Most landscape projects today cost tens of thousands of dollars. With the addition of elements like outdoor kitchens, outdoor rooms, outdoor fireplaces, fire-pits, and patio-covers, the complexity of the landscape design is greater than ever. If there is a swimming pool involved the expense and complexity go up considerably.
This increases the need to find the most qualified person to guide you through the process and become your advocate. If you understand in advance the best way to get to the finished landscape, you'll avoid a lot of frustration and expense that comes with the common mistakes. Below are some answers to the most common questions I hear when asked about starting a landscape project.
These will help you get started on the right foot. Landscape Architects have the deepest level of landscape design training, which translates into the best understanding of how to marry your preferences, site, architecture, budget, and landscape design elements.
This increases the need to find the most qualified person to guide you through the process and become your advocate. If you understand in advance the best way to get to the finished landscape, you'll avoid a lot of frustration and expense that comes with the common mistakes. Below are some answers to the most common questions I hear when asked about starting a landscape project.
These will help you get started on the right foot. Landscape Architects have the deepest level of landscape design training, which translates into the best understanding of how to marry your preferences, site, architecture, budget, and landscape design elements.
Services
Jeff Wortham & Associates is a Landscape Architectural firm focused primarily on residential landscape design. We offer a unique blend of design expertise, plant knowledge, and construction know-how. Jeff Wortham started his training at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA and finished with his BA in Landscape Architecture in 1986.
When we see a bright, colorful, plant design, a quiet meditation garden, or a Southwestern style garden, we feel differently in response to each one. Most of us don't think of a plant design as something that relates strongly to emotion, but I would argue they are strongly joined together. Plant design adds so much to a beautiful landscape design that it's hard to overstate the point.
It is very hard to do a complete backyard landscape design project including a swimming pool design and not pay over a $100,000 for everything in the east bay area. Many projects with larger lots exceed $200,000. When spending that amount of money on anything it makes sense to approach the project with a plan that gives you the best possibility for a great outcome at a fair value.
In the last five years the King and Queen of outdoor living in the East Bay Area have become Outdoor Kitchens and Outdoor Fireplaces. Blessed with great weather that is the envy of people from all over the country, we love our outdoor lifestyle. These two items have become regulars on the list of must haves for my clients in recent years, especially Outdoor Kitchens.
All designs begin with a meeting between Jeff Wortham and the client. At this meeting the client has the opportunity to see a set of completed plans, photographs of previous work, and get an understanding of Jeff's working style. More importantly, Jeff will ask questions of the client, which enables him to interpret preferences in style, desired design elements, budgetary concerns and other elements necessary for him to create the design.
Reviews (7)
Kim M.
Mar 17, 2021
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Working with Jeff Wortham has been a wonderful experience. He has a creative eye and he is a good listener. Jeff was able to incorporate almost our entire wish list into our front and back yard redesign. His history on the construction side of the business allows him to design in a practical manner while also creating beauty within those parameters. The process has been very smooth and collaborative. His relationship with a very talented set of contractors who most often work together on his plan implementations results in little need for us to project manage the job. Jeff stays involved throughout
Jeff Chambers
May 31, 2020
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Jeff is one of those rare architects that knows how to harmoniously balance artistic design, space usability, and economics. We worked with him in 2020 on several iterations for our front and backyard in Danville (new construction, clean sheet design). We initially started with a simple design which evolved to include a pool and pavilion. My wife and I were both very pleased with how Jeff was able to incorporate our early designs into the final version that included the new pool/pavilion elements (without sacrificing our original design principles). Jeff's attention to detail is exceptional and
Jason K.
May 19, 2020
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We interviewed multiple landscape architects before deciding to work with Jeff Wortham and Associates. The deciding factor was Jeff's proven ability to combine landscape and hardscape into a beautifully natural looking design that worked within our stated budget. As we began working together I was very impressed with Jeff's attention to detail. It's easy to create a "cookie cutter" design, but Jeff did a great job ensuring that our yard complemented the natural views that our property allowed, the functional aspects of the space, views from various places inside our house
Meghan S.
Oct 25, 2016
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Everything about the process was exemplary beginning with Jeff's amazing initial design through the selection of excellent contractors (Jack's Patio, CLP Landscaping, Cole Masonry) to the final product. Jeff was a master at understanding what we wanted in a backyard landscape, combining a side garden that was organic and informal with a central design that was more modern and structured. It coordinates beautifully with our contemporary home interior and craftsman exterior. He developed a plan for using our backyard in intelligent zones with areas for the hot tub, grilling and dining,
Jeff H.
Feb 09, 2012
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Jeff Wortham was initially recommended to my wife and I by my neighbor who had re-landscaped his entire backyard. We were impressed with the work that was done and decided to give Jeff a call and discuss our needs with him.
Jeff was incredibly knowledgeable and really impressed us, on not only plants, shrubs, trees, lighting, etc... but on overall design and aesthetics and how they play off each other. By moving around our proposed fireplace, BBQ and seating area, we could really enhance for overall look and use of the yard. He provided a few options for us to consider as far as overall layout
Jeff was incredibly knowledgeable and really impressed us, on not only plants, shrubs, trees, lighting, etc... but on overall design and aesthetics and how they play off each other. By moving around our proposed fireplace, BBQ and seating area, we could really enhance for overall look and use of the yard. He provided a few options for us to consider as far as overall layout
Rick S.
Apr 12, 2011
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As the original owner of our home the backyard landscape and hardscape was - dated, tired and worn. We wanted to completely redo the look and open it up.. We envisioned the look to be such that when you stepped outside you felt like you had just walked out and into a resort. We knew that we needed someone who did quality work and not high volume landscape planning/design. By checking with - suppliers, contractors and customers there was one name that rose to the top - Jeff Wortham & Associates. Jeff is a true professional that "listened intently"! He then meticulously set out
Anthony W.
Feb 24, 2011
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Don't bother going anywhere else. Jeff has made our backyard a thing of wonder. Jeff is easy going and is willing to do anything it takes to get the job done the way YOU want it. Many others will tell what you cannot do. If you can dream it and its reasonable Jeff will most likely make it happen. I could go on and on about just how great he has been. He has made an otherwise stressful project easy for us. Even when we wanted to make a few last minute changes Jeff made it work. He will also direct you to the best landscaping crews in the Bay Area. We used John Reidel and he is as great
