Call our office @ 847.487.5200 and let them know you are inquiring about design build service. You will need to provide your contact information as well as some preliminary information about your project. A project manager, who is also a landscape architect, will contact you to set up a meeting at the job site to discuss the project’s scope of work and your budget.
A licensed landscape Architect must graduate from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture and then serve an apprenticeship of up to two years under a licensed landscape architect. Next they must pass an exam covering Project and Construction Administration, Inventory, Analysis and Program Development, Design and Construction Documentation, Site Design, Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management to be licensed in the State of Illinois. A certified Landscape Designer must get an associate degree from an accredited college (2 years) but is not required to work for a Landscape Architecture Firm nor be licensed by the State of Illinois.
Our designs create functional spaces based on how the customer wants to use their property and also considers the surrounding environment and the architecture of the home. At ILT we consider ourselves constant stewards of the environment; therefore, we want to accomplish is something so seamless, something so timeless that it looks as though ILT Vignocchi had never been there!
We strongly encourage our customers to be extremely honest about their budget. There is a misnomer that if you disclose a budget that you won’t get the best price. At ILT, that could not be farther from the truth. Our culture dictates integrity in everything we do and that includes trying to create the most value for your investment. If this is your first time hiring a professional design build company and you are unfamiliar with typical costs, discuss this with your project manager. He or she will be happy to help you arrive upon a budget that is comfortable for you.
Here are some examples of issues that are given careful consideration in order to achieve that enduring effect:
Use: Entertainment needs (small or large groups, frequency), children or pet play areas, interests in vegetable or perennial gardening, privacy screening, spa, pool, water feature interest, outdoor cooking spaces, fireplaces etc.
Stormwater Drainage: The implications of changing grades, adding or reducing impermeable surfaces, impact on neighboring properties. Does the property have any indication of existing water problems such as water in the basement, pooling that last longer than twenty-four hours, musty smells, etc.
Vistas & Privacy: Your views are not limited to your property lines. How do we take advantage of attractive views and minimize those that are less desirable.
Plants: The selection of plants that are appropriate for the existing environment and are long term, not just immediate solutions.
The investments that homeowners make in their landscapes vary greatly and are based on a myriad of considerations that usually revolve around personal tastes and budgets. National studies indicate that the range for landscape expenditures is typically 10-15% the site’s property values. We use this guideline frequently when we are establishing our customer’s budget.
Once a design letter is remitted with an accurate plat of survey (and septic plan when applicable) your Project Manager will contact you should he require any clarification on your requirements or budget. Then he or she will schedule a site survey and walk through with one of our Landscape Architects; please note the schedule of this survey date could take a few weeks dependant on our existing backlog. After the site survey and measurements are taken, the fun stuff starts with a creative brainstorming session. Typically, one idea emerges as the strongest design and the Landscape Architect continues to develop it into the concept drawings your Project Manager presents.
Of course. Should you wish to see examples of our work please contact your project manager and visit www.iltvignocchi.com.
Your project manager can give you an approximate wait time based on our current backlog. Typically you can anticipate waiting between 2-6 weeks for your property’s plan. The greater the complexity, the longer it may take.
When you meet with your project manager he and she will present a concept plan based on the criteria you provided, your budget and a healthy dose of our expertise and creativity for your initial review. Unless your project manager tells you otherwise budget numbers will accompany the concept for the construction phase.
You will be presented with a conceptual plan that usually will not have exact materials defined. The plans are suitable for us, as a design build company, to quickly convert into construction drawings that will be utilized during installation. The reason we do not present or leave a detailed construction drawing is to protect our creative collateral. The fee you pay is a reduced rate in anticipation that ILT will produce what our artists have envisioned.
We take every precaution to meet our customer’s budget requirements. However, when compiling all of a customer’s criteria, the costs may occasionally be higher than we anticipated. There are many ways to keep the integrity of the overall design without compromising your original budget:
First we can phase your project in over a few years, thus spreading the cost of project over several years while still achieving the full design vision in the end.
Second, reduce the size of certain plant material. This is one of the easiest ways to lower your expense without compromising your overall plan. Plants will indeed grow.
Third, consider selectively changing hardsurface materials. Although we are strong advocates of using natural stone products in the landscape there are other options. Be certain to ask your project manager what the pros and cons are when considering these products.
Your project manager can give you an approximate wait time based on our current backlog. We do try to prioritize revisions for a speedy turn around.
