Watching a popular home renovation show at the moment has gotten me thinking about how we go about choosing the style that apply our landscape designs. A classic question in design is whether form follows function or if the function of something comes from its form and while there is no right answer it illustrates the two key elements that go into creating a design.

Talking a to a new client recently  I was asked how they should prepare for our first meeting on site. Typically I’ve suggested to clients in the past to gather a mood board showing their wish list of elements and finishes and examples of what they like in a landscape design. However while this information is good to have its not often relevant until later stages when we start to populate their designs with colour, finishes, plants and product. So rather than asking this client go down this route I instead suggested she focus on how she would like to see the space working, who it would be catering to and how they might use it. Its a new approach but instinctively make more sense because unless we get the purpose right everything else will be irrelevant. So with that in mind I would suggest in the case of residential landscape design, most of the time , orm does indeed follow function. If you have got your ‘purpose’ worked out but are still stuck on the styling feel free to contact me for some ideas on how you might proceed ( I dare you ) :)