Question 1

Do you build the landscapes, or only design them?

Accepted Answer

FloraStone Studio is a design studio, not a contractor. We act as the creative and strategic layer of your project — handling design, pricing, and scheduling — while our network of trusted construction professionals, built over 25+ years, handles the build. Think of it as having a dedicated design studio and an experienced contractor working together seamlessly on your behalf.

Question 2

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We design outdoor spaces across the Portland, OR metro, SW Washington, and the Columbia River Gorge. In Oregon that includes Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Tigard, Wilsonville, Happy Valley, West Linn, and Oregon City; in Washington, Vancouver, Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and Washougal.

Question 3

What makes a design-first studio different from a landscaping contractor?

Accepted Answer

Most contractors hand you a number, not a vision — you won't know what you're getting until it's already built. The result — a generic outdoor space that looks like every other backyard in the neighborhood. A design studio composes the entire environment before a single stone is laid — proportions, materials, and flow — so your finished space feels intentional, cohesive, and designed specifically for the way you live.

Question 4

Why not just use my own AI?

Accepted Answer

There's no substitute for personal, hands-on design experience. AI can ask questions and generate beautiful images — but it has never walked your property, assessed how water or sunshine moves across your terrain, identified the microclimates that determine what will actually thrive in your specific yard, or felt the grade of your terrain beneath its feet. FloraStone brings 25+ years of boots-on-the-ground Pacific Northwest experience — backed by real pricing, real plans, and real accountability.

Question 5

What's included in a FloraStone design?

Accepted Answer

Every project includes a full site assessment, a cohesive landscape design concept, and photorealistic 3D renderings paired with detailed plans, plus a pricing estimate. You see exactly how your paver patio, retaining walls, plantings, water, and fire elements work together before anything is installed.

Question 6

How does the photorealistic 3D rendering process work?

Accepted Answer

We model your property in 3D and render your future outdoor living space in lifelike detail — materials, plantings, lighting, and sightlines included. This 3D landscape design process lets you walk through your backyard design and refine it on screen, which eliminates guesswork and costly mid-project changes.

Question 7

How long does the design process take?

Accepted Answer

Once we've completed your consultation, it normally takes 2–3 business days to deliver your final plans with a pricing estimate. We focus on getting the vision right rather than rushing it.

Question 8

How much does a paver patio cost in Portland?

Accepted Answer

There's no honest one-size answer — slope, drainage, access, materials, and design all move the number, so two patios of the same size can cost very differently. Most of our clients invest somewhere from the low five figures for a quality patio and planted surround, up to $40,000-$50,000 or more for a complete outdoor living environment with retaining walls, a fire or water feature, and full landscaping. Rather than shrink your vision to fit a single year's budget, we design your complete space first and help you build it in phases — so the dream never has to get smaller, it just gets built on a timeline that works for you.

Question 9

Why design for the Pacific Northwest climate specifically?

Accepted Answer

We design with our region's wet winters and dry summers in mind, choosing native, low-maintenance plantings and weatherproof materials. The result is an outdoor space that thrives year-round with minimal upkeep — designed for our climate, not against it.

Paver patio design in 3D, before it's built