transforming beauty into beautiful!

The Alchemist Landscaping Design is serving the Sea to Sky corridor and the Sunshine Coast conceptualizing and creating residential, commercial and institutional landscape projects.

The mission of the Alchemist is to design innovative, beautiful and enduring landscapes in a variety of styles and budgets, from formal to natural, lush to simple with respect to the natural environment.

A custom landscape plan for your property; patio, courtyard, entryway or commercial building will assist you in transforming your ideas into reality. Your functional and aesthetic requirements are very much a part of the design process, from layout to installation.

Gardens are places to live in and enjoy. A beautiful garden brings many rewards - fragrant plants, splashing water fountain or spa/pool, a shady place for your kids to play, or a terrace with enough room for your guests.  Good landscaping also has a resale value. Plants grow and appreciate with time, good grading keeps your basement dry, and good workmanship adds to the value and appeal of your property. Good gardens can be problem solvers; Narrow driveway or backyard, more privacy, better drainage, children's play area, dog run!

Let the Alchemist start the Alchemy and transform
beauty into beautiful!

The Alchemists
Ancient alchemists believed that, under the correct conditions,  lead could be perfected into gold. The conversion of base metals into gold was part of a general striving of all things toward perfection. In the Ancient world Alchemy was both an experimental and symbolic practice, a technical research into the nature of matter, and an imaginary exercise on the spirit of matter and its potential for change.

Nowadays, I feel that many artists and designers, carpenters and artisans are Alchemists because they truly believe that under the correct conditions, basic medium, material and natural forms can be transformed into beautiful and create substantial results.

       How it works! When you contact the Alchemist,
I collect some basic information from you including contact information, what kind of work you are interested in and how you heard about us. In addition to calling, you may submit an information request by sending an e-mail to franceluvsun@hotmail.com
You will be contacted within 24 hours.

Consultation
I will listen to your objectives and endeavor to understand your landscape dreams.
I will walk the property with you, taking notes and listen.
I will ask questions to help bring the landscape picture into better focus.
I will discuss your anticipated budget for the work discussed.
I will discuss whether my design services are appropriate and how they work or proceed directly to a proposal
for installation of work discussed.

Design Service Agreement
After discussing your specific needs, I will prepare a proposal for design services and submit it to you for approval. You must then return the signed proposal with a retainer fee to begin the design process.

Site Survey
I will measure and photograph the site and take notes to prepare a base plan upon which your landscape plan will be developed.

Concept Plan
An illustration is created that addresses all of the ideas and requirements discussed at our first design consultation. I will meet with you to describe the concept plan and to obtain feedback from you. Revisions to the plan will be made as necessary.I utilize a combination of hand-rendered and computer-generated drawings including conceptual sketches, color renderings and master planning. I do not create blue prints but may work with a landscaping architect if necessary.

Construction Contract
Once you approve the plan for landscape construction, a proposal will be prepared for the installation of your new landscape. When I receive the signed contract and deposit I will schedule the job and order materials. Work typically begins within one to three weeks of contract acceptance, depending on weather and the time of year.

Installation
Depending on the scope of the project, I will do the installation myself or with a small crew and will contract out for some specific jobs which I will supervise. I will ask you if
I may place a job sign with the Alchemist name and logo on your property at the street. Not only does this show pride in the work, but also assists landscape deliveries for the site. Construction elements such as rough grading, drainage, walls, walkways, water features and large caliber trees are completed first. These operations require large machines and will cause disturbance to the ground, which is normal. All disturbances will be repaired before the job is done.

Bed preparation, soil conditioning and installation of smaller plants are completed next.
This work is done primarily with small-engine machines or manual labor. Installation of lighting fixtures, mulching and lawn establishment starts to put the landscape picture back together. All plants are thoroughly watered, large trees are staked and ribbons and tags are removed from the plants. All debris is picked up and disposed of properly. Driveways and walkways are swept clean.

Follow-up
I will meet with you on site to walk through the completed landscape. Any items that require attention will be noted and will be promptly resolved. You will be given written garden maintenance care instructions to help you through the establishment period of your new landscape. You may contact me at any time with detailed questions should the need arise.

Your Guarantee
Trees and shrubs are guaranteed to be alive and well for a period of one year from the date of installation subject to payment conditions specified on the contract. Should a tree or shrub die I will replace it without cost to you. 

Maintenance
The Alchemist will be pleased to look after your new landscape should you prefer to have regular maintenance done. I will evaluate what's best for you in terms of budget and long term services.

For more information or to set a meeting call or email:
604-935-2988
franceluvsun@gmail.com
The Alchemist Landscaping Design
P.O.Box 341
Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0
7 days a week, 8am-8pm