The design team at Ian Barker Gardens will work with you to create a tailored landscape design that is as unique as you. We pride ourselves on producing designs that meet your functional and lifestyle needs while complementing and enhancing the architecture of your property.
Our talented landscape designers enthusiastically embrace all design challenges, from the smallest light well or courtyard through to the largest of rural properties.
Meet with our design team face-to-face or online to discuss your goals, ideas and requirements specific to your garden. Please note, design consultations do incur a fee. Following the consultation, we will provide you with a quote to complete the design project.
Once you are happy to commence your garden journey with us, the team will explore several hand-sketched alternatives of your garden and then create a fully scaled concept plan that identifies plant selection, colour palettes and material choices.
Our design team will produce the concept plan for your feedback and then convert this into your final master plan.
We produce comprehensive designs that include all elements within your garden concept. This could consist of pools, pavilions, entertainment areas, pergolas, retaining walls, planting, lawns and fencing. We can provide recommendations for all materials and colour palettes, including pool tiles. We specialise in single-dwelling residential gardens; however, our design portfolio includes a range of residential, rural and commercial projects. You can view some of our projects here.
Our design process involves three stages, the initial consultation, development of your concept and finalising the design. Our expert design team will provide high-level advice on layout, materials, plants, and your budget throughout the process.
Our Design Manager, Daniel, or Director, Ian, will meet with you on-site or online to discuss your goals, ideas and requirements specific to your garden. This will take between 45 minutes – 1.5 hours. We use this time to get to know you, your family and how you would like to use the space. We aim to give you an idea of the possibilities for your garden. These ideas become the basis for your concept development. The fee for on-site consultations is $550 incl. GST for properties within an hour of Melbourne CBD; online consultations via Zoom or Microsoft Teams cost $350 incl. GST. After your consultation, the team will send a design fee proposal for your consideration. This will outline the costs for producing your garden concept, including sketches and masterplan; this does not include any construction costs.
Yes, you can. We have designed numerous gardens all over Australia and gardens overseas, including in the US, UK and Polynesian Islands. Our Director, Ian, regularly travels so may be able to include a visit to your property in his travel plans. Alternatively, there is the possibility of online consultation. Please contact our design team to discuss the options for your consultation.
Yes, we would recommend beginning the design and planning of your landscape as early as possible to coordinate indoor/outdoor spaces with your architect or building designer.
Upon acceptance of the design fee proposal, our team will conduct a complete site analysis. This will include taking measurements and photographs of your site. Our team will then begin exploring the options for your design. We then present the design concept that we feel best meets your needs and brief in the form of a concept plan for your feedback.
Your concept plan is refined to reflect your feedback, and the final master plan is produced. This will include scaled drawings highlighting plants, colour palettes and recommended materials.
The whole process from accepting the design quote to receiving your final plans is generally between 12-14 weeks, depending on the team’s current workload. This may also be affected by any feedback required from council and clients or holiday periods, i.e. public holidays and the Christmas break.
Yes – we have experience in spaces of all sizes – from apartment balconies to large acreages and everything in between. The smallest area we have designed is 1m x 5m.
No two design quotes are the same. The design fee is based on your requirements and will vary depending on the size of your property, any slopes on the site, the complexity of the design elements chosen and the amount of time needed to draw your master plan. Your initial consultation will allow us to determine your design scope and provide a fee proposal.
All of our designs are created collaboratively. Lead by our Design Manager, Daniel, and Director, Ian, the entire design team is engaged in making your concepts and drawing your plan. Click here to learn more about our design team.
Once your design plan is finalised, we will send you three printed copies of your plan. You are welcome to take these to any construction company to quote. You can also request a quote from our construction team, Ian Barker Landscapes, or, if our construction team is unavailable, we have contractors in most areas that we can recommend.
Some unique or complex elements, such as pergolas, feature walls, ponds and pools, may require detailed construction drawings or be requested by a landscape builder. If construction drawings are needed, you can add these as an ‘optional inclusion’ to your base design package. Our designers will advise whether they believe construction drawings will be necessary for your project.
To find out more about our landscape design services or to
book a consultation, click below.