Landscape Design

A great landscape starts with a great plan. Fifer Design develops comprehensive, site-specific landscape designs for residential properties across the East Bay and San Joaquin Valley — from Danville and Walnut Creek to River Islands and Manteca.

Every design begins with a thorough site analysis — understanding your property’s dimensions, topography, drainage, sun exposure, and how you actually want to use the space. From there we develop a concept and refine it into a detailed design document that communicates your vision clearly to every contractor who sees it.

The result is more than a beautiful drawing. It’s a biddable, buildable plan — one that gives every contractor the same information to work from, so you can compare bids on equal terms and hold your contractor accountable to a clear standard throughout the build.

New Home Plot Plan Consulting

Building a new home in River Islands or another new-construction community? Your builder provides a plot plan — and that’s actually a head start most homeowners don’t take full advantage of. Fifer Design works with your builder-provided plot plan as the foundation for a complete landscape design, translating that document into a detailed outdoor living plan before a single contractor sets foot on your property.

Starting with an existing plot plan accelerates the design process significantly — which is why Fifer Design offers discounted design rates for clients who can provide one. It’s one of the smartest ways to get more design for your budget while hitting the ground running.`

That positions the plot plan correctly — builder provides it, you leverage it, Fifer Design makes it actionable — and introduces your discounted rate strategy naturally without over-committing to specific pricing.

Construction Management

Hiring a good contractor is necessary. Making sure they build what you envisioned is something else entirely. Fifer Design provides owner-side construction management — working alongside your chosen contractor to ensure the project is executed according to the design, on schedule, and to a standard of quality that protects your investment.

With a professional background in construction management and field operations, we understand how projects get built — and where they go wrong. We bring that expertise to your project as your advocate, not the contractor’s.

What Construction Management Includes

Construction management with Fifer Design typically includes pre-construction contractor coordination, design intent review with your build team, periodic site visits during key phases, quality and scope verification against the design document, and a final walkthrough to confirm the project was delivered as designed. Scope is tailored to your project — ask us what level of involvement makes sense for your build.

Our Process

Every Fifer Design project follows a straightforward process built around your schedule and preferences. We combine online collaboration tools with in-person site visits to keep things efficient without losing the personal connection that good design requires.

Virtual Consultation

Every Fifer Design engagement begins with a structured virtual consultation — no commute required, no obligation. When possible, we’ll walk through your outdoor space together in real time via video, while discussing your goals, budget, and design preferences. By the end of this one-hour meeting we’ll both have a clear picture of your project and whether Fifer Design is the right fit to bring it to life.