We are the leading design-build landscape firm in Santa Barbara, building the gardens we design. By integrating design and construction with one talented team, we consistently get extraordinary results for our clients. Private Gardens of Santa Barbara is an invitation into eighteen distinctive private gardens: large estates, modest homes and surf retreats that run the gamut from sublime and naturalistic to bold and urban. What they have in common, however, is what makes them truly extraordinary. Don't forget your friends and family, Private Gardens of Santa Barbara makes a great gift too!
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Through an impressive career that has spanned over three decades and yielded more than 350 gardens around the world, Margie Grace has joined an elite echelon of garden and landscape designers whose work is celebrated both locally and internationally. Whether designing gardens for historically significant estate properties, relaxed bungalows, or coastal family retreats, Margie takes her cues from her clients, their lifestyle, the architecture of the property, and the land itself.She has designed outdoor environments that are formal, casual, rustic, and coastal, but regardless of style, Margie creates spaces that bring people together to live in and enjoy the outdoors with nature at its finest.
An exclusive look at the exquisite residential gardens of the American Riviera. Private Gardens of Santa Barbara is an invitation into eighteen distinctive private, and beautiful gardens; large estates, modest homes, and surf retreats run the gamut from sublime and naturalistic to bold and urban. This book has been a labor of love for me - it was pure joy to pore over the gorgeous gardens we have created over the past three decades with so many clients near and dear to our hearts.When it comes to creating beautiful, maintainable and environmentally-sensitive gardens, landscape designer Margie Grace takes her cues from the Earth itself.
I am looking forward to meeting you and sharing more about my new book, Private Gardens of Santa Barbara. Most events will include a lecture and slide presentation on current garden design topics as well as a question and answer period that will let us connect and engage. Some venues will have books for sale, others may not, but either way, if you'd like me to sign your copy, bring it after the event and I will be honored to do so.
The International Association of Professional Landscape Designers (ALPD) has named Margie Grace, 2018 Designer of the Year - the highest honor in our industry. It is a special privilege to win Designer of the Year and a Gold Award for the "Sycamore Canyon" gardens because it's more than just a project to us: it is also our home.
Reviews (5)
Laura Ray
Feb 11, 2019
This will be the third house in the Santa Barbara area during the past 15 years we have been fortunate enough to secure Grace Design Associates services. Their popularity and reputation of excellence are well deserved from numerous awards and accolades from clients as well as peers. Just look at their website to see for yourself the stunning gardens gracing so many Santa Barbara and Montecito properties. Margie Grace created a brand new lovely garden for us in 2003 in our large Storke Ranch backyard and then followed us to a home we purchased on Micheltorena Street in 2010 to do an excellent re-visioning of an existing garden implementing some wonderful, creative changes to make the art of outdoor living come alive for us.
We now are in a new home in the Ontare Hills high on a hill and requiring some solid design skills and use of extraordinary creativity to make the most of the breathtaking views. Once again, Margie's genius is shining through and we look forward to the completion of our project soon so we can once again spend more time in the gardens than the house.
From initial talks to design review and final budget meetings, Margie and her team have been sensitive, professional, and accommodating to our input and needs. I cannot give anyone in the landscape design and build field a higher recommendation than Grace Design Associates.
We now are in a new home in the Ontare Hills high on a hill and requiring some solid design skills and use of extraordinary creativity to make the most of the breathtaking views. Once again, Margie's genius is shining through and we look forward to the completion of our project soon so we can once again spend more time in the gardens than the house.
From initial talks to design review and final budget meetings, Margie and her team have been sensitive, professional, and accommodating to our input and needs. I cannot give anyone in the landscape design and build field a higher recommendation than Grace Design Associates.
Julia Lowell
Jan 03, 2019
Margie and her team completely redid our landscaping, which consists of just over 1/4 acre. The existing landscape was mostly lawn dominated by two very large old trees--one in front, one in back. It was formal, geometric, water-intensive--and boring. Margie reimagined our front and back yards, taking out the lawn and replacing it with winding gravel paths, fountains, and colorful but drought-tolerant flowers, shrubs and grasses.
Throughout the process she provided lots of ideas but was always attentive to what we wanted, even when we weren't sure ourselves. She was also sensitive to cost considerations. Now, we sit on our back patio and feel like we're at a resort. Really. Thank you, Margie.
Throughout the process she provided lots of ideas but was always attentive to what we wanted, even when we weren't sure ourselves. She was also sensitive to cost considerations. Now, we sit on our back patio and feel like we're at a resort. Really. Thank you, Margie.
Elaine LeVasseur
Mar 20, 2018
Claudia Arnett
Mar 19, 2017
Henry Rosas
Nov 06, 2016
An amazing eye for beauty and design with exceptional execution. Margie is talented beyond belief. She listened and understood the challenge of landscaping my hillside home and was able to come back with a plan that not only made sense, but took into account how my family uses the outdoor space. Communication and professionalism is very important to me and everyone at Grace Design Associates not only met but exceeded my expectations. I am thrilled with the end results and very happy that I choose to go with Grace Design Associates. I highly recommend Margie and her team.
