Diptchg (Primary) Cert. LD ProfAccredGDSNZ

Kate is a designer that believes landscapes should be beautiful and ecologically sound. Her designs are based on a strong desire to ensure her clients fully engage with their environment and benefit from the rich ecology that a garden brings.

After 20 years of teaching, the last 10 spent in specialised Art teaching, Kate decided to follow her passion for design, art and plants by attending UNITEC in Auckland and retraining as a Landscape Designer. Based in Marlborough Kate has the privilege of working in the varied environments that the region offers. “My design practice allows me to work with clients who live in the Sounds, on the alluvial Wairau plains or in the clay of the Wither Hills therefore my understanding of soils and what will grow in them is wide”.

Projects have included Residential, Urban and Commercial gardens with a strong focus on landscapes for schools including He Waharoa. “I am passionate about ensuring great design is accessible for everyone including the youngest members of our society, introducing them early to the many benefits of gardens and landscapes”. A feature of Kate’s landscapes are design elements that help take clients on a journey through their outdoor space. “It is important that the garden is a seamless extension of the house, and as interiors of a house tell the story of the people who live there so should the landscape. My gardens will often contain hard landscaping elements such as sculpture, pots, water features and collections of plants that assist the garden in fully representing who the client and their family are”.

An excellent communicator with a flair for design and plant combinations that are aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound, Kate’s landscapes have been included in various publications and garden tours including Abode Magazine, Trendideas, ArchiPro, NZ Gardener and other magazines from the top of the South Island.

Kate is delighted to be an accredited member of GDSNZ in the South Island and sees it as an important aspect of continuing to grow and learn as a design practitioner and which also provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with other designers in Aotearoa.