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At John Leathart Landscapes, we believe in a truly collaborative garden design process. We approach each new design and construction project with thought and care, making a point of really listening to you to get a sound understanding of how your new garden can best complement your tastes and lifestyle.
We love to work with people who value the creative process and get a great deal of satisfaction out of creating a beautiful environment for our clients, their family and friends to enjoy for many years to come.
We are as invested in the outcome of your new garden as you are, and our approach to landscape design and construction reflects our dedication to our craft.
John Leathart Landscapes offers a full range of landscaping services, from design, to construction, to ongoing maintenance of your garden. It is rare for one company to offer all three services, and it is also rare for your Landscape Designer to be responsible for the installation of your garden as well as overseeing the ongoing care of your plants and landscape. This approach ensures the highest level of quality control and attention to detail every step of the way.
From a minimalist courtyard garden to a productive edible garden and everything in between, we create innovative, smart outdoor spaces that can be maintained and nurtured easily. Based on your wants, needs and lifestyle, we can design, create and maintain the perfect garden space for you, whatever your chosen theme.
We prefer to work in a collaborative manner; listening to and respecting your particular needs and wishes, while endeavouring to help you see all the creative possibilities!
We meet you at your property to discuss the vision you have for your outdoor space, your lifestyle, and other influences that may impact the garden’s creation. The initial consultation is also a great time to discuss any inspiration you have found, whether that be other gardens, plants, or products.
While we are there, we undertake a site evaluation including key measurements and levels of the area, adjacent buildings and surrounds.
After the development of preliminary designs, we present you with a hand-drawn concept, discuss your feedback, and make changes as necessary. Further meetings can be requested, and we are always available to discuss the concepts/ ideas if need be.
We can quote on design of the garden only, or can remain engaged with the project through construction and beyond, with our ongoing maintenance packages ensuring that your garden is nurtured, established, and continues to thrive as it grows.
This stage of the design finalises dimensions and levels, planting and positions, material selections and details, and the final garden layout.
We will produce detailed 2D scale drawings listing all plants and materials, including careful management of existing plants or trees, and hard landscaping that is kept.
Plant images and material swatches are included to help you envisage what your final garden will look like. Depending on the project, 3D visuals may also be used to showcase more complex designs.
We pride ourselves on maintaining open communication throughout the process to keep you informed along the way. We also understand that not everything is always set in stone, and so can work with you to make other adjustments to the garden along the way.
Off the back of a successful career in the Arts, John followed a passion for furniture design, seeing 7 years spent working for premier multi-disciplinary designer Khai Liew in Adelaide. Enjoying the creativity of the design process, John established John Leathart Landscapes to incorporate his love of plants and the natural world.
Now with over a decade working with landscapes and commissioned gardens, John’s broad experience across the creative arts, attention to detail, and understanding of construction, ensures his gardens are well-made, thoughtful, creative and inspiring.
With a focus on textural qualities and longevity of material choices, John’s accommodating artistic vision means he enjoys building trust with his clients and incorporating them into a truly collaborative design process.
Clients appreciate this, calm, collaborative, and methodical approach, meaning that no matter what the project, John is able to find the right balance.
Before stepping into the family business in 2015, Rachel spent 12 successful years in the Arts as a professional dancer and dance teacher across Australia and Internationally.
Rachel feels that her experience collaborating across the Arts with theater companies, opera, and performers has stood her in good stead to manage the complex confluence of parts that form the artistic landscapes by John Leathart Landscapes.
Day-to-day, Rachel is the Business Manager, and draws on qualifications in Public Relations and Communications to make sure that not only do all the ‘must-dos’ like strategy, accounting and HR happen, but that they happen with style.
In her spare time, Rachel juggles family responsibilities, and enjoys teaching Pilates as a qualified practitioner of 18 years.
Leif has been with us at John Leathart Landscapes since 2014, and brings a strong passion for landscape architecture and design.
With past experience in the broader landscaping and quarry industries, Leif has become our stonework specialist, making sure our projects have the high attention to detail and finish the material requires.
Growing up surrounded by the trees and plants of the Adelaide Hills, Leif has an interest and developing focus in advanced plant care. Some of his favourites are Clivia, Frangipani, and all things fruit trees.
Away from landscaping, Leif enjoys kicking back in his favourite destination Tasmania, as well as enjoying good food, podcasts, and spending time with his pet dogs.
Geoff has arrived at John Leathart Landscapes after some time working in community services.
Informed by study tours abroad and numerous sleepless nights while studying architecture at University, he brings with him an appreciation of the process and material and sensory qualities of landscape design.
Geoff values a well-considered space for it’s therapeutic qualities, it’s impact on one’s state of mind and how it interacts with all of the senses. He has a growing interest in native landscapes, ecological design and healthy systems, and gardening for food production, food sovereignty and resilience. He takes inspiration from both time-honoured ways of being and the potential of technology to meaningfully improve our lives.
In his spare time, Geoff loves a good road trip, enjoys being in nature, camping, reading and experimenting in the kitchen. He also has an interest in visual art and dabbles in landscape and wildlife photography.
At just 20 years old, Declan is a vibrant addition to our team at John Leathart Landscapes, bringing a youthful enthusiasm for outdoor living and garden transformations.
A sports enthusiast, Declan enjoys both watching and playing. His love for being outdoors seamlessly aligns with his professional role, where he delights in seeing the transformation of gardens, learning about the diverse ways plants and design elements can enhance outdoor spaces.
Declan’s appreciation for the outdoors is matched by his enjoyment of the working in the spaces created by John. He confesses to a growing love for mid-morning coffee, a habit complemented perfectly by Rachel’s homemade brownies, a team favourite.
Enrique, hailing from Spain, infuses our team with his boundless enthusiasm and a deep-rooted passion for plants and landscape design.
His journey began at the tender age of four, sparked by a simple school experiment with beans and cotton. This early fascination blossomed into a lifelong obsession with plants, leading him to pursue a career in this field.
After earning a master’s degree in agricultural engineering and realizing his true calling lay in ornamental plants rather than crops, Enrique shifted his focus to landscape design, even founding his own business.
Seeking to deepen his understanding, of construction detailing he moved to Adelaide to study Landscape Design at TAFE, and joined John Leathart Landscapes to gain invaluable on-site experience.
When not working, Enrique immerses himself in the outdoors, crafts plant terrariums, and enjoys cinema visits with popcorn in hand.
