For Home Owners
“Your home is your castle.”
You’ve heard the phrase. It rings true for most people because their home is their largest, most valuable and most important investment. Most likely, that rings true for you too. Because it’s your place, you want it to be comfortable, practical, private and fun… A place to relax, entertain, recreate, regroup. That’s true outside as well as in.
I am Michael R. Lehmann, registered landscape architect in North Carolina and the creative talent behind the Lehmann Design Group.
I’ve been helping residential clients like you with professional, high quality landscape architectural design services for over thirty years, and, without exception, people want several important things from me: they want style and value, they want low maintenance, they want privacy, safety, beauty, color. Sometimes there are dozens of other needs, but it boils down to an artful blend of design excellence and value, more bang for the buck. This is where we shine.
So, take a look around: if your place needs updating, needs a bit more sparkle, excitement, polish, you’re reading the right letter!
As I see it, if you are going to landscape, a little or a lot, you are going to spend money, and, if you are going to spend money, doesn’t it make sense to spend that money, your money, as cost effectively, as wisely as possible? This is what I will help you do. First of all, this means good design that’s practical, sensible, effective. It also means helping you make a series of informed decisions or choices regarding your needs — whatever they are: plants, patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits or water features, soils and drainage, lighting, irrigation, and the like, and most important, how all these things fit together as a stylish and functional whole. Trust and good judgment are key.
Very simply, there is no substitute or shortcut for high quality planning and design. None. Skimping at the design or planning stage is a mistake that will cost you significant time, money and wasted effort, period.
And by the way, high quality design and planning does not mean “expensive”, it means effective in every sense of that word.
Landscaping looks simple and easy, but doing it right — doing it right the first time — requires a high quality plan of action, a masterplan. This takes real knowledge and expertise, creativity, imagination, time and effort; skills which are well beyond the ability of most homeowners, contractors, nursery people, even many landscape “designers”.
There is absolutely no substitute or shortcut for high quality planning and design. None.
I don’t try to sell you something — trees and shrubs, retaining walls, gazebos or drainage systems — my job is to help you energize, refine and perfect the sometimes dimly lit and poorly formed ideas you may already have. I provide the vision, the creativity, the certainty. As a design professional, I work specifically for you — your home, your needs, wants and desires, your family, your budget. My job is to put it all together so it all works before you call the contractors, the nursery people and the suppliers.
With the Lehmann Design Group you have the best of all worlds:
With forty years of design experience both technical and artistic, you are working with an expert in his field.
- Independence. I offer design/consultation and project management services only. I am not a contractor. As such, I never have the that the design/build contractors have who are motivated by selling you more stuff. Remember, this is how they make their money… Design is secondary, a “loss leader”.
- I am a horticultural expert, as knowledgeable as anyone you’ll find in North Carolina. This very much works to your advantage: the right plant in the right place is a big plus. You won’t have to take the chainsaw out in a few years and your place won’t boringly look like everyone else.
- Certainty. With a high quality masterplan, you’ll have complete confidence your landscape will come together beautifully, even if it is done in stages or phases over time.
- Flexibility. Once your design has been completed, you can hire some of the work out, or do some of it yourself. Do phase I this year, phase II next year, whatever. If you like, the design itself can be done in phases.
- Your finished masterplan is detailed, accurate and properly scaled. Optional specifications and materials list, important for proper pricing and installation are also available. You’re in control, not the contractors. This is extremely important… Don’t let them tell you what you want.
Your home is a very substantial investment. Professionally designed landscape does add significant long term value, not to mention beauty, utility, enjoyment, satisfaction and comfort to this most personal of living environments. Done incorrectly, quickly, or piece meal, it can be an expensive disaster. The Lehmann Design Group, Inc. is the company you can trust with your home and family in mind. My design fee averages less than 10 cents for each construction and/or installation dollar, making it a shrewd, cost effective investment.
Be real smart and plan ahead.
Landscape is one of the smartest investments you can make as a homeowner. Don’t delay. Give me a call and let’s talk.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Lehmann, RLA
P.S. Your initial design consultation and follow-up design proposal is free! Call or email, and let’s set up a time to get together.
