About
Rock Paper Scissors Landscape Design/Build was founded in 2013, bringing together designers and crew members with years of experience designing and installing residential gardens in the Bay Area. We choose to live in a part of the world where we can be outdoors more than in, so our landscapes are extensions of our homes and should be designed as such. This means honoring your home’s architecture and your personal aesthetic while understanding the unique Bay Area climates and conditions. We integrate all that into an exterior space that enhances your life within an established budget.
The Rock Paper Scissors construction crew handles everything designed for your project, from custom carpentry and masonry to planting and installing fully automated irrigation systems and lighting. They work hard and smart to complete your project as efficiently as possible.
When your project is complete, our relationship isn’t. We take pride in your landscape and hope to watch it grow with you, providing you with resources to keep it looking great for years to come.
Our Process
First, you’ll meet with Barry Sacher, owner, lead designer, and project manager for Rock Paper Scissors. She’ll listen to your goals and motivations for your project, what about your current landscape works for you, and most importantly, what doesn’t. She’ll share our process and portfolio. Then she’ll talk about a budget (even if you don’t have one in mind) and schedule (even if you’re not in a hurry). The goal of the meeting is to gather information, discuss your options, and see if we're a good match.
The site analysis is the first step to transforming your space—because analyzing what is already there determines the opportunities and constraints of your future garden. Barry will measure and photograph the property within the scope of work for construction. She’ll use this information to map the site, allowing her to understand everything from the changes in elevation and sun patterns to views to be exposed or concealed.
We break the design phase into two parts: concept and final
The concept phase is about exploration. We want to show you how your ideas can be implemented (and what it would cost) and provide you with options that you probably haven’t thought about that will still achieve your goals. Each Concept Plan comes with a rough-cost proposal. We may not have chosen your stone pattern or determined a lighting plan, but we’ll have a ballpark budget broken down into specific categories to help you understand the entire scope of work. Barry will also bring material samples and photos and can suggest other sites to visit to help you visualize your project. After the Concept meeting, you’ll have enough information to decide what parts of the project you want to focus on for construction. This determines the scope of work for the Final design.
The final design phase is a detailed, scaled drawing of your future garden—the map the Rock Paper Scissors crew will use for construction. Details (for carpentry, equipment installation, etc.), lighting, and planting plans may also be included. The agreed-upon elements of the proposal are then converted into a contract, and a general construction schedule will be provided.