Garden Design
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Holly Kerr Forsyth designs in a wide range of garden styles and sizes, from large country gardens to courtyard gardens and small city spaces. Her designs can include pear and apple walks, wildflower meadows, detailed perennial borders and decorative vegetable ‘potagers’ as well as minimalist, easy-care, restrained courtyards. Whether a small or large garden, Holly recognises the importance of structure to create a garden of lasting beauty and importance.
She also believes that a garden should be designed for easy enjoyment, not as a source of constant effort; gardens should be places of solace, peace and rejuvenation, rather than sites of hard labour. Concentration is placed, therefore, on creating a matrix of plants with large blocks of hardy and low-maintenance species. Hedges, scaled up walls, pergolas, and living fences are among the devices used to create strong statements that provide constant interest and lasting beauty and enjoyment.
Holly Kerr Forsyth’s gardens have featured in Vogue Living and Vogue Entertaining Guide, Home Beautiful and Country Style, as well as in her weekly column in The Weekend Australian and in her books.
Holly Kerr Forsyth is either engaged direct by clients or works with the architect
already engaged on a
Stages of Consultation and Design
1. Initial Consultation and Site Meeting
The first consultation with Holly Kerr Forsyth takes between one and two hours. During this first meeting Holly discusses the client’s needs, on site, preferences in terms of design and planting lists, takes photographs or sketches for her later reference and estimates the number of hours required to prepare a sketch concept plan. Improving your property with landscaping is crucial for both its value and your lifestyle: this early consultation establishes preferences and practicalities. The price for the initial consultation is $1,500.00 plus GST. This price includes 30 minutes travel time to and from the site.
Additional charges apply to gardens located at a further distance, at a rate of $180.00 per hour, plus GST. Please inquire about costs for weekend or country garden consultations, and about our postal, internet or telephone consultation service for gardens at distance.
2. Concept, or Sketch, Plan Stage
After the initial consultation has taken place, if clients wish to progress to the concept stage, a fee proposal, stating the number of hours estimated to prepare a sketch plan, along with a letter of agreement, will be submitted.
To proceed, a client signs the letter of agreement and returns it to our office. Preparation of the sketch or concept plan will then begin.
The Sketch Plan will then be prepared, (observing any council requirements), and, when ready, an appointment made with the client for its presentation.
3. Master Plan
Once the sketch plan has been discussed, any changes or additional needs, along with details of hard landscaping – paths, fences and walls - are developed into the master plan. An estimate of hours required to prepare the master plan will accompany the letter of agreement prepared for this stage, prior to its commencement.
Master Plans are coloured and are accompanied by a detailed, number-specific plant list as well as a maintenance schedule to keep the garden, and its plantings, in peak condition, after construction.
4. Construction Stage
Once the master plan has been completed, and any necessary council approvals obtained, the design offered for tender, with three quotes sought. The client may wish to source construction companies independently. Either way, the client pays the contractor direct, with no commission payable to Holly Kerr Forsyth.
Holly Kerr Forsyth Design usually provides some supervision at the construction stage to ensure the design and planting are carried out and completed according to the specific requirements of the plan. The hourly rate for this service is $180.00 per hour, plus GST, plus travelling time.