I'm a registered landscape architect, with nearly a quarter of a century of designing and building environmentally friendly, low maintenance projects.  I have designed projects in most temperate climate zones, within most of the United States, and several countries. Resume  The most important issue between us is communication.  Please allow me to prove my fitness to serve your needs in a complimentary online consultation.   I will answer your questions and ask a few of you.  Free advice, Free help, Free suggestions. No forms or questionnaires,  No cost, No missed appointments, No mistakes, No wasted time.

I'm happy to fly anywhere serviced nonstop from Atlanta, GA USA (ATL) or drive up to 6hrs one way from Athens, GA. including North Georgia or Atlanta, GA, and parts of SC, AL, TN,  Pictorial site map Design Process and Design online

Please allow me to call you anywhere in the world to demonstrate my fitness to serve your needs.  Email or call  Internationally 00 1 706 543 3395, to leave a message.  My time zone is Eastern USA= EST = UTC - 5 hrs  Eastern Daylight time = EDT= UTC - 4 hrs

Site map shows the major sections of this website: 3D design  Horse farm estate, other estates landscape architecture plans, and land planning.  See beautiful pictures of:  swimming pools, retaining walls, waterfalls, my plant catalogue and links to gardening and landscaping pages to see hundreds of landscape architecture pictures and landscape design pictures.. landscaping architecture and landscaping architect, design my landscape online

Design isn't an event.  It is a process of refinement.  Every detail is decided by someone.  The basic steps are: Concept, preliminary, revisions, final, and documentation.  It can be substantially completed before construction or during construction.  I have worked with a few clients when the final design was very different than their original idea.

 A sketch is the based on a semi scale plat.  It is the first step in the design process, but isn't accurate or detailed enough for construction without interpretation.

 A scaled 2D plan is a conversion of the fat fuzzy lines of a sketch into something that can be dimensioned.  The effect of the 3rd dimension (height) can be calculated, but not adequately demonstrated nor verified with a 2D plan.  The plan can be no more accurate that the survey of existing conditions.  To that end, I recommend you hire a surveyor.

 3D design model is an effective tool for working out construction details and making sure that everyone is imagining the same thing.  It serves to avoid misunderstandings and significant change orders during construction.  It's not just a picture of the design; it is the design.  Design changes and alternative scenarios are very easy and extremely cost effective compared to change orders during the construction process.  Choices are easier and less stressful when you can see the difference between alternatives, compare the relative costs, and confirm or adjust your priorities.

 Working drawings include dimensioned plans, elevations, and construction details as well as material specifications.  My revolutionary techniques of using the design model to produce working drawings saves significant time in the conversion.  Fir example, see: www.signaturelandscapes.com/drawings/deck.pdf 

 Construction is the realization of expectations by creating functional art.  It can be fun, frustrating, or both, but it's always expensive.  Understanding produces agreement which allows efficiency which minimizes frustration and cost.  Design and documentation aren't a waste of time and money.  They are the basis of understanding.

"I've never had any landscaping done, so I may not know quite what I'm talking about."  Melissa K.  Melissa: Inexperience is one of the best reasons to seek counsel from a professional who doesn't profit from selling you inventory and labor.

According to Mary Lou McHenry, one of Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer's Best of the Best and one of the Top 5 percent of all REALTORS® nationally, "Most sales are made or broken the second a prospective buyer pulls in front of your home."

I love your site!  It is awesome!!! Mary

Great people do great things...And you have done a great job on the net.... robert

"Thank you again for all your help. You are wonderful!"  Julie M. Broomfield, CO

You're something, David. I've never known anyone who enjoyed his job the way you do.  I consider that to be one of life's greatest blessings.  David Keith  Thanks for the complement, DK!   Have you ever felt like you were banging your head against the wall and wondering how good it will feel when you can finally stop?  That was me for a quarter century!   I used to spend most of my time and energy doing chores related to business, employees, government forms, taxes, etc.  Four years ago I retired from the labor business.  Now, I am free to go anywhere and do anything I want.  My mind is now free to create without the encumbrance of employee problems.  This has allowed my spirit to soar!   I have been training all my life for these opportunities, and I am uniquely qualified to use my gifts and tools to resolve complex issues with enlightened solutions.  I get my thrills by solving particularly elusive opportunities!

David:  Thanks so much for your input...You are a prince among men!  I will hang in there. If there is anything I can ever do for you please don't hesitate to ask. Your friend in Ocean City Maryland

Thank you very much. This is the most beautiful site I've ever seen. Thanks Sabah

Your site is one in a million!! I find it really helpful. I live in Greece. I am an undergraduate student at the department of agriculture of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Hey David: I have seen the website - it ROCKS!!!  I will scan the plat and send it to you ASAP. I am not in a great BIG hurry - but my yard looks sooooooooo bad - my neighbors may burn my house down in anger. Talk to you soon - Sis

David, I am incredibly impressed by your web page. I hope that it has brought you great success! ...Doug B"

Hi David, ...I took a look around your website and you have a really ingenious service that is compatible with the Internet, something that many people value...Noah N. Phoenix AZ

One of the most important aspects of a website is not only how it looks, but how it functions. David's website is extremely easy to navigate and very informative. " Lisa Atlanta, GA"

Hello David:  I recently came across your website and was extremely impressed with the user-friendly format. The information was logically organized and all the images were easily downloaded in a reasonable amount of time...." Amanda

David has created a great website. It is easy to use and responsive to a variety of needs. If you have a concern, David is quick to respond, and gives you the resources to answer your questions. Excellent job, David.  Bob Walker, Athens, Georgia

I am a landscape design student and have not seen a site as consumer friendly and comprehensive as David's site. I also had the opportunity to chat personally with David and found him to be extremely knowledgeable, helpful and easy to talk to. The layout of his site is beautiful, educational and easy to navigate. I plan on going back for design help both with my coursework and also with my personal design needs.  Marcia in DC

Mr. Childers, I got a chance to look over your site and it is very professional and user-friendly. People who don't know much about plants, design, or even the internet could easily find their way around this site. Honestly, I'm just wondering how long you worked on it because it looks like you hired some web design firm to do it for you. Great work! I also enjoyed looking at the pictures of your design work, especially the one where it looks like the pool cover comes out from under the pool house. Talk to you later, Alex Gardener

Hi David,  Your landscaping talents are exceptional!  The creativity and design in the photos on your website reflect the same goals and end result that I am seeking for my own home.  I have a large white colonial house on 2 acres in Central Virginia..." Judy in VA

This website, from award winning Landscape Architect David Childers, is exceptionally well-illustrated, featuring a large portfolio of his landscape designs, landscape plans, landscape pictures, and 3d computer images. There is also a useful links section covering plant information resources, directories, and other relevant sources of information [30 Apr 2001]. www.sapling.org.uk

"The premier website for landscape design, landscape architecture, and landscaping. David Childers is a national award winning architect and general contractor with experience on..." www.i-opensearch.com/arts/design_arts/landscape/

I visited your website ... It is impressive to find the on-line platform you have created in providing real time assistance on any issue concerning landscape. Moreover, the site is very informative and the links are also easily accessible....Thanks! Best Regards, Rachel Mathews"

Dear David, First of all, I would like to thank you again for talking with me yesterday.  I really enjoyed our conversation, and it certainly gave me alot to think about... I also spent some today time looking over your web site in some further detail, and needless to say, I was very impressed. It is by far the best landscape architecture page I have seen on the web." Jessten M

.... So see I need your help!!  By the way your web site is great, easy to use, you have my vote .And I have been to almost all of them that have to do with landscaping. Thank you so much for your time, Sheri Woods

Feng Shui: The Chinese art of positioning objects in buildings and other places based on the belief in positive and negative effects of the patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi, the vital force or energy inherent in all things

Best landscape design website on the Net!  Robert  TX

Step inside to see my award winning landscaping designs.

Important Notice! The following images link to collage images that are bigger than anything you have ever seen on a website.  Your browser will resize these HUGE collage images to fit within your browser window.  Many of the images are taller than wide, so you must click them again to expand them to full width of 1000+ pixels wide!!  The text links below the images link to more images, and descriptions.

I would love to hear your feedback.  Are multi-image collages confusing? 

Burch

Presentations

Frank

Hayes

equestrian estate

waterfalls

Decks