Frequently asked questions

Sakura Garden Design studio is based in Watergrasshill, Co. Cork. I work throughout Cork city and county, and across the wider Munster region. For exceptional projects I am open to working further afield — please get in touch to discuss.

Yes. I hold a professional diploma with distinction from the Garden Design Academy of Ireland. I’m committed to ongoing professional development as the practice grows with particular interest in colour psychology and lighting.

A few things, all of which I think matter.

The work comes from somewhere real. Sakura was founded on a genuine understanding of what a garden can do for a person during the most difficult periods of life. That experience shapes every design decision — not as a marketing position, but as a lived conviction that quiet, thoughtful outdoor spaces have real power to restore and sustain.

I design for how you feel, not just how it looks. Every project begins with a conversation about your experience of the garden — not just its appearance. That question leads somewhere more interesting than a brief focused on materials and square metres alone.

Professional project oversight is built in. Most garden designers are designers first and project managers by necessity. Before formally training in garden design, I was a Senior project manager at Amazon. Having led complex, global projects within one of the world’s most demanding corporate environments, I offer clients and collaborators a disciplined approach to timelines, budgets, and stakeholder communication. My background in risk management and cross-functional delivery means I anticipate challenges early, communicate clearly at every stage, and see projects through to a consistently high standard.

I work on a small number of projects at any one time. This is a deliberate choice — it means every client receives my full attention, and every garden receives the care it deserves.

The design is yours. I am an independent design practice. Recommendations are made entirely in your interest.

A small number — deliberately. Limiting the number of concurrent projects is a conscious decision that ensures every client receives my full attention at every stage. I would rather do fewer projects exceptionally well than many projects adequately.

If you enquire at a time when my capacity is full, I will always be honest with you about the waiting time rather than overcommitting.

From first conversation to completed design pack with masterplans and technical drawings, most projects take between six and twelve weeks depending on complexity and how quickly feedback is provided at each stage. Larger or more complex projects may take longer, and this will be reflected in the proposal timeline.

The build phase — if you are proceeding to construction — is separate and depends on contractor availability, scale of works, and the time of year.

Contemporary design is where my expertise and sensibility lie, and it is the style I work in most naturally. That said, contemporary does not mean minimal or stark — it means considered, intentional, and designed for the way people live now. If you have a specific aesthetic in mind that feels different from what you see in my portfolio, I'd encourage you to get in touch. The first conversation will quickly tell us whether there is a good fit.

Sakura's current focus is high-end residential garden design. If you have a commercial project that aligns with the Sakura philosophy of contemplative, restorative spaces, please do get in touch. Each enquiry is considered on its own merits.

The first step is a short, informal conversation — usually a phone call or email exchange — to tell me a little about your garden and what you're hoping for. There is no charge for this and no obligation on either side. If it feels like a good fit, the natural next step is a paid site consultation.

I visit your site and spend up to two hours with you. We walk the site together, discuss how you currently use the garden, and explore what you need and want from the space. I assess the physical conditions of the site — aspect, soil, existing features, levels, light — and we begin to develop the brief together.

After the visit, you will receive a written summary detailing everything discussed. Most clients find this document alone clarifies their thinking considerably.

The site consultation costs €250, which is redeemable in full against your project fee if we proceed together.

Both your time and mine are valuable, and a paid consultation attracts clients who are serious about their project.

The €250 fee covers up to two hours on site, a detailed brief summary document, and the professional thinking that begins the moment I arrive.

As involved as you would like to be. Some clients come with a very clear vision and want their ideas translated and refined. Others arrive with nothing more than a feeling — a sense that their garden could be something more — and prefer to be guided throughout.

Either way, the design process is collaborative. You will see and respond to the concept before detailed design begins, and your feedback at every stage shapes what comes next. Nothing is finalised without your agreement.

What you need to hear. Always.

If a client's initial brief has elements that won't work — practically, aesthetically, or within the budget — I will say so clearly and explain why. Part of the value of working with a professional designer is honest guidance, not validation of every idea.

That said, honest doesn't mean inflexible. If you feel strongly about something, I will always explore whether there is a way to achieve the spirit of what you're after, even if the exact approach needs to change.

Yes, and I welcome it. Some of the most successful garden projects happen when the outdoor design is developed in close conversation with the interior or architectural team. If you are working with an architect or interior designer, I am happy to liaise directly with them to ensure the garden is fully integrated with the wider project from the outset.

A site consultation on its own — without proceeding to a full design — is a perfectly valid way to engage with Sakura. Some clients find that two hours of focused professional advice on their existing garden gives them exactly what they need to move forward independently.

A site consultation fee of €250 applies.

For Design and Project oversight clients, raising and resolving issues relating to the design is my responsibility, not yours. If something on site doesn't match the design intent or falls short of the required standard, I will raise it directly with the contractor, and ensure it is resolved before the project moves forward.

For Design Consultancy clients who are managing their own build, I am happy to discuss any concerns that arise — though formal project oversight is not included in that service level. If you find during a self-managed build that you would benefit from more professional oversight, it is always possible to discuss extending the service at that point.