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Gardeners are very special people. Blessed with green fingers and an abundance of patience, with time and energy they can transform a site into their Eden, experimenting and changing as the mood moves them. This is their ‘bliss’, and in satisfying it they do their small bit to take care of the planet whilst bringing a measure of order and control to their environment.

Not all people have green fingers, design expertise, or heaps of patience to work at a slow transformation. Some people don’t even know where to start. Without these qualities, it can in fact become a frustrating exercise. Expensive mistakes get made, such as buying plants that turn out to be uncooperative and refuse to thrive, pavers that are heavy and cumbersome to place in the first instance, and then end up being badly placed because function was considered without design coherence. And still, the property that one has already invested in heavily does not satisfy. One looks around and is frustrated that the effort and expense already spent is not translating into the quiet satisfaction that any well-designed space provides. It rubs at the edges of our mind because we are subconsciously geared to respond to rhythm and pattern and coherence. Nor does it draw one out to enjoy the full extent of the property.

Having a well-designed plan, undertaken by professional designers, who are keenly aware of uniquely South African elements that impact the landscape, such as our strong light, our local flavour and colour, and use it to advantage, cuts through all the wasted time and expense used in ‘making it up as you go’. It focuses energy, budgets and roll-out. In the end, it saves time and sets one up for successful execution. That is why it matters, that is why it has value; and that is why it’s worth partnering with professionals for what one might arguably consider being your most valuable asset: your property.

Contours Design Studio offers homeowners the expertise of qualified and experienced landscape designers to create extraordinary, spiritually nurturing outdoor spaces. We infuse our artistic expression with South African vibrancy to celebrate the personalities and interests of our clients and their private spaces.