Mike Peltier – Landscape Designer

What drew you to Landscape Design as a path of study and career choice?  Landscaping was my first job at 14. I loved it and 100 yrs later I’m still at it

What areas of design do you specialize in? I love the hardscape side most. Designing and building spaces that require more construction….decks, walls’ patio’s Pergolas etc.

What is your favorite type of nature/landscape? I’m into the natural look as much as possible….Wisconsin, Montana, Boulders, tree groupings, shrub and grasses in ‘massings’.

What would you like customers to understand about the design process? When a customer wants landscaping they need to first decide on needs, wants and most importantly Budget. Customers always ask “how much does landscaping cost.” Landscaping (like most things) boils down to ‘how much does one want to spend?” Landscape designers like Kitchen designers or home builders are painting a picture. We can paint any type of picture. Having a budget in mind when designing…be it a new house, a kitchen or a fantastic yard is necessary to create a practical design.

What are some new or progressive developments in design that you are interested in?  I’m kind of old fashioned when it comes to landscapes. Wood, stone, water, bulletproof plants. Some things are just timeless. People are spending more time at home and creating relaxing, ‘vacation at home’ type of outdoor spaces are probably the single fastest growing trend of landscaping today. Great for me since it’s exactly what I love to work on.