[Brittany Noelle Fish]

I started this discussion because my seemingly simple dream of owning my own business seems to be increasingly fantasy. I may not be happy with my position now, and that doesn’t really matter. I just hope that there is hope out there for those of us that want to make it on our own. There is no limit to my dedication and hard work, however, it would be nice to know that I am moving toward accomplishing a goal.

I like what you had to say Craig:

“But I must say that my experience in design/build made me a much better LA.”

I think that is very true. I also believe that my background in installing landscapes and maintaining gardens makes me a much better LA. 

I do appreciate all the pearls on this discussion, especially how to get in with the Hamptons crowd… Thank you to everyone who contributed and those who read along.

I love this profession for so many reasons I really can’t see myself doing anything else, unless this leaves me completely destitute. (Which it might!) Good Luck to all those out there, may we all THRIVE in our careers and lives.

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

There are a lot of good comments here. I agree that it takes time with the right company to gain the knowledge and experience to branch out. I also agree that  It does take time and resources to do things differently, even if the new methods will increase productivity and quality. The situation I am in is more of an unwillingness to explore (even in conversation) new options. It is disheartening only because when I was brought in, the expectation was that I would be helping grow the business by drawing from my past experience. The company has struggled a great deal over the past few years and could have hired someone with little or no experience, but decided to pay me more because I brought in a new perspective. This is not the case and that can be frustrating at times. 

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

Thank you to both Andrew and Nick, great advice from you both.

Andrew- A steady flow of design leads, I agree, is a must before branching out. Since I just started at this company in April, a lot of the work I am doing initially is for past clients. I do not at the moment feel that my network is not large enough, but it will certainly continue to grow.

Nick- I will always value your advice. Yeah, you would probably be a millionaire by now, but hey, what can you do. I think Terrain will also be just as much, if not more successful long term. I understand your history, and have read your posts on land8 from 2 years ago… We have both talked about moving to VT. Have you thought about the impact on Terrain? What are your concerns? I imagine that if I moved a residential design/consultation company it would have it’s reputation and that’s about it. I would in theory have to build my client/contractor list from scratch. 

We could probably discuss the pro’s and con’s of different approaches for hours. The goal is  to find what works for me, and hopefully Steve (Has BLA and similar experience). The long term plan is to work for ourselves. To what capacity we serve our clients is the root question here, and doesn’t need to be answered for some time. Right now my starting point is moonlighting design and consultation services while marketing myself and building relationships with contractors and other steady referral sources.

I would like to think that design is valued enough that I would never have to add the built component. I suppose only time and the eventual market I end up in, will tell.

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

Rick- Learn then do is definitely important, and I certainly don’t want to rush into anything. Working for 4 companies now in the Denver area I have seen a lot of good examples and a lot of poor ones. I also know that I am fortunate to be working. Both my boyfriend and I have had our share of unemployment over the years, he went 10.5 months. (I know there are those of you reading this thinking I wish it was only 10 months for me. Believe me I feel for you, hang in there!) I was laid off for the 3rd time at the end of February and was lucky to find this position after only one month. I will say, at least in Denver, there are a LOT more opportunities compared to when I was looking in the Fall of 2009.

I think a slowly but surely, ‘little engine that could’ attitude is going to help us get started. Has anyone out there started by moonlighting with residential design, that led into a design/build company?

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

I like what’s happening north of downtown, around Walnut, Larimer, Lawrence between 2oth and 30th. There are a lot of new condo’s and some first floor retail. However, across the street there are several empty lots and warehouses, with little pedestrian space.

I think that’s a great place to design because there is interest in living there, but not all the pieces have fallen into place yet. There is a lot of underutilized space, just outside of downtown!

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

I have also lived in my fair share of apartments or homes without a yard, until now! I am renting a home in the city, so while the yard is small, it has a lot of potential. The owners were the previous tenants, and with 4 black thumbs between the two of them, the yard is now mostly weeds. I would love to invest my time and labor into the yard, but it’s hard to invest money when I will be leaving the property in just a few short years. I am in the process of convincing the landlord to take the opportunity while he has free labor, to invest in a new landscape. We’ll see how it goes! I am also a fan of taking any usable plants from a job site before it’s destroyed. It’s a great way to recycle, and makes our own yards bloom.

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

I think you can use the idea in public spaces with a slight modification so you can’t steal the seat. I think the only down side is that you are loosing space for more people to sit, but I suppose that would only be a problem in a very busy space, or bus stop.

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

I feel strongly that in a residential setting the landscape has to function for the client. I am currently working on a food garden for a really interesting client. For lack of a better word, he’s a hippie, who wants his landscape to be connected with the Earth’s energy. We are installing a pier made of Mexican pebble which will reach bedrock. The idea is that it will release the Earth’s energy into his garden. Some people working on the project feel like it’s a waste of money. I think that because this project is in heavy clay, if nothing else, the pebble will help the garden drain, which will make the plants thrive. This client is great because he really wants to use all of the food that the garden can provide. I will hopefully get permission to post some pictures of the final product, which will have a small fruit orchard, corn, tomatoes, squash, beans, and all sorts of herbs. The design itself is going to be a work of art, as well as a functional landscape, who could ask for anything more?

[Brittany Noelle Fish]

Hey Roland!
I actually just got a position as an assistant designer in a design build firm. I am making peanuts and don’t actually get to do a lot of designing, but I am really happy to be working again!

I highly suggest checking out design build firms who don’t necessarily have positions open. I don’t think the recession has hit the high end residential folks yet, so that ‘s a good place to start.

Don’t worry I am sure something will come along shortly.

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