Frequently asked questions
Q: We only have a small outdoor space. Do you take on small projects?​​
A: Absolutely. We love designing for smaller spaces! In fact, our Design Packages were created precisely for these often-overlooked sites; to deliver refined, professional design for smaller spaces, conveniently and quickly. We believe that even the tiniest balcony or courtyard can become a lush retreat, a green escape, and a true design statement. We stand by our belief that every space has potential and deserves to be beautiful.
Q: Is your style modern or classic?​​
A: We create modern gardens that are thoughtful, refined, and graceful, evolving naturally over time while remaining timeless in their appeal. Each of our designs is shaped by the dialogue between form and spirit, clarity and calm, architecture and nature. Whether your taste leans toward timeless elegance, wild naturalism, or crisp contemporary lines, we design gardens that feel like they’ve always belonged. Successful design works from the house outwards. Buildings always guide our design, because if the house doesn't blend with the landscape, the garden design has failed.
Q: Are you gardeners? Why not just hire a gardener to design my garden?​​
A: We have great respect for the craft of gardeners. Yet, garden design is about more than planting. Garden design requires spatial awareness, an understanding of proportion, flow, and the subtle dialogue between nature and architecture. It rests on the ability to create a sense of enclosure and beauty because, as humans, we naturally gravitate toward spaces that feel sheltered, calm, and safe. We are professionally trained garden and landscape designers. We craft gardens with expertise, vision, and intent, then leave their ongoing care in the capable hands of skilled gardeners.
Q: Do you work with what’s already there, or do you start from scratch?​​​
A: Every garden tells a story, and we observe and listen before we write the next chapter. When it comes to trees, we aim to honor what’s already thriving and enhance it. Wherever possible, we preserve healthy, established specimens and let them shine in the new design. We often build the concept around these living anchors or weave them seamlessly into a new vision. Other times, a garden calls for a complete transformation; rethinking levels, adjusting slopes, and reworking the entire plot to better serve the space and its users. We tailor our approach to the physical character of the site, to environmental factors like wind direction, quality of light, and most importantly, to your needs.
Q: Do you work remotely or only in Switzerland?​​
A: For straightforward sites, we’re happy to work remotely. Our garden designs have been created for projects across Switzerland, the UK, France, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, and beyond. However, if you have a larger estate or a complex site, or if you want us to help manage the entire project and operations, we will need to be based on-site and will travel accordingly to ensure everything runs smoothly. Especially for larger and more complex sites, we relish experiencing the space in person, to attune ourselves to its nuances, understand its character, and ensure every design decision responds harmoniously to the site’s unique qualities.
FAQ on our Design Packages
Q: ​​​How do I order, and when do I pay for the Design Package?
A: You begin by selecting your Design Package and completing payment for the Initial Design Phase at checkout. This secures your place in our design process and gives you access to the Cedar & Form Design Brief. After you complete the Design Brief, we review and analyze your project. This marks the completion of the Initial Design Phase and typically takes a few days after submission. With the Initial Design Phase complete, we confirm the package details and issue the final Design Package invoice, with the Initial Design Phase already deducted. That way, you only pay for the package that fits your project.
Q: What is the Initial Design Phase and what is the Design Brief?​​​
A: The Initial Design Phase is part of the Design Package and marks the start of our design process. It replaces a traditional on-site visit with a structured digital site analysis. During this phase, you are invited into the Cedar & Form Design Brief, where your project details, site measurements, wishes, preferences, and any limitations are shared and explored. It’s designed to help you explore and clarify what you want from your new outdoor space in a guided and enjoyable way. We use this to carry out a site and project analysis and shape the overall design direction.
Q: What do I need to upload during the Design Brief?​​
A: You’ll be guided to share your site details, photos, and videos (optional but helpful), along with any existing building plans, site surveys, or relevant documents. The more context you provide, the better. We’ll also ask for site measurements, unless these are already included in your existing plans. For smaller, straightforward, flat sites, clients often choose to measure the site themselves or have the measurements carried out by a surveyor (we can recommend one if needed).
Q: I don’t know the size of my garden. Which package should I choose?
A: No worries. Simply select the package that feels closest. During the Initial Design Phase, we’ll review your project details from the Cedar & Form guided design brief and confirm the package that fits your garden. The final Design Package invoice is issued only after this step, ensuring you only pay for the package that fits your project.
Q: I have a large property, but only want to design part of the garden at this stage. Can I still order a package?​​​
A: Of course!
When selecting a Design Package, the m² refers only to the area you want designed. For example, if your total plot is 1,300 m² but you’d like to design only the area near the house, simply measure that section and select the package that fits its size.
Q: Do you design for sloped or complex sites?​​​
A: We’re happy to! Just note that due to the technical challenges that come with sloped terrain, these projects require a professional site survey and often structural engineering input. For that reason, we handle such gardens through our Full Garden Design service. However, if only part of your property is sloped and another part is level, you can still order one of our Design Packages for the level portion. In fact, many homes have a partially flat area adjoining the main living spaces. In that case, measure that area only, and select the package that fits its size.
Q: What is the difference between the Planting Approach and the Planting Plan?
A: To put it simply: Planting Approach = suggestions on what to plant and the overall feel. Planting Plan = exactly what and where to plant, how many plants, and in what size. The Planting Approach, included in all Design Packages, sets the planting direction and atmosphere. It provides guidance on suitable plant types to achieve the desired structure and overall composition for your garden. It does not provide fixed quantities or precise placement. The Planting Plan, offered as an add-on, outlines each garden border, determines exact plant placement and quantities, and defines sizes for ordering, providing a bulletproof blueprint for implementation.
Q: How do Design Packages differ from Full Garden Design services?​​
A: Design Packages are ideal for straightforward, flat sites and clients who want a professionally-made garden design delivered in just four weeks, without committing to a full, multi-stage design process. Our Full Design Service takes things further, offering technical and construction drawings, detailed technical material specifications, additional 3D visualizations, drainage, lighting, irrigation plans, and more. It is the right choice when a project involves more complexity or when you want every detail resolved and documented before construction begins.
Not sure which option fits your project? View our guide to selecting the right design service.