Landscape Architect Tomi Kobara specializes in the design and planning of residential and community garden projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Based in Oakland, Tomi has been a licensed Landscape Architect in California since 1994. She has designed a wide range of projects from intimate pocket gardens to complex large-scale properties to community and public spaces.
Her passion for environmental issues and well-being has led to the creation of edible gardens, food forest projects and community garden spaces for refugees living in Oakland. Each garden environment she designs is unique to its particular setting and is created to be enjoyed for its function and for its beauty.
She works closely with each client and their individual needs while conscientiously addressing the site's existing conditions, context and natural systems. Tomi pays special attention to the living relationship between the indoor and outdoor spaces that allows for a seamless integration with the home/built environment.
Her passion for environmental issues and well-being has led to the creation of edible gardens, food forest projects and community garden spaces for refugees living in Oakland. Each garden environment she designs is unique to its particular setting and is created to be enjoyed for its function and for its beauty.
She works closely with each client and their individual needs while conscientiously addressing the site's existing conditions, context and natural systems. Tomi pays special attention to the living relationship between the indoor and outdoor spaces that allows for a seamless integration with the home/built environment.
Services
We first hired Tomi to design our back yard and she did such a great job, we hired her again to do our front yard the next year! Tomi has a wonderful eye and is very sensitive to her clients' needs (entertaining, drought tolerance, deer resistance, etc.). Our back yard now integrates a lovely, well-lit deck and stone patio for cooking and eating while enjoying the flora and fauna.
Reviews (9)
Tom G.
Sep 03, 2021
Report
We hired Tomi to transform our damp, grassy lower backyard space into a more usable and modern patio space. It was a pleasure working with Tomi on this project, and we were very happy with the results -- so much that we have continued to work with Tomi on other projects in the upper portion of our tiered hillside yard Oakland hills. Tomi took the time to understand our design aesthetic and our goals for the revamped space. She presented several creative design alternatives and worked with us toward implementation and selection of plants for the perimeter of our new patio space. She is patient
Jamie V.
Nov 24, 2019
Report
Earlier this year, we embarked on a complete redo of our backyard. I'd never worked with a designer on any project before, but wanted to do so because I know very little about plants. Also, I needed some help with how best to take my random ideas on my Pinterest board and transform our yard into a place in which we'd enjoy hanging out and hosting friends. Upon meeting Tomi, I instantly knew it was a perfect match. She was so careful to find out exactly what we did and did not like about the current yard, she suggested things that I hadn't thought of, and recommended so many amazing
Kelli L.
Aug 20, 2018
Report
We had such a wonderful experience working with Tomi on a complete renovation of our front and backyards in San Francisco. Our yard was a complete disaster with weeds and overgrown plants after being neglected for years, so Tomi had to completely start from scratch with her design. She designed a beautiful space that works perfectly for our family with a huge variety of plants and a large redwood deck. She was super easy to work with and really listened to our ideas, incorporated our input, and revised her design as needed to really work for us. I am Architect so I have a lot of experience working
David S.
Feb 02, 2017
Report
Tomi completely transformed our front yard/entry from a concrete eyesore into a thing of beauty, that gives me joy every time I see it. I loved her ability to listen carefully to our wants and needs, while mixing in her own great taste, design sensibility, and deep knowledge of plants and materials. She's kind, easy to work with, organized, detail oriented, a clear communicator. She has a well thought-out phased process which she takes the time to explain in full up front. Her rates are reasonable. She works closely with the contractor to ensure the vision is truly executed to plan.
Monica C.
Nov 30, 2016
Report
We hired Tomi to design our back yard a while ago. She did such a great job, we hired her again to do our front yard the next year! Tomi has a wonderful eye and is very sensitive to her clients' needs (entertaining, drought tolerance, deer resistance, etc.). Our back yard now integrates a lovely, well-lit deck and stone patio for cooking and eating while enjoying the flora and fauna. Tomi also did a fantastic job coordinating with the general contractor who installed her design and made sure we knew how to maintain our new plants. Every day my husband and I enjoy looking at the wildlife attracted
Kerry M.
Jul 11, 2011
Report
We have done many projects inside our home over the years. However, we had not attempted any large project in terms of landscaping. We were inexperienced in this area and were looking for the right partner to help us create the space and environment we envisioned. We had a very big challenge of a very small front yard area that we wanted to create into an indoor / outdoor entertainment area. Even though the space was small, we wanted to create a feeling of openness, yet still have it feel intimate. All I can say is that Tomi absolutely exceeded our expectations. She was patient and creative
Chan U. L.
May 20, 2011
Report
Tomi worked with us to redesign our backyard so that we could get multiple uses out of the space -- one for our vegetable garden, another for the kids to play soccer, and one to lounge around to admire the plants as they grow. She provided us with quite a bit of options, keeping in mind the dual goals of function and beauty. She also was very accommodating and adapted to our pace and budget level. She helped us find a very good contractor, and stayed through the process until completion, ensuring that we got the intended results. We love our backyard, and it gets more beautiful as the plants
Patty M.
May 17, 2011
Report
Tomi designed a landscaping plan for the front of my business in downtown San Mateo. Her solution was creative and elegant, and the results of her work are still gracing the windows and entryway six years later. I had complete confidence in her abilities and she came through as expected. I wouldn't hesitate to use her services in the future or to refer her to colleagues.
Karen M.
May 14, 2011
Report
Tomi worked with us to design a drought resistance garden in front of our house. We engaged in a very nice interactive process, and she was extremely willing to work with ideas and preferences that I had, and to suggest how they might be improved upon. The garden turned out to be lovely, and each day as more flowers bloom, I appreciate it more and more. Tomi is a wonderful person to work with.
