We believe in thoughtfully designing outdoor spaces through connection, creativity, and collaboration.
Follow Our Journey
Connection.
Our female-run company, Gardening By Design, has been exploring and redefining what it means to feel a connection to natural environments through the lens of residential landscape design.
Our goal is to design innovative and unique environments that allow you to experience nature in a new way. We want you to feel an attachment to your customized outdoor space, and to have a spot to recharge and feel inspired.
Creativity.
The possibilities for landscape design are immeasurable. Gardening By Design knows this.
We value infusing areas with a new energy while also striving to make areas look as though they’ve been there forever.
Collaboration.
Gardening By Design takes a collaborative and open approach to all projects–whether they’re small spaces, patios, pools, gardens, architectural structures, or any unique outdoor space.
They believe this is key to guaranteeing the most well-rounded and thought-through results. It also ensures that all details are considered from the beginning and that each design reaches its full potential.
Our Team
Erin Gillies
Landscape Designer
At the heart of Erin’s design practice is her belief that all spaces should offer inspiration, fresh perspective, and a new found energy. Complex spaces motivate and intrigue her because of her love for strategizing solutions—she is aware of the power of nature and design.
Her appreciation for plant-life and botany stem from the many hours she spent growing up in the garden with her mother and grandmother. Her experience and background in art education, and communications has provided her with a particularly unique approach to the industry. Her goal is to introduce fresh and futuristic ideas to gardens and to achieve the best results through strong client relationships. She is dedicated to transforming natural spaces into works of art.
Engelina Schmitz
Landscape Designer
A trained artist and visionary, Engelina found her niche and purpose in Gardening By Design. She spent her life navigating the worlds of entrepreneurship and artistry coming from a lineage of business owners on her father’s side and artists on her mother’s side—experience now invaluable to her.
A family that spent most of their time in the garden, she further indulged these interests while working in a Garden Centre’s perennial greenhouses. This marked the point at which she became a specialist in horticulture. She obtained a degree from Ryerson University in Interior Design and chose to apply her knowledge to exteriors and outdoor spaces. Her enthusiasm lies in designing areas that are always changing, growing, and adapting—never static.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total investment for a design?
The investment for a design is dependent on both the size and the scope of a particular area—and therefore differs from project to project. We begin each venture with a consultation, to offer clarity and insight into our process before reviewing costs.
How do I get started?
Send us an email. Once we’ve connected we can book your initial consultation to view your outdoor space and further assess your goals for the area. Afterwards, we will send you a quote to complete your landscape design.
What does a design entail?
We use computerized designs that show, to scale, a bird’s-eye-view of your home and property. This type of design offers the clearest representation of the finished product. Designs also include selected plant materials, hardscaping, and construction notes.
How long will it take?
On average, each design from the initial consult to completion spans four to eight weeks. However, there’s always room for exception dependent on each particular job.
Who does the construction?
We have a variety of Landscape construction companies whom we work with closely. Each year we select a handful of projects that we want to carry through to the construction phase. At this point we would pair you with the right contractor and oversee the aesthetics from start to finish.
Where is Gardening By Design located?
Gardening By Design lives and works in the Ottawa, Ontario area – but get in touch wherever you are located.