Garden With Studio
Customer reference for landscaping services as told to pickapro by Leo Higgins from Sutton, Dublin 13 on 04-Mar-2008
The work was done over July and August, 2007.
What was involved?
My wife and I had bought a house with a garden that was totally neglected and untended. It was reasonably big, about 100 ft long by 30 ft wide, but it just looked like a field. Brian cleared it out and handled the design and landscaping. He divided the garden into 3 sections - a front section with circular granite patio and planting close to the back entrance to the house. A mid section he left in lawn, divided into 2 curved sections with a path running through it. And an end section where he built a studio for my artwork with a semi-circular patio granite patio in front of that with planting again.
How did you choose Brian and Stafford?
I found out about Brian through a contact of mine who is a sculptor as is Brian. They both did the same fine arts degree and had worked together as students.
Had you definite ideas in mind before you talked to Brian O' Hara?
No, I left it entirely up to him. He did 2 visits at the initial design stage. On his first visit he did all his measuring and took his lines. On his second visit, he looked at the planting. He also had suggestions for us at that stage.
Did Brian introduce new ideas?
All the ideas - we left it to him entirely and we were very happy with what he did.
How did the project run?
No complaints whatsoever. You'll get small day to day problems on any project that runs for four of five weeks but there was nothing that in any way upset us.
What was the biggest benefit to you?
Brian's a lovely guy. I relate to him very much on the art and design level. My wife who was there during the day just found him and his crew a pleasure to work with in terms of the day to day project.
What's your favourite part now?
My studio of course! It was very clever the way he divided the garden into 3. It means that when I go down the garden to my studio there is a sense of being removed from the house which is nice. It's very pleasant down there.
Would you recommend them to others?
Oh yes. In fact we recommended Brian to our daughter and he is currently working on landscaping her large garden .
Any tips for other people?
