Business Details
20 Years
experience
Bay Area Custom Landscape Design Experts
Julie Orr Design has been transforming outdoor spaces into personalized sanctuaries for over 18 years. Founded in 2006 by principal designer Julie Orr, our firm combines formal design expertise with deep regional knowledge of Bay Area climates and lifestyles. We specialize in full-service landscape design, offering collaborative consultations, custom hardscape/softscape solutions, and project oversight from concept to completion. Our process prioritizes client vision integration, material selection guidance, and seamless contractor coordination.With a focus on Silicon Valley, we serve Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties, delivering functional beauty through features like outdoor kitchens, pergolas, and sustainable garden designs. Our portfolio demonstrates decades of successful projects ranging from intimate backyard retreats to expansive estate transformations.
Services
Landscape Design
Hardscape Solutions
Outdoor Kitchens
Pergola Installation
Garden Planning
Fire Features
Pool Landscaping
Custom Lighting
Site Surveys
Contractor Coordination
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We offer 18+ years of Bay Area-specific landscape design expertise
- Our mobile studio brings real-time design collaboration to your home
- We provide full-service oversight from concept to final installation
- Our process includes complimentary initial consultations and budget guidance
- We maintain regional material and contractor networks for cost efficiency
What people say
5-Star service
Amazing person to work with
Creative ideas
Detail oriented
Seamless installation
Services
Landscape Design
Our comprehensive landscape design service transforms outdoor spaces through personalized consultations and custom solutions. We specialize in creating functional, climate-appropriate environments that reflect client lifestyles. The process includes site analysis, 3D visualization, and material selection to ensure cohesive integration with property architecture and regional conditions.
Pergola Installation
Custom pergola designs enhance outdoor living areas with architectural interest and practical sun protection. We offer tailored solutions that complement existing structures while optimizing usable space. Our designs incorporate durable materials and consider local climate patterns for long-term functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Outdoor Kitchens
We design fully integrated outdoor kitchens that extend living space beyond traditional boundaries. Our approach balances aesthetic elements with practical considerations like workflow optimization and weather-resistant materials. Each design incorporates client preferences for entertaining and daily use patterns.
Garden Planning
Our garden planning service combines horticultural expertise with design principles to create sustainable, visually appealing landscapes. We prioritize native plant selections that thrive in Bay Area microclimates while incorporating edible gardens and seasonal color schemes tailored to client maintenance preferences.
Fire Features
Custom fire feature installations extend outdoor usability through ambient lighting and warmth. We design safe, code-compliant solutions that serve as focal points while considering material durability and spatial flow. Options include built-in fireplaces, standalone pits, and modern gas installations.
People
Julie Orr
Founder & Principal Designer
With over 18 years of experience, Julie combines formal training in interior and horticultural design to create award-winning outdoor spaces. Her Bay Area native perspective informs climate-appropriate solutions that balance aesthetics with functionality for residential properties.
Questions
What areas do you serve?
We specialize in Silicon Valley projects covering Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties.
What's included in your design process?
Our four-step process includes consultation, site preparation, collaborative design sessions, and installation oversight with preferred contractors.
Do you handle both hardscape and softscape?
Yes, we provide comprehensive solutions covering structural elements like patios and walkways, plus plant-based designs for complete outdoor environments.
Can you accommodate specific budget ranges?
We work with clients to develop designs that align with their financial parameters while maintaining design integrity.
Do you offer material selection assistance?
Yes, we provide curated material recommendations based on durability, aesthetics, and regional climate considerations.
How long do typical projects take?
Design phases typically last 4-6 weeks, with installation timelines varying based on project complexity and seasonal factors.
Reviews (6)
Marnie F.
Sep 03, 2021
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Julie helped us design our new backyard which included a stone patio, lighting, fountain, and low water plantings. Julie was terrific to work with and clearly has a mastery of landscape design.
Cynthia O.
Jan 03, 2021
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After a recent home expansion, our backyard was in shambles and small. Julie was recommended to us by a long-time friend whose backyard was as practical as it was beautiful. Their design was something they said they'd never would have come up with themselves. That's the type of help we needed because we had no idea where to start or what was possible. Our space was small and our wish list long: table seating for eight, full outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, fire pit, trees to block structures from neighbors' back yards, and fruit trees. Julie made it happen. She was conscientious
Glen L.
Dec 15, 2020
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We hired Julie to help design our front yard in Campbell. We already had strong ideas about a couple of major features and that wasn't a problem for Julie at all. She did a great job of incorporating the things we already knew we wanted, and adding all of the design around them to fit perfectly. The design was completed in a timely manner, and Julie demonstrated excellent patience with our many changes along the way. Now that the installation is completed, we couldn't be happier. We love the new look and everyone walking by our house comments on how great it looks.
We've
We've
Tom G.
Mar 15, 2020
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Julie gave us 5-Star service in helping us design a new front yard in 2019 and a year later we can truly say it was a success. Julie did a great job understanding what we were looking for and then providing fantastic ideas to make it come to light. First off with the hardscape she provided really outstanding ideas that we could use to bring not only our yard to life, but our house and driveway as well. For the landscaping she really focused on keeping a nice blend of trees and plants that complemented each other and there was not too many plants/trees to close to each other. It was easy to follow
Jennie I.
Mar 03, 2020
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We hired Julie Orr Design to design our front and back yard spaces. Julie was friendly, efficient, full of ideas, knowledgeable and so much more. I was amazed how quickly Julie understood what our priorities were and how we wanted to use our outdoor space. She designed a beautiful plan and then worked with us to make changes to make sure it was exactly as we wanted. Working with her was one of the best choices we made! The plans have since been implemented and we enjoy our beautiful outdoor space every day! She has also been so helpful in answering plant questions as they come up as our plants
Nancy D.
Jul 09, 2019
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If i could give more stars I would and here's why: Julie listened very carefully to us about what we thought we wanted. She has done two designs for us. She figured us out pretty quickly---for the first one, the back yard, we needed a landscape design that included lots of patio space for little kids to ride trikes on, a "lawn" area for climb-on toys and running around, a nice seating area for adults, and beautiful, minimal care plantings around the perimeter. We'd tried to visualize this ourselves, but couldn't quite figure it out. She nailed it and it's all
