Blog Topics
Browse our notes on design-first outdoor living by topic. Each topic gathers related writing in one place — from the design process itself to Pacific Northwest plantings and the materials that make a space last.
- Design Process
The design process is how FloraStone Studio resolves an entire outdoor space — every proportion, material, planting, and sightline — in photorealistic 3D and detailed plans before any work begins. Designing first matters because decisions made on screen cost nothing to change, while mid-project changes on site are slow and expensive. For Pacific Northwest homes, this is what makes a yard feel composed and intentional rather than assembled feature by feature. These notes explain how a design-first approach shapes the whole environment as one vision.
- PNW Climate & Plantings
The Pacific Northwest asks an outdoor space to handle two climates at once: long, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Plantings chosen for that rhythm — native and climate-adapted species that soak up winter rain and coast through the dry months — keep a garden looking intentional year-round while asking very little upkeep. Planning for both seasons from the first sketch is what keeps a landscape resilient and water-wise. These notes cover how we design with the region's climate rather than against it.
- Materials & Stonework
Materials and stonework are about choosing stone, hardscape, and structures that hold their character through the Pacific Northwest's months of rain — where material choice is a design decision, not an afterthought. Selecting weatherproof materials up front lets terraces and pathways weather gracefully rather than wear out. It also lets stone, plantings, water, and fire read as one composed palette instead of separate features. These notes explore how the right materials make an outdoor space feel permanent and whole.