is a Bay Area based landscape design firm dedicated to the creation of transformative outdoor spaces with deep experience in both design and implementation.
We believe in the potential of the outdoors to support your well-being, whether it’s creating a meditative space, entertaining guests, spending time with family or simply unwinding after a busy day, let us bring your vision to life!
Our Design Services
The Framework
- Hardscape & Circulation
- Stairs, Seat & Retaining Walls (under 3’)
- Materials & Lighting Palette
- Planting Design
Additional Features
- Pergola & Arbor
- Shed or Garden Folly
- Water Fountain
- Fire Table
Active Gathering
- Outdoor Cooking
- Dining & Entertaining
- Recreation
- Kids Play
Urban Homesteading
- Kitchen & Cutting Gardens
- Orchard & Native Pollinator Garden
- Chicken Coop
- Greenhouse
Wellness Retreat
- Sauna
- Spa
- Cold Plunge
- Meditation & Yoga
- Sensory Garden
Bringing the Design to Life
- Time with an Experienced Designer
- Coordination with Preferred Partners (Landscape Contractors, Suppliers, etc.)
- Pre-Construction Walk Through
- Follow Up Site Visit
How we bring your landscape to life
Design partnership
You’ll spend time with our designer, reviewing and refining ideas for your space.
Trusted builders
We bring pre-vetted landscape contractors and suppliers to the table that we trust to provide you with a quality product.
Pre-construction review
We walk the site with our preferred partners before work begins to confirm design intent.
Final walk through
We return to site once the work is complete to confirm the landscape meets our shared vision.
Gallery
Landscapes for Life
Design packages
Select the approximate size of your outdoor space
FAQ
Everything you need to know about working with Studio Vernal
Our focus is projects that are less than 8000 sq ft that need a full design package, but minimal to no permitting.
Your site should be mostly flat with minimal grade changes. If there is significant grade change, we may need a topographic survey. We can connect you with a surveyor for a quote in this instance.
- Projects greater than 8000 sq ft
- Planting refresh or planting design services only
- Projects that need planning or permit submittals to your local municipality or HOA (with some small exceptions)
- Projects that need Structural, Geotechnical or Civil engineering
- Projects that require Protected Tree Removal
We can help you figure this out! However, there are several things that trigger the need for planning or permitting in many municipalities including:
- Encroachment into the Right-of-Way
- Retaining walls over 30” in height
- Structures over 120 sq ft
- Extensive grading/soil removal
- Complex drainage plans
- Work near Protected Trees
- Special Land Uses, i.e. sport courts
We only bring collaborators to the table that we have extensive experience with and are confident in the quality of their work.
Working with these partners allows us to streamline our services and keep our prices fair. You will contract with them directly for their services.
If you choose to work with a contractor or supplier that we don’t have experience with, they may require additional services from us beyond our standard design package and we cannot be confident in or stand behind the quality of the final product.
We can provide specific additional design services at our hourly rates if needed and agreed upon by both parties.
We are a design only firm and do not provide any construction services, those will have to be negotiated with your contractor and/or other suppliers.
It really depends on the desired level of programming and area of scope, but you could be enjoying your new space in as little as 3-6 months.
Your retreat awaits
Start your design journey now and step into your new outdoor sanctuary within months.