Visionscapes NW Landscape Design

Several years ago, Pat created a design for our yard. I had given her my wishlist, including curves everywhere: a patio with curved sides and garden beds with curved sides. Shortly thereafter, Pat presented several options to us, including the “curvy” look I had requested and she showed us a geometric design, with an L-shaped patio and a semi-circle lawn in the back. The “curvy” design was just what I’d asked for and was lovely but the “geometric” design was stunning and suited our space beautifully. We went with the geometric design and are so very glad that we did. We love our backyard from every angle, including from the kitchen window looking out over the landscape. Pat is a professional, a great listener, respectful, always on time; and she has an artist’s eye. We love our yard and get compliments every time we have company over. We recommend Pat highly! Thank you, Pat for our beautiful yard!

Patricia came to us after a mess of concrete we had. We originally wanted to work around the mess of concrete but she encouraged us to start fresh (and we knew deep down that was the right choice). She came up with a few suggestions of how to do the new concrete layout, and our house is not easy as we live on a hillside in SW Portland. Our house is mid century modern, so we originally wanted a very modern look. She suggested plants that seem to be a mix of modern and traditional that would grow in shade (we have no clue what plants work well in certain environments) and asked us to let them grow for a year to see how we feel about them after all seasons. Overall, I am loving the look and can't wait to see what it looks like once everything starts to grow in more! A few minor things could have been improved (6 inch offset of first retaining wall and a concrete light that is off centered) but I'm sure that's how every project goes. She's also been helpful to me in finding pots and furniture for the outdoor area. I've enjoyed working with her and recommend her to Portland friends!

Pat did an excellent job with our plan. She addressed all our concerns about our existing yard and incorporated many ideas from our wishlist. We did quite a bit of shopping around before we chose a designer, and I’m confident that we made the right choice. Pat is knowledgeable, talented, easy to work with, and a great value too! I highly recommend keeping Pat involved throughout the implementation of the plan. She has a good working relationship with the contractors she recommends, and was able to keep an eye on things throughout the project to make sure her vision was achieved. If something wasn’t right or could have been better, Pat saw it and got it corrected right away. She charges by the hour for her time during construction, but just a few hours went a long way and was definitely worth it.

Pat did a design of our back yard in 2004. We have loved the finished product and have enjoyed the results for the last 12+ years. We were faced with a mess in our front yard this year and decided to move to a "hardscape" eliminating the mess of muck and dirt that was the front. We moved into the house 22 years ago and the landscaping was construction grade and unchanged. In other words, a mess. As we decided to make this change, we knew we would only turn to Pat for help and advice with the project. Pat immediately provided a wonderful plan that only required minor changes. She was there with us during the bid process and helped us with this difficult decision with clear and concise direction. She outlined her plan in detail with the selected contractor and made sure our best interests were properly represented. As the project began to take shape, there was a slight issue with the contractor and some of the product provided. Pat was right there with us guiding us to the point where we got the issues corrected and allowed the contractor to understand our desires. She took the time to personally drive across town to pick out quality product (I believe she did this twice). After her involvement, the project took on the shape she envisioned and was clearly what we were seeking. We had a bit of a heat wave during the time the project was at the planting stage. A couple of the plants were damaged by the heat and a couple were not the "right" ones. Pat took it upon herself to purchase the "right" planting so we were not disappointed. She was on site nearly every day and at the crucial time of planting, she was there to place the plants in the exact order she designed. Without her guidance and direction, I do not feel we would have seen such a positive conclusion to the project. We absolutely love the work she has done for us-both in front and in back. I think the biggest testimonial I can give her is that she is dedicated to getting the project exactly as promised. Her fees are more than reasonable and her efforts to assure the satisfaction of the customer are second to none. I know that, without Pat's involvement, we would not be as pleased with our yard. You will not be sorry if you choose to work with Pat. She will earn your trust and make sure you love what she has designed.

This is the second landscape project that we have done with Pat. This landscape project was for a newly purchased mid-century modern home and entailed a complete overhaul of a 50+ year-old yard that was somewhat random, lacking in style, and not very functional—Pat did the landscape design, recommended landscape contractors and accompanied us through the process of evaluating contractors, and oversaw the landscape project to ensure it met our expectations and aligned with her design. Our goal was to expand our outdoor living space, create better curb appeal and flow for visitors to our home, modernize the design to complement the style of our home, and reduce the required maintenance. We believe all of these goals were accomplished in flying colors. We have found that we particularly appreciate Pat’s attention to detail, knowledge and consideration of the technical aspects of the project, understanding of which plants will work well with the space and design, partnerships with amazing landscape contractors, incorporation of our design preferences, and personal commitment and tenaciousness for getting the job done right.

After over a decade of trial and error in our back yard, things still just weren't right. Our very shallow yard had little privacy, and our deck made us feel like we were on stage for our backdoor neighbors. In addition, we'd recently gotten rid of our kids' play structure and had a large void that needed to be filled. We'd seen Pat's work at a neighbor's and decided it was time to bring in a professional. Hiring a designer is not cheap, but neither is buying plants, planting plants, moving plants, then buying more plants, year after year. Pat was very patient with us as we worked through what we wanted (and needed) - even when we decided that the void left by the play structure needed to remain somewhat void in order to accommodate a tent so our kids could "camp" in the summer, but still look nice the other 9 months of the year. She designed a large entertaining space, screening for privacy, and a beautiful combination of plants - plus, "tent space". She even incorporated many of the existing plants that we wished to keep, including more than a few hostas! The yard now feels SO much bigger, and feels "grown up". It was all just installed this winter so we haven't seen the final result, but we enjoy watching everything come to life this Spring. Pat recommended a couple of contractors and worked closely with the one we chose to make sure things were done well, plants were placed correctly, etc. She played the "bad guy" when a couple minor issues arose, and insured that the project met our expectations. We are so pleased with how everything looks, we decided our front yard didn't measure up and just asked Pat to make some recommendations for an update there. Once again, she came up with a lovely plan and we can't wait to see it installed and come to life!

Pat redesigned my backyard and access along the sideyard. We started with a new construction small concrete patio and minimal sad plants stuck in the clay. Pat is such a good listener! She heard everything i wanted and incorporated those ideas into the design. There is a new paver patio, much larger and useful for entertaining. Wonderful new plantings and a much improved appearance. She also figured out a solution for an expensive long walkway on side of the house to improve access and kept the project within budget. The sub-contractors she suggested were also great to work with. Love my new yard and could not recommend Pat more highly for your project.

Having a cohesive landscape plan made all the difference in our backyard remodel and Pat’s vision turned our small narrow backyard into a relaxing retreat. She incorporated all of our must-haves into the plan including a covered patio, trees, lawn and a raised bed. We were amazed at how beautifully she was able to arrange all of these elements and her design made our small yard feel more spacious. The plants she selected are amazing and continue to offer something for each season. It was wonderful working with Pat. She is positive, professional, down-to-earth and she responds promptly to questions.

After some inside updates to our home last winter, we realized that our backyard was in need of a major re-do, too. So, knowing how beautifully Pat incorporates the elements of nature into her own interior decor, creating a flow from inside to outside so well, we consulted with her shortly before last spring to come up with a plan that would create a similar flow between our own interior and exterior living spaces. We wanted something tailored to our specific decor preferences and not only did Pat take that into consideration, but she also listened carefully to what was on our wish list when it came to a new backyard. She presented us with not one, but two, wonderful designs. Either of these plans would have worked well for us and it was tough to choose one, but we did manage to come to an agreement on which plan to use and we wound up with a backyard in which we spent a great deal of our summer time. The plan included enlarging our patio space, using new materials and adding a beautiful brick-lined perimeter. We also have a gorgeous, low rockwall that curves along our backyard now, giving us more gardening space and less lawn to have to maintain. We now have a satellite patio area with a firepit in what was once a muddy spot much of the year, providing us with even more opportunities for entertaining. From the moment one walks through our side gate there is a nice flow, with a user-friendly pathway and attractive potted plants lining the way to the main part of the new yard. We also have a very tidy area around the other side of the house now for potting plants and storing pots and gardening tools. There is a new sprinkler system tailored for the yard, making watering so much more efficient. Even better is the new drainage system that has helped to eliminate the "mucky" factor in our yard. Pat incorporated in her plan certain elements of our old yard that we wanted to hang onto, also. Now our pink tulip tree has been gracefully pruned to look even more lovely in spring and Larry's raised beds for dahlias are still a bright and cheery sight in late summer. With the plants Pat chose for our garden area behind our rockwall, we have some sort of color virtually year-round now. We have been very happy with both the aesthetics of Pat's plan for our yard and also how efficiently and timely she managed to have the team we hired to complete the work do so. A big thumbs up for Pat and Visionscapes NW Landscape Design!- Myra and Larry Wiklund

My husband and I redesigned our front and back yard last year. We hired Pat for the design piece of the job and we felt she was the best part of the entire experience. Her design is pleasing to the eye and we feel like she created a small piece of paradise in our own back yard. We could not be happier and we are so proud to show it off. She oversaw the actual work and made corrections with the company that did the work all along the way. She assured that they stuck to her plan to keep with her vision for the present and future as things grow. Her 3 dimensional mind astonishes us. The transition from a drawing to what actually was constructed was amazing. She never lost her patience with our changes that seemed to occur frequently in the conceptual phase. She gently guided us and listened intently to our ultimate end goals. I would highly recommend her to anyone that has high expectations for a quality job done to perfection.

Pat has designed the landscape plan for two of our homes, and will soon complete the design at our third. Her work is amazing, and she does an excellent job of incorporating our ideas and interests into her designs. She is very easy to work with and really cares about her client's satisfaction.

Patricia Acheff (of Visionscapes NW Landscape Design) spent the time to get to know my wife and me before focusing on a proposed design. She learned about our likes and dislikes regarding plants, hardscape, etc. Then she produced a series of iterative designs that eventually resulted in our final design that covered our entire yard. Patricia provided us with a recommended list of contractors. She participated in our meeting with each contractor to ensure that the contractors would be bidding on the same project. She used her expertise to raise questions that we would not have thought about. Patricia worked well with our chosen contractor - PGM Landscape. She was always available to help resolve questions during the construction phase. Patricia oversaw the planting process. This allowed her to make real-time refinements to the plant placement and even account for last minute changes and additions. We are delighted with the resulting design and construction. Patricia was delightful to work with. The final result makes our house and yard look brand new!