Design By Nature Landscape Studio

My wife and I hired Design by Nature to completely redo our relatively small garden area in the entryway to our Townhouse in Pacific Palisades. The job involved full design and build services including soil testing and analysis, new plant material, drip irrigation, plumbing, hardscapes, lighting, a trellis, seating area and planted pots. Our experience with Merrill, the principal behind Design By Nature Inc., and the Design by Nature team was excellent. Merrill and her team were professional, knowledgeable, detail oriented and thorough throughout the timeline of the project. Our ideas were considered carefully and incorporated into the final designs and we are extremely happy with the final outcome which we have enjoyed each day since completion. We have not often provided these types of consumer reviews, but in this case we are more than happy to do so as our overall experience was excellent. High quality professional services such as these do not come cheap and I am sure we could have spent less and gotten less from another designer. Based on our experience, we feel confident that you will be happy with both the services of Design by Nature and the final results of their work. We would like to close with a suggestion that helped us. Pay close attention to the ongoing maintenance of the garden since, like a car, a garden requires regular ongoing care. Merrill offered us advice early on and continues to help us avoid pitfalls as her team returns periodically to verify everything is in tip top shape and growing as planned. All in all, a great experience!

Five years ago Merrill completely rethought and redid our gardens from the driveway to the courtyard and everything in between. Even now, five years later, it puts a happy smile on my face every time I pass through the entry. The plants have grown in around the hardscaping, blossoming throughout the year, a thoughtfully placed tree has grown to obscure the ugly street light, and the garden lighting continues to enchant our evenings. She saw it all, she planned it all. It is really terrific. Have to thank her. She is coming tomorrow for our semi annual spruce- up. I am looking forward to thanking her again.

I've been working with Merrill and her company for over 5 years. We've used her for Permit drawings, Architectural Review boards, Landscape Construction, Pool design, Plant specifying, etc.... She always pulls through. Projects were in Beverly Hills, Trousdale Estates, Doheny Estates, among others. She's is great with clients, and a pleasure to work with!

We hired Merrill Kruger because of the depth of her experience. We had a plan from another designer for the entire yard, but felt the need for a "2nd opinion", aka "fresh eyes" to resolve some problem areas and perhaps enhance the overall look, considering the size of investment we were about to make. She met with us several times, listened to our goals, and reviewed the existing plan...which took somewhat longer than we'd planned, but was unavoidable since she had to "get her head around" a plan she hadn't created...a somewhat difficult situation. She was a delight to work with, friendly and open to our thoughts, never rushed us, and had a wealth of plant information at her fingertips, as well as a virtual encyclopedia of plant images on her laptop so we could view plants as she suggested alternatives, and decide right then if we liked them. Very helpful!

Merill was absolutely wonderful to work with. She was very professional and listened attentively to our vision for our yard. She designed the landscaping down to the last detail, including a variety native drought-tolerant plants, a waterfall, irrigation, and new concrete for a driveway turnaround. She came to our property several times to meet with us and to view the area to complete her plan. She was very accommodating, offering us options to meet our budgetary needs. We have already recommended her to our friends!!!

I bought a 1929 Spanish (Mediterranean) home four years ago. I owned the house for two years before I began my remodel. I needed the yard redone and at first I thought I would just clean it up. I was referred to Merrill and she listened to what I wanted and as we talked I could see how my backyard could be a lovely sanctuary with sustainable plants (not cactus) and comfortable areas to gather. My backyard was developing so nicely, that I asked for Merrill's ideas for the driveway, side yard (I have a large southern facing side yard) and front yard. My entire yard is almost completed (98%) and it is beautiful and complements my home. There are four raised planters located in the southern facing side yard; a magnificent wall in my back yard with tiled niches; a raised spa with a waterfall into the pool and a pergola soaring above the spa and a bench. I have a 300-year old Mission Oak tree in my backyard with a magnificent canopy. The Oak lives happily behind the spa and pergola. Merrill provided a planting plan for the entire yard and was very strategic about the plants under the Oak tree. The area under the Oak is calming and creates an area for the tree to flourish. We also recycled concrete from the driveway. Thyme is now growing in-between the broken concrete pieces. The green foliage and tiny purple flowers soften the broken cement pieces and create a rolling carpet in three areas of the back yard.. Merrill is creative, knowledgeable, and meticulous. More than anything, she listens and provides options and solutions. I endorse Merrill without hesitation.