Douglas Landscape Design

After interviewing several landscape designers, we found Nicole to be the perfect fit for our backyard design project. Her extensive knowledge helped us strategize exactly how to layout the perfect area for outdoor entertaining. Easy to work with, her creativity transformed a backyard full of weeds into a beautiful extension of our living area.

We loved working with Nicole! We have a large tow level backyard that was covered in ivy and corrugated concrete when we bought the house and knew we needed to update it and make every bit useable and comfortable. Nicole heard everything that were must haves for us and made sure they were incorporated. Her plant choices and placements are incredible. She then recommended landscape companies to get quotes from and we contracted with an amazing company to bring the vision to life. I can’t wait to work with her again on our front yard!

Great Experience. After wanting to landscape for a long time and understanding the style we wanted I found Nicole Douglas on Houzz. After a few email exchanges she came to our house and really listened to what we wanted. Our land is sloped and has a lot of shade and not enough sun for our liking. Nicole was able to design a plan with her vast knowledge of plants and flowers that fit what we are looking for after just a couple iterations. Nicole is very talented and I would hire her again in a heartbeat. In fact, I referred her to someone I know is also happy.

Working with Nicole was a great experience! She took the time to understand our requirements and vision, always made herself available when we reached out, clearly knows her plants (resulting in a great selection), and turned design iterations around very very quickly. She’s very hands-on and took full ownership of our project. She had provided detailed instructions to the contractor a week before work began, and was at the site working with the installation crew, ensuring that things were done correctly. She’s designed a beautiful front yard and backyard for us that our family will enjoy for years to come.

We called Nicole for what started out as a simple plant “refresh” in our front and back yards. After Covid hit and we were stuck at home day after day, the project expanded into a complete exterior remodel, complete with an outdoor kitchen/pizza oven, built-in benches with a pergola and fire pit, and the installation of all new plants and a few trees. Nicole didn’t miss a beat, delivering above and beyond on our shared vision. She brought in top notch vendors who had her same level of expertise and professionalism. We are absolutely thrilled with the final result!

Nicole with Douglas Landscape Design was wonderful to work with. Her knowledge and landscape planning made the experience both enjoyable and a smooth process. She made excellent suggestions for all the planting necessary to transform aging landscaping to a beautiful new appearance around our property. Stacey E.

We are so happy with our front yard landscaping! The plants are beautiful and just what we wanted. We were hesitant to invest in a professional design and installation but are glad we did, it looks so professional and a hundred times better than if we had done it ourselves. Every time I drive into our driveway now, I am greeted with such a pretty yard, I can’t believe it’s mine!

What I love most about Nicole, is that she really listens. She did an excellent job of integrating all of my goals into a beautiful and thoughtful design. She welcomed my creativity to the process and worked with me to zero in on the right solutions even when I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted. The day she came for a consultation, we were walking around my poor neglected yard. She came upon the old claw foot tub I had been using as a planter and she suggested I turn it into a real outdoor tub. At that moment - I knew I would hire her because she was already seeing the highest potential of what was currently in the space. Having a plumbed outdoor claw foot tub was a dream of mine but every time I mentioned it to other designers they jumped into all the reasons it couldn't/shouldn't be done - so I had kind of given up on the thought. She insisted it wouldn't be a problem and it wasn't. I am so grateful I found her because sitting in my outdoor tub with the steam rising around me, surrounded by flowers, gazing at the stars is absolutely divine! She has excellent follow-up and follow through as well. We completed the design in a about a month but it took another 9 months to schedule and execute the project. Nicole stayed involved throughout the process. Even though her primary service area is Santa Cruz, she helped me find a great contractor in the San Jose Area. She checked in with me and the contractor and was always available for design clarifications or changes. She really took the time to understand my style and color scheme, my struggles with the space and my desires. Honestly, she surprised me with the beauty and originality of what she created. As I spend time in my yard, I see the brilliance of her design more and more. From the central circular garden to the varied textures of the plants and the beauty and sacredness of each tree and shrub. She managed to create a drought tolerant, evergreen, hummingbird and bee friendly, no mow, cottage inspired design with functional areas for living that are easy to maintain! The space really fits my lifestyle now and I spend most of my day outside. Obviously - I highly recommend Nicole. On top of being an excellent designer, she is a kind and genuine human being who loves Nature.

Nicole is my hero! When we met, I had just finished a whole house remodel while having a baby at the same time, and I was totally burnt-out! The thought of starting another project was overwhelming, especially with my challenging landscape (large lot on an incline, sandy soil, deer, gophers). Nicole swooped in, waved her magic wand, and POOF - a magazine worthy garden was created! I am still amazed at how effortless she made it all seem. My landscape is now the nicest in the neighborhood, and we get compliments daily! Not only is Nicole a very talented designer, she is also a pleasure to work with. Time and time again, she went above and beyond to make sure I was happy: gave me a reality check on cost, guided me through several months of indecisiveness, told me what I didn't want but needed to hear, met me at another property to get a sense of what I wanted, made last minute changes a breeze, and offered advice and referrals after the project was completed. She also worked hard to save money by designing my landscape without drawings, and referring an AMAZING, licensed installer that charges significantly less than the large firms. I found Nicole to be timely, honest, responsive, generous, and just plain fun! Calling her was the best decision I made throughout my entire remodel, and I cannot recommend her enough!

Nicole is a consummate professional. Last year she helped us design and implement a major backyard landscape project. We were so pleased with the results that we contracted her again this year to landscape the front yard. Before, during and after both projects she was available to answer whatever questions come up. Our home feels transformed into a sanctuary of beauty. Trust her knowledge of plants as she's an expert; Nicole has the long view. You'd be lucky to collaborate with Nicole and her team and have her transform your space.

We hired Nicole to help us renovate our dated landscaping surrounding our pool and patio area. She not only consulted on plants, but had a great eye for the hard finishes and was able to help tie everything together seamlessly. We had a specific look we were after and she listened to our ideas and guided us to a plan that looks fantastic and works well in our yard. She's very knowledgeable about plants and knew just what would grow in our conditions. From consultation to design to execution, Nicole was responsive, professional and overall we really enjoyed working with her. The end result of our project is exactly how we pictured it. Friends, family and neighbors have all commented about how impressed they are with the layout and plant selection.

We are very happy with Nicole. This was a total re-landscape of our 1960's era property. Her design included hardscape, plantings, irrigation, electrical and more. Nicole was very involved with the project from start to finish. We recommend her without reservation. If we ever do another project in the area we would certainly hire Nicole.

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.

My boyfriend and I hired Nicole to help us with landscape design for our front & backyard as well as the backyard for our back unit. Nicole was extremely helpful and professional, always taking our input into account while still providing her expert advice. She made the process so fun and easy and we love the results. Even if you want to do the planting yourself, Nicole can help you pick out what will grow best where so your garden thrives. She has an incredible knowledge of drought-tolerant plants and CA natives - describe the look you're going for and she can create it. We will definitely be recommending Douglas Landscape Design to all our friends.

I hired Nicole Douglas because I have about 3.5 acres of land with some unique challenges and features that the hills of Aptos present. I wanted most of my land to remain natural with low maintenance requirements, but also wanted a finished look as one comes up a long driveway. I had to have drought-tolerant plants (obviously), I have herds of deer roaming through everyday and contend with gophers non-stop. Fast forward to today--I have a Mediterranean mound (gorgeous!), a "Santa Barbara Garden" with the centerpiece being a fountain of flowing succulents completed by a variety of pots and plants in various shapes, colors and heights. She designed a rock wall up both sides of my driveway with all kinds of drought-tolerant and deer resistant plants. She finished by planting fruit trees around the property that thrive in this area. This was a very big project and I could not be happier! I highly recommend Nicole for big and small projects. Her creativity and knowledge have combined to make my outdoor space a wonderful place to be for many years.

Nicole Douglas is not only a talented gardner, but an amazing artist! She created and designed our beautiful backyard bocce ball court and gave us exactly what we imagined.

Nicole and her crew were amazing. Nicole was a great listener and had very creative ideas on how to implement what we were looking for. Our yard is very small and she helped us design the new landscaping with the correct scale. Additionally, she designed benches around our two (very) raised beds and now we have additional seating when we are entertaining! Juan and his crew were terrific to work with as well. They showed up when the said they would, cleaned up after themselves, and installed the most beautiful fence, arbor, hardscaping, etc.

I had removed lawn and 8 small Queen palms from my backyard in order to begin a complete do-over. My goal was to primarily use plants that wouldn’t require too much water or tending. I had a basic design in mind, but was stuck in narrowing down a long list of plants that I liked, and how to stage them within the design according to sun/shade requirements, high/low, etc. Nicole was wonderful in her recommendations, using some plants from my list and introducing me to some new ones that fit broad guidelines I hoped for. She was attentive, flexible, and always professional. She was great to work with.

Nicole Douglas designed low water landscaping for the front and back yards of my home. The design is beautiful and she knew exactly which plants to use and where to place them. Her knowledge of the plants and weather conditions is extensive and the plants are flourishing. I wanted low water, low maintenance and lots of color and that is exactly what I have! And Nicole is great to work with, very friendly and accommodating. The cost includes the landscaper and materials as well as the design.

When we moved into this house two years ago we knew we needed professional help. The front yard is very tiny and located in an "everyone drives by us" spot. I love plants and knew I would probably overfill this one, but we wanted a yard that was low maintenance, low water use, and still bee and butterfly friendly. Nicole's design did everything we wanted and more--and it looked fabulous from the beginning. Our neighbors consistently compliment the colors, the shapes, and even the boulders. She made sure my favorite plants were included, we consistently stayed under our mandated water amounts, and I have never been a slave to yard clean up. If I am working in the yard it is because I want to, not because I have to. Nicole was great fun to work with and her knowledge of plants is incredible. The yard is so beautiful it almost makes me want to have a much larger yard!

We were very happy with the Nicole design of our front lawn area. Nicole is very knowledgable with drought resistant plants that are also deer resistant. After 1 year our plants are in full bloom for the Spring and all our neighbors are very impressed by the beauty of our front yard. We highly recommend Nicole as a terrific drought resistant landscape architect and designer. You won't go wrong in hiring her for your landscape updates. She worked within our budget and within the time period she estimated.

Nicole did an amazing job redesigning my backyard. She transformed my boring back yard with colorful , beautiful drought tolerant plants. She has great taste in design and so much knowledge about plants. She was pleasure to work with and really listened to what I wanted. I highly recommend Nicole for any landscape design project.

If you are looking for a creative, dedicated and hardworking professional then Nicole is your best bet. Her enthusiasm and expertise will make for an incredible project that you will love and enjoy for many years to come. Her extensive knowledge of plants coupled with her artistic eye is the perfect combination for landscape art. Top that off with an ecologically sustainable approach backed by science, education and experience. She has not only a wealth of knowledge, but has extensive local resources at her disposal to help make your project come to life! We had a very difficult property, virtually no sun, tons of deer and bad drainage. She helped us create a design that not only looks fantastic, but is also totally viable and functional with our environmental constraints AND it fit within our budget.

Nicole did a fantastic job of taking our wish list and making it a reality. We wanted a draught resistant yard with colorful low maintenance plants, a dry creek, redwood fence and an area to gather with friends and neighbors for a glass of wine. She more than met our expectations and we have been thoroughly enjoying our yard year round.