Design-Only vs. Design & Build: Which Service Is Right for You?

One of the first questions we ask a new client isn't "what style do you like" — it's "do you already have a contractor, or do you want us to handle construction too?" The answer usually points to one of our two service tracks.

Design Only: when you have your own builder

Design Only gets you a complete set of construction drawings — site analysis, concept, master plan, material and planting specifications, and a full documentation package — that you or your own contractor can build from.

This track fits well if you already have a trusted contractor, if you're managing a larger project with multiple vendors, or if you simply want design expertise without handing over construction.

Design & Build: when you want one team, start to finish

Design & Build covers everything Design Only does, plus construction itself — site supervision, contractor coordination, and quality control through to final handover and a maintenance guideline.

This is the right fit if you'd rather not manage a separate contractor relationship, or if the project involves structural work, water features, or systems where design and construction decisions are tightly linked.

Either way, the process starts the same

Both tracks begin with the same pre-design proposal step — a brief review, site consultation, and scope discussion — before we ever settle on which track fits best. If you're not sure which one you need yet, that's a completely normal place to start.