Virtual Landscape Design Service
Sarah Williston’s expert virtual design service offers a seamless and accessible way to collaborate, regardless of your location. Whether you are exploring a blank canvas or reimagining an established garden, we provide expert guidance tailored to your specific goals - delivered remotely on a national level.
Our virtual, online approach closely resembles our 7-Phase Design Process. Below, we’ve highlighted the key differences in our workflow for remote nationwide projects.
No templates. No AI. A real designer, building your landscape vision remotely.
Our Virtual Landscape Design Portfolio
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![East Chop Ma]()
East Chop, Martha's Vineyard
This beachside landscape features an array of salt-tolerant species selected for their ability to withstand strong north winds which often greet these doorsteps.
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![Muskoday Way]()
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard
Achieving a seamless connection, the property creates a dialogue between two homes, bridging space with a landscape that feels expansive and intimate.
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![Boch Estate]()
Katama, Martha's Vineyard
The fountain at the Boch Estate stands as a legendary centerpiece of one of Marthas Vineyard's most storied properties.
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![Safe Harbor Marina]()
Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard
Set within a busy coastal boatyard, this project balances function, resilience, and ecology. The planting beds were designed as flood-tolerant rain gardens, capable of handling salt exposure, high winds, and periodic inundation.
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![Lagoon Pond Garden]()
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard
Embracing the unique challenges and beauty of the seaside, this garden design fulfills the client's desire for a coastal retreat that is as generous as it is beautiful.
How Virtual Landscape Design Works
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To begin, please reach out through our Contact Form. We will respond promptly with our current availability, along with a detailed overview of our design process and rates. If our services align with your needs, we will move forward and send you the Virtual Design Questionnaire to complete.
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Since we will not be conducting a person site visit, we rely heavily on you to supply documents or take measurements of your desired design area. This process is simple and thoroughly outlined in the Virtual Design Questionnaire. We will utilize the information you provide alongside satellite tools to build an accurate digital foundation of your existing landscape. Following a review of your inquiry and site data, we will create an estimate to review and contract prior to scheduling our first virtual design meeting.
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Our first virtual meeting will be used to discuss your lifestyle, specific desires, likes and dislikes, how you envision using the space, and any challenges or opportunities within your landscape. By the end of our call, we will have solidified the project scope and deliverables. Following this meeting we will provide you with an accurate quote for the remainder of the design process.
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An accurate basemap is the foundation of a successful design. By synthesizing your property surveys with detailed satellite imagery, I create a precise digital map of your site. This remote analysis ensures that your final design is both technically sound and ecologically tailored to the unique potential of your land.
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Using the digital base map as our canvas, we develop 2D and 3D conceptual renderings. These visual models allow you to explore the spatial flow and functionality of the design from anywhere. With these concepts will be Mood Boards, these are created to show the aesthetic direction, featuring intentional color palettes, textures, and initial plant forms.
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Now that the concepts have been discussed, the chosen layout is agreed upon which will be used to create the digital masterplan. This involves establishing plant and material palettes that align with design goals and site conditions. Spatial arrangements are finalized, balancing functionality and aesthetics. This phase marks a crucial step in bringing the landscape vision to life, with details coming into focus.
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Once the layout, materials, and plant palettes are established, we will schedule a second virtual consultation. This meeting serves as a final review to discuss and refine all design elements before we proceed with the technical planting plans and detailed renderings. By refining the design now, we ensure that the planting plans and detailed renderings accurately reflect your vision before the final documents are produced.
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With the Master Plan complete, detailed drawings are created to guide the implementation of the landscape design. These documents cover every facet of the project—including elevations, lighting, hardscape materials, and furnishings—ensuring each element is integrated at the proper scale. Digitally shared for your convenience, these drawings serve as a vital roadmap for engineers and contractors to ensure a seamless installation.
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The Planting Plan serves as the blueprint for installation. It specifies the exact arrangement, spacing, and placement of every plant in your design. This document provides clear instructions for you or your contractor to install your garden with confidence. The Plant List acts as your botanical inventory, providing the scientific and common names, required quantities, and recommended plant sizes for every plant in your design.
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Now that the project is ready for installation, you will receive a comprehensive digital package. Whether you are installing the plants yourself or seeking bids from local contractors, you will have everything you need to have a successful installation. At this point, we will determine your preferred level of involvement for me moving forward. If you would like we in an in-person site visit can be arranged, or virtual check-ins via video or photos to ensure design integrity is maintained throughout the build.
It is important to note that our design process is flexible. Each project is unique, and the steps outlined are optional, depending entirely on your specific goals, the scope of the work, and the size of the landscape.
Because every site and every client is individual, we customize our workflow to fit your needs. Whether you require a full-scale digital master plan with virtual oversight or a conceptual layout to get you started, we adapt our services to ensure the process is as streamlined and efficient as possible for your specific vision.
What You'll Receive (Deliverables)
Custom 2D & 3D landscape renderings
Detailed planting plan with species, spacing, quantities
Hardscape material specifications
Contractor-ready installation documents
Digital Stewardship Plan (optional add-on)
Sample Intake Questions
What parts of your landscape are the focal point of the design?
Create a simple sketch of your landscape.
Architectural Anchors: Measure distance from house corners to major landscape elements.
Photograph the following angles: Panoramas, corner perspectives, view from inside house.
What landscape style resonates with you the most? What is your preferred color palette?
What is your maintenance preference? Hands-on gardening? Moderate upkeep? Is it outsourced?
Beyond the Design: The Digital Stewardship Plan
To support the long-term health of your landscape, we offer an ongoing Digital Stewardship Plan. This is an optional high-value, post-installation landscape and garden deliverable that shifts the relationship from ‘Designer to Client” to “Mentor & Steward.”
The goal of this plan is to empower the client with the specific knowledge required to help your design reach its full potential. Unlike generic maintenance checklists, a digital Stewardship Plan is a customized guide that evolves with your garden. It bridges the gap between the initial design vision and the long-term reality of a maturing landscape.
Key Components of the Digital Stewardship Plan
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To help you stay ahead of the seasons, we’ve created a month-by-month roadmap that takes the guesswork out of garden care. From waking up your beds in the spring to tucking them in for winter, this guide will help you feel confident that your landscape is healthy, resilient, and beautiful all year long.
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Your Plant Care Directory is a digital library of every species on your property. It provides month-by-month management tips, species-specific pruning techniques, and a proactive guide to identifying common regional stressors, ensuring you always know exactly what your plants need.
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As your plants grow, the amount of water and attention they will need changes. Creating an irrigation plan is the best way to ensure that your garden can get established and be self-sustained as it matures.
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A garden evolves over time. In the early stages, your focus will be on foundational care and establishment. As the garden matures, your tasks shift toward refining the landscape and managing growth to ensure the space remains balanced and healthy. Use this roadmap to track your landscape's growth and record seasonal notes so you always know how to support its changing needs.
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You will have a direct line to Sarah for photo check-ins and expert advice, ensuring you never have to guess about your garden’s progress. Through annual virtual walk-throughs, you'll receive professional guidance and "designer edits" to keep your landscape thriving as it evolves.
Is this essential for Virtual Design?
In a remote partnership, the Stewardship Plan is the ultimate insurance policy for your design. It ensures that the integrity of the aesthetic remains intact, even from afar. It transforms a “one-off” project into a lifelong professional resource. By translating professional horticultural intuition into clear, actionable data, we empower you to become a confident steward to your outdoor space.
