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stylish outdoor spaces you'll love to use

Design Scapes Inc. Licensed, Bonded & Insured

From Installer to Full-Service Company

Our Working Process Didn’t "Just Happen" Overnight. Experience After Experience, We Learned to Satisfy Customer Needs

When I first started in 2011, we were just like any other local landscaping company. My team and I were only doing installations, where we took a 3rd-party designer's blueprints and made them come to life. I

That approach quickly became problematic. I realized this system needed to be fixed because the designs didn't fit reality. What seemed so great on paper simply was not going to work for our customer’s site; therefore, the execution was a continual problem.

Just a few examples were differences in soil meant that planting plans would not work as designed, elevation differences required retaining structures, a giant unknown rock or root made it impractical to plant something as directed, etc. None of these issues were in the plan we started with, so ensuing consultations wrecked the schedule. It became obvious what I needed to do.

Design and Customize Plans to Be Customer-Site-Specific

I quickly realized that I needed to be the customer site designer. In doing so, I could ensure that the plans fit the realities of the site. If adjustments need to be made, we don't have to stop and consult with a 3rd party. We can make adjustments in real-time without breaking stride, without disrupting the schedule.

Customers Need To Feel In Control

Providing Certainty To Our Customers

As we continued to grow the business, we realize other customer needs. Each “point of stress” became a way for Design Scapes Inc. to be better than our competitors. We realized that customers experience a lot of stress, and with some thoughtfulness, we can relieve most of that for them.

Not Knowing What’s Happening is Stressful

Customers can become anxious when there is little clarity around a project. Understanding that our customers are busy and need certainty from us, we provide detailed project and work schedules; that way, our customers could plan their own schedules and finances.

We saw our customers relax once they got the specifics of orders, deliveries, installation dates, and payment due dates. Immediately, we realized we were onto something that customers LOVE.

We Took Note of the Stress of Construction-Zone Living

It’s not fun to live in a construction zone, no matter how exciting the final result. I realized that ordering all the materials, having them delivered, and setting them on the site was a point of stress for customers. Therefore, we set up the schedule to install materials soon after delivery. Again, customers LOVED this approach.

A Great Customer Experience

We found that our system not only made it easier on us, but also smoother and more reassuring for our clients. They didn’t have to search for a designer, and they had only one point of contact for communication since they didn’t have to coordinate between the designer and the construction team.

Plus, with one set of designs (customized to the site), it was easier to include everything in the original estimate and control the final project costs.

Hundreds of Customers Later…

We Still Look for Ways to Improve Your Customer Experience

We’re proud to say that we have helped hundreds of homeowners achieve their landscaping and hardscaping goals with our friction-free methods. We want the “getting there” journey to be as painless as possible so you can experience years of joy in your new outdoor spaces.

Ready to Experience Our Service?

hardscaper near me crew

Easy Process, Easy Project

Our one-of-a-kind process makes Design Scapes, Inc. the leading landscape design and build company in the greater Southern California area. We have decades of experience designing, installing, and maintaining picture perfect outdoor spaces.

Our dedicated and talented crew will manage every aspect of your project from initial design to completed installation – and we do it all on schedule and budget.

Know What to Expect

There are many landscape designers with grand visions who will put a beautiful plan together, but won’t be involved in the implementation and installation process. More often than not, this leaves you hanging to find different subcontractors to finish the project! This flawed and cumbersome process often results in higher costs and the finished projects will never match your vision and designer’s plans.

Our simple process focuses on providing a custom design and build to our clients every time. We take your vision and turn it into a feasible design that’s adheres to your wants and needs. We only care for one client at a time, so your renovation will be handled with great attention to detail. We take pride in ensuring our projects are on schedule and within budget. We achieve this by taking control of the process from start to finish so you can sit back, relax, and watch your dream outdoor space come to life (but still have the final say in the design decisions)!

Step 1

Initial design consultation

We start with an initial phone consultation to discuss your wants and needs. We are also open to video calling, or you can send a few pictures of your yard and/or your ideas. Then, we meet you at your property with initial lot plans; we go further in-depth to understand your needs, issues to be solved, design ideas, budgets, and desired start and finish dates. We take detailed notes and measurements to start working on the initial estimate.

Step 2

Bid submission and approval

We will get back to you shortly with a carefully constructed, itemized estimate for your project. We answer all your questions and make sure the project meets your vision. This step sets up the project scope that determines the design phase.

Step 3

Design layout plan

Using priority CAD programs, we create a schematic design layout plan that is both accurate and beautiful. We then sit down and go over it with you in detail to ensure it perfectly meets your vision, budget, and functionality requirements. This highly creative process usually requires only minor adjustments because we focus on YOUR vision, instead of implementing creative control.

Step 4

Scope of work permits

Before development begins, we address any permits or approval needed from the city, county, or other regulatory agencies. Some projects that require permits include decks, trellis structures, barbecue islands, and such.

If your project needs structural engineering, we work closely with our engineer to make sure it’s safely completed according to your design. If we need any permits or inspections, we submit the engineered plans to the city for to get approval. If your Homeowner’s Association requires consent, we will communicate with them to get their support of your design. This process is done by the designer to make sure the integrity and vision of the design are not compromised.

Step 5

Construction begins

Once we’ve completed the schematic design and construction plans and received permits and approvals (if needed), we will begin to transform your backyard into a peaceful and beautiful oasis. We start with a detailed and realistic project schedule to implement the design in a clean, organized, and timely manner. Unlike other landscape design companies, we never cut corners, and only use the highest grade materials. You also won’t receive a list of Change Orders because our plans are comprehensive and eliminate cost surprises.

Step 6

Project management

We manage every aspect of the project. Nothing is left to chance because we love what we do and take pride in ensuring the design and construction plans are followed thoroughly. This separates Design Scapes, Inc. from it’s competitors.

-You work with one crew; we supervise and control the project from beginning to end.

Step 7

Walk-through

Once construction is complete, we take you through the entire outdoor space and provide education on caring for your new dream yard. If you have a landscape maintenance provider, we include them in this walk-through so everyone knows how to care for your beautiful new yard to ensure it flourishes for years to come.

Step 8

Enjoy!

Now comes the best part: you get enjoy your new outdoor paradise. Kick back in a lounge chair with a cold iced tea and enjoy the LA climate.Your peace of mind is our goal from the start.

Get in Touch

For general inquiries and information.

Get in Touch

For general inquiries and information.

Reviews

Andrew H.
Los Angeles, CA
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Sina and his team worked with us to design and build both our front and backyard. The results exceeded our expectations and the team worked patiently during COVID and through a challenging permitting process with LA City. The team was professional and always prompt. The pricing was fair and transparent, and communication was great. The project was large overall so we worked together with Design Scapes for almost one year. I have recommended the team to many people already and think they do great work.
Ben L.
Los Angeles, CA
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We hired Design Scapes to turn our backyard into a hostable space that would feel welcoming to guests, but more importantly, utilize what we felt was completely wasted space. It's hard to put words to just how incredible of an experience we had with Sina and his team. From the get-go, they were efficient, communicative, and dedicated to making us feel content. Sina, Aaron and everyone they work with truly understand design - the technical, architectural, and aesthetic elements that are needed in order to create the best results. We never had any doubt that we went with the right company. The results were ten times better than we ever could have imagined. Our backyard is a total haven, we feel like we're on vacation at our own home! We would give ten stars if we could!
May M.
North Hollywood, CA
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I worked with Sima at Design Scapes on a recent backyard renovation. He was extremely patient as we began from concept to finished project! His crew was very professional and it turned out exactly how I envisioned. The reno included building a pergula with a cover, hardscaping with pavers and adding lighting and ficus trees. We were so happy with the finished product!
Jeff R.
Santa Monica, CA
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Design Scapes constructed a composite wood deck and two planters in my back yard and I couldn't be happier with the result. Very professional, terrific work, really nice people (especially Heli, who worked with me throughout), and they got it done when they said they would, completely satisfied with the whole experience!
Charles M.
Santa Monica, CA
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Sina and his team are your go-to for innovative and beautiful outdoor construction. They installed a gigantic, closeable pergola over our wrap around deck. They handled the entire process from plans to permits to installation and did a tremendous job. We feel like we've added a room to our home. They did an amazing job. Five stars!
Laurene F.
Manhattan Beach, CA
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Design Scapes is very highly recommended! Very professional, creative and reliable. They were very timely and reasonable with their estimated budget and time line to complete the project. Also, they were very responsive with additional requests after the initial project. I will refer them to my friends.
Mersedeh M.
Los Angeles, CA
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I can not say enough how great working with Design Sacpes was. My husband and I met with several landscaping companies and Design Scapes seemed to be the most honest and professional one. Sina is an awesome person, he guided us in choosing the best design for our backyard while he was considering what we want in all the steps. We ended up planting some great fruit trees in addition to a cute fountain and some design with beautiful rocks. The crew was very clean and professional. We did not feel we have workers in our background the whole time. The final invoice reflected exactly what we had spoken of, although we made some changes and ended up choosing better material and plants in some occasions. I highly recommend Design Sacpes if you are looking for the best landscaping company.
Bob K.
West Hills, CA
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Sina and his crew are great. We started off with replacing a block wall we shared with our neighbor with a wood fence. Once we saw the excellent quality of the work we had him transform our backyard which was basically a dirt lot into a backyard oasis with pavers, a grassy area, a new tree and a section of plants. His crew is unbelievable. Vert talented and hard working. On time every day. Courteous and friendly. Always kept the work area clean. Sina when not on site was always available by phone or text. His estimates were clear, and his on line billing system was easy to use.
Charity B.
Thousand Oaks, CA
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We did 2 projects with Sina at the same time. One was done on time and was exactly to our specification (even though we changed our minds once the project started as is sometimes the case when you start to see it come together). Sina was always available with ideas, feedback and keeping us up to date. The other project was delayed through no fault of Sina's. The material he ordered came in damaged. He took care of it completely and rescheduled his crew to come back once the material was received. I didn't have to fight with anyone over damaged materials and he didn't even ask me to accept sub-quality. He just rejected it immediately and took care of the problem. Both projects were beautiful when finished. I am very happy with the quality of work. I have worked with many contractors. I can easily say that Sina is one of the best. He is amazing because he does exactly what he says he will do... follow up calls, shows up on time, sends detailed work plans, etc. Seems like a little thing but if you've worked with contractors, you know that's rare! I have already referred him to friends and will definitely use him again in the future.
Bill O.
New York, NY
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When my wife and I moved into our new home at the beginning of 2020, we loved the potential of our new backyard. It has a pool with lots of room for gatherings and two healthy fruit trees that provide good shade. Unfortunately the existing planters were overrun with tall unorganized grasses and the "grass" area was nothing but dirt. As soon as I called Sina at Design Scapes, he scheduled a quick visit to view the property and get an understanding of my design intent. He listened closely to what I wanted, offered his expertise and suggestions when appropriate, and created a plan that met all expectations. When I explained that the plan was slightly above my cost limit, he offered adjustments that kept the design incredible while aligning with my target budget. All work was performed professionally and on schedule and he has consistently followed up to ensure satisfaction. I would absolutely work with Sina on all future exterior projects! (Before and after photos attached)
Keithh N.
San Francisco, CA
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I can't express how happy we are with Sina's work. He is extremely professional and reliable. He was always at the job site when needed. And he clearly went the extra length to get our work done. One of the things we needed done was adding mesh to a quarter acre property around the Fenceline. Sina's team made sure to dig down over a foot under the dirt to make sure our animals couldn't get underneath it. He made sure The mesh was tied tightly to the fence around the entire property line. His work was very clean and he did not disrupt any of the plant life. He is extremely knowledgeable about landscaping and plant life. I would definitely recommend using him again and sure we will in the future! Thank you for everything Sina

Our Certifications

We hold the following ICPI certifications:

Concrete Pavers

ICPI—Concrete Paver Installer Course

  • Introduction to the construction of interlocking concrete pavement systems using concrete pavers and slabs

 ICPI—Certified Concrete Paver Installer

  • Job planning and layout
  • Safety
  • Soil classification and compaction
  • Bedding and joint sand
  • Paver selection and installation
  • Use of labor-saving specialty tools
  • Edge restraints
  • Base material selection and compaction

ICPI—Residential Specialist Course

  • Creating an outdoor living area.
  • Bringing the indoor comforts outside.
  • Locations
  • Heat Materials
  • Utility Hookups
  • Appliances
  • Building Codes
  • Overlaying pavers on existing asphalt or concrete, and best installation methods. 
  • Includes paver overlay application around the perimeter of a pool, and general construction of a paver pool deck around most common types of pools (linear pool, fiberglass shell, or concrete shell.
  • Existing Site Conditions
  • Existing Pavement Preparation
  • Installation Details
  • Paver Overlays with Mortar or Adhesives
  • Types of Pools
  • Construction Details
  • Drainage
  • Paver Selection
  • Building Codes
  • Seat Walls
  • Lighting
  • Decorative Borders and Edges
  • Utilities under the Pavement
  • Once course is completed, requires documentation of 50,000 square feet of concrete paver installation experience in residential projects to receive Residential Paver Specialist credential.

ICPI—Certified Concrete Paver Installer—Residential Specialist

                        • The Residential Professional Course is the highest level designation for ICPI certified installers.
                        • Base and Subbase
                        • Edge Restraint
                        • Bedding Sand
                        • Concrete Pavers
                        • Joint Sand
                          • Supervisor’s role in finding and fixing workplace hazards.
                          • Jobsite Planning and Logistics
                            • Site Management
                            • Equipment
                            • Common conversions and equations needed when estimating materials, including perimeter, area and volume. Converting between different dimensions such as cubic feet to cubic yards.
                            • The three basic components of a functional and attractive raised patio: walls, flatwork, and steps. Visualizing the levels and steps and then developing solutions for the site. 
                            • Considerations
                            • Steps
                            • Railings
                            • On-Site
                            • Building Codes
                            • Once course is completed, installer must document 25,000 square feet of concrete paver installation experience and 20 residential projects to receive Residential Paver Specialist credential.

                                                  Permeable Pavers


                                                  ICPI—Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) Specialist Course

                                                  • Use of permeable pavers can reduce the quantity of runoff and maximize irrigation of your property.
                                                  • Benefits
                                                  • System Components
                                                  • Types of Systems
                                                  • Precautions

                                                        National Concrete Masonry Association Certifications


                                                        Certified Segmental Retaining Wall Installer (CSRWI)


                                                        • Advanced topics include: 
                                                        • Wall layout and planning
                                                        • Water and drainage
                                                        • Cut and fill walls
                                                        • Tiered walls
                                                        • Corners and curves
                                                        • Stairs and patios

                                                                  Pricing

                                                                  • Our pricing is completely transparent. 
                                                                  • Estimates, quotes, and invoices are always line-itemized for different trades or sections of scope of work. No big mystery numbers where you don’t know what you’re paying for.
                                                                  • We quote the installation based on existing site conditions, local codes, bespoke materials or layout, and/or pattern picked.
                                                                  • If there are any change orders, they are quoted and approved by the client first. They are fully documented, leaving a complete paper trail. 
                                                                  • Labor cost is based on what it takes to do the job right, and do right by a professional crew.
                                                                  • Expect to invest up to 7% of your property’s value for a completely new outdoor space. 
                                                                  • The design phase cost is approximately 3% – 7% of the total installation cost.
                                                                  • Each project is custom designed, and cost depends on design.
                                                                  • When needed, we work with you to accomplish your project in stages—rather than diminish your vision.
                                                                  • You know what your costs are upfront before any work starts.

                                                                  Payments

                                                                  • We accept Visa, Master Card, Amex, Discover, check, cash, wire transfer, Venmo and Zelle.
                                                                  • You get a payment schedule with your project schedule. 
                                                                  • You only pay for labor, and materials delivered up to payment date. You’re not paying in advance so we can buy materials.
                                                                  • When implementing your project in stages, the Design Phase is completed and paid for in advance of implementing the first stage.

                                                                  Return on Investment

                                                                  • You expect a return on investment when improving your property. 
                                                                  • Studies show that a beautifully landscaped yard can increase your property’s value by up to 20%. 
                                                                  • Money magazine estimates that you can recover up to 120% of your project’s cost when you sell your property.

                                                                  Implementation Phase

                                                                  • We provide you a detailed project and work schedule that shows orders, deliveries, installation dates, and payment due dates.
                                                                  • You know exactly how many days your project takes, and what to expect each day.
                                                                  • Your designer / estimator is present on-site every day of installation, supervising the project from start to finish. Eagle-eyed supervision prevents aesthetic or functional mistakes.
                                                                  • Our team includes only trusted workers who have been with us for years. All workers are bonded.
                                                                  • Design Scapes Inc is fully licensed under both C27 Landscaping and General B licenses.
                                                                  • We never sub-contract our work to others, or hire from the parking lot of the local building supply superstore.
                                                                  • Every installation team member has decades of experience and expertise in their area of specialty.
                                                                  • All work is insured, and supervised. 
                                                                  • We carry all required insurance policies like workers’ compensation, liability, and vehicle coverage.
                                                                  • Our efficient process controls the chaos of construction. Only the tools, equipment, and materials that are needed for the work week get delivered and stored for that week. 
                                                                  • Site, tools, and materials tidied up and secured at the end of every work day.
                                                                  • We need no interior access and bring our own toilets and power generator.
                                                                  • We leave your work site spotless and hazard-free.

                                                                  Design Phase

                                                                  • You get one-on-one consultation from an award-winning landscape designer, Sina Kamran.
                                                                  • I will generate picture designs for your new outdoor space, and present them to you.
                                                                  • Design goes through an extensive revision stage. Together, we go through all different layouts, patterns, material types and colors, or different functions to consider. 
                                                                  • The revision stage eliminates problematic surprise change orders and project delays. It also enables us to deliver your project per schedule.
                                                                  • Your project installation is scheduled as soon as you approve the final project plans.
                                                                  • Lead time is usually three to five weeks from approval.

                                                                  Complimentary Estimate

                                                                  • We get a copy of your plot plan and general yard measurements in preparation for the initial consultation.
                                                                  • We draw inspiration from your property and listen to your dreams for your outdoor space. The meeting focuses on your vision and how we could help you realize it. 
                                                                  • We survey the area and point out possibilities and discuss potential issues. 
                                                                  • We make a point of providing an accurate bid rather than bidding low to get the work. You have our promise on this.
                                                                  • We want you to have the peace of mind of knowing exactly what your project will cost from the very start. No surprises.
                                                                  • Once you approve the initial estimate, we move on to the Design Phase.
                                                                  • You receive a final and firm quote once the Design Phase is completed and all work has been identified.