter ideas. She also suggested I drive by some of her previous jobs to see her work in real life - which I did, and again, was thoroughly impressed. Throughout the process, I found Nicole to be a fantastic listener who really took the time to hear me out. She was also always available by phone or email. Nicole was great at coming up with solutions for certain aspects of my garden that were trouble spots for me, e.g. a sloped front yard. She was masterful at reigning in my many, many ideas and really honing in on a plant palette that was colorful, but coordinated. I also appreciated her insider knowledge of turf removal and water rebate programs, as well as her contractor/installer contact Juan and his team, who were a dream to work with and who did impeccable and timely work. Finally, Nicole was always available when I had questions and was agreeable to my suggested changes. Nicole's eye for color is remarkable and in my opinion, unmatched here in Santa Cruz. My front garden, which was once an eyesore, is now a beautiful, colorful, water-wise, and functional landscape - one that makes me smile every time I come home. I highly recommend Nicole of Douglas Landscape Design. Note: Pics are from time of install.

The time had come - we HAD to do something about our large Santa Cruz city property that required too much water and maintenance. After looking at the work of several designers and visiting many of their projects, we chose to work with Nicole. Her beautiful design sense along with her extensive knowledge of plants, were a winning combination for us. It was a joy to work with Nicole She knows what she's doing and could easily have designed the whole project alone. But we have a lot of opinions as well, and together we had a good give-and-take of ideas. Nicole really listened to our desires and needs, and found a water-wise and beautiful solution. Throughout the process, Nicole was extremely professional, personable, prompt, clear in communication and reliable on follow-through. She worked well with the third-party installation crew, and made sure the design was implemented as planned. We now have a "lawn" that requires a fraction of its original water use, and borders and beds that will be lovely and easy-care. I have already recommended Nicole to other friends!

Nicole was wonderful! She took the time to understand my landscaping vision and then brought it to life. She was meticulous in her execution. She followed through on issues that I had and even took care of things that were really the landscaper's problem. She was easy to work with and flexible. She went out of her way to make sure I was happy. She has a flare for design and my yard is getting compliments from every stranger that passes by. I love that she is green and drought conscious.

We hired Nicole to help specify and redesign our water wise Soquel garden. She handled a complicated project with ease, clarity, and punctuality, altogether appropriating plants for an eroding hillside, oak & riparian woodland, patio area, and front yard landscape. Her creativity and expertise transformed our outdoor area into exactly what we were looking for- a low maintenance, habitat-oriented, water efficient, well designed, and thriving landscape. From project start to finish, she listened to our needs and went out of her way to help us achieve just that. Overall, I enjoyed working with Nicole and very highly recommend her.