Our Process

We believe that every successful landscape design project begins with a comprehensive client consultation. During this initial meeting, we take the time to discuss your vision and provide general and preliminary comments, ideas, and suggestions. Our landscape architects are dedicated to understanding your needs, preferences, and goals for the project. 

We will walk the property with you to gain a clear understanding of the natural environment and site conditions. This hands-on approach allows us to craft a landscape design that not only meets your specific needs but also enhances the beauty and functionality of your property. Our goal is to create a space that reflects your vision and elevates your outdoor living experience.

Once we have a clear understanding of your site, needs, and preferences, we will provide a comprehensive proposal for design services. This proposal will outline our approach to the project, the scope of work, and the design fee and terms. Additionally, we will provide a Pre-Design Construction Cost estimate, offering a rough estimate of how much your project will cost for construction. This allows you to make an informed decision before engaging our design services.

Our landscape design services include site inventory with our 3D lidar scanner, site analysis, preliminary design, design development, and construction documentation. We believe that transparency is key to building trust and ensuring that our clients are satisfied with our services. By providing detailed design proposals and construction cost estimates upfront, we aim to set clear expectations and deliver exceptional results.

The Pre-Design phase is crucial for laying the foundation of a successful landscape project. During this phase, we focus on gathering detailed and accurate information about your property to ensure that our designs are precise and well-informed.

The first step in the Pre-Design phase is setting up the property’s base sheets from your boundary survey. These base sheets are essential as they provide the accurate site information needed for all subsequent design work. By creating an accurate base sheet set to scale, we ensure that every aspect of your property is correctly represented, forming a reliable foundation upon which all successful designs are built.

Accurate site inventory is the cornerstone of a successful design. At M.Hudson Design, we are proud to be one of the only residential landscape architecture firms in the country using 3D lidar scanning technology for our site inventories. This advanced technology allows us to capture precise site data, enabling us to view the site from anywhere online and create accurate inventory base sheets and designs. The use of 3D lidar scanning not only saves time by shortening the design process but also ensures unparalleled accuracy and results in higher quality designs. This innovative approach enhances our ability to deliver exceptional landscape designs that meet the unique needs of each client.

The preliminary design plan is an essential step in our design process, where we present high-level design concepts based on insights from our client interview and design program. This phase focuses on the overall forms, shapes, circulation, and spatial relationships within the design. Our goal is to ensure we accurately understand your needs and preferences and that the design is progressing in the right direction.

To achieve this, we perform a thorough site analysis, visiting the site and analyzing the 3D lidar scan data collected during the site inventory phase. With this detailed information, we develop a preliminary plan that integrates both landscape and hardscape elements. This plan, typically presented on one sheet, encapsulates the core concepts of the design.

We present the color-rendered preliminary plan via an online meeting, complete with inspiration images and other high-level details to help you visualize the essential elements and feel of the design concept. At this stage, we focus on the overall design without specifying plant or hardscape materials, which will be detailed in the master plan phase. Additionally, we update our construction cost estimate to provide a preliminary figure, ensuring the project budget aligns with your expectations. This comprehensive approach helps us refine the design and move forward with confidence.

Upon review and feedback on the preliminary design, we transition to the next phase of our design process: Design Development. This critical stage involves refining and detailing the design to ensure every aspect is thoughtfully planned and executed. During this phase, we delve deeper into the specifics, improving the use of spaces and refining the relationships between different areas of your landscape.

In the Design Development phase, we specify the materials that will bring your landscape to life. This includes selecting plants, hardscape materials, pool details, and other essential elements. Our focus shifts from general inspiration images to specific material images, providing a clearer vision of the final outcome. Our detailed presentations include color-rendered plans with images of the materials, offering a vivid and comprehensive view of the proposed design.

As we drill down into the details, we present a more comprehensive and detailed design. This phase is where crucial decisions are made that will significantly impact the final design and construction of your project. We work closely with you to ensure that every choice aligns with your vision and the overall goals of the project. Our detailed presentations and discussions help you visualize how each element will contribute to the cohesive whole. Additionally, during the Design Development phase, we update the construction cost estimate, continuously refining and improving the accuracy of the installation costs.

Throughout the Design Development phase, our commitment to open communication and collaboration remains steadfast. We provide regular updates and seek your input at every step, ensuring that the final design reflects your desires and expectations. This meticulous approach guarantees that the design is not only beautiful and functional but also feasible and ready for the next phase of the project.

Once you approve the master plans created during the design development phase, we transition to the construction documentation phase. This critical step ensures that all necessary details are thoroughly confirmed and documented, providing clear and precise instructions for both permitting agencies and contractors. The construction documentation phase is essential for accurate review, approval, bidding, and construction of the project.

During this phase, we meticulously prepare construction documentation for all sheets of the final master plan set. These detailed documents encompass every aspect of the design, ensuring that each element is clearly defined and specified. This includes material specifications, installation methods, and any other pertinent details needed to bring the design to life. Our comprehensive documentation ensures that everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of the requirements and expectations, minimizing the potential for errors and delays.

Our commitment to precision and clarity during the construction documentation phase helps streamline the approval process with permitting agencies and provides contractors with the information they need to accurately bid and construct the project. This thorough approach ensures a smooth transition from design to construction, allowing us to deliver a high-quality, beautifully executed landscape that meets your vision and enhances your property.

Upon review and feedback on the preliminary design, we transition to the next phase of our design process: Design Development. This critical stage involves refining and detailing the design to ensure every aspect is thoughtfully planned and executed. During this phase, we delve deeper into the specifics, improving the use of spaces and refining the relationships between different areas of your landscape.

In the Design Development phase, we specify the materials that will bring your landscape to life. This includes selecting plants, hardscape materials, pool details, and other essential elements. Our focus shifts from general inspiration images to specific material images, providing a clearer vision of the final outcome. Our detailed presentations include color-rendered plans with images of the materials, offering a vivid and comprehensive view of the proposed design.

As we drill down into the details, we present a more comprehensive and detailed design. This phase is where crucial decisions are made that will significantly impact the final design and construction of your project. We work closely with you to ensure that every choice aligns with your vision and the overall goals of the project. Our detailed presentations and discussions help you visualize how each element will contribute to the cohesive whole. Additionally, during the Design Development phase, we update the construction cost estimate, continuously refining and improving the accuracy of the installation costs.

Throughout the Design Development phase, our commitment to open communication and collaboration remains steadfast. We provide regular updates and seek your input at every step, ensuring that the final design reflects your desires and expectations. This meticulous approach guarantees that the design is not only beautiful and functional but also feasible and ready for the next phase of the project.