Brian's Cellphone : 973.920.7266
Brian's Email : briantstratton@hotmail.com
After 13 years of designing landscapes, I have used all of my experiences to continually refine my design process. My process is incredibly organized, methodical, and detailed. The design process typically lasts between 4-8 weeks depending on many factors and the required timing of the project.
Whether planning a child’s birthday party or building a custom home, the planning is the most important part. It lays the foundation for successful execution.
With a poorly planned project, it doesn’t matter how well it is built or how much money was spent, it will only be as good as the design.
In my experience, Everything Great Begins with a Plan TM
+ 1- Initial Phone Conversation +
My design process begins upon our first conversation when I begin taking notes about your project goals and information. I will explain to you the design process in detail and what the next steps are.
After our conversion, I will send you an email package that will contain important information and attachments. It will contain a .pdf file of an example drawing so you can see all the details that the finished product contains. Depending on our conversation, I may attach addition files, pictures, or links to particular projects on my website. Most importantly, I will give you a link to my Project Design Form.
This design form is truly an integral part in the process. It will guide our initial consultation, as it will help me understand your likes/dislikes, wish list, and lots of other important information. The form is to be filled out online, and will be automatically emailed to me for review. This form is a document that I will refer back to throughout the design process.
The initial consultation is a site meeting at your home that usually lasts about 2 hours +/-. We will begin with a walk throughout the site talking about where you envision your site features. We will then take it inside in front of my laptop to look at lots of pictures and projects that relate to yours. Think of this initial consultation as a really relaxed and fun brainstorming session. Often times, this is the only time we meet before the construction of the project. At the end of the consultation, I will give you tell you what my design fees will be based on all of the numerous variables. There is a fee for the initial consultation as detailed below in the Design Fees section. 95% of the time, the client does not pay this fee as it is waived if we proceed with the design.
Every project requires a certain amount of data collection and site analysis. Most often, I will perform this work after the consultation assuming we are proceeding with the design. Sometimes I may have to make another site visit to collect the data I need. Other times, the site is of the size and complexity that we will have a surveyor get the location and elevation data I need.
After I have the site data I need, I will combine it with the survey or other drawings that you provide me with. All of this information combined will form the “base map”. This base map serves as the foundation for all of the design work as it indicates all of the existing site conditions. On top of the base map is where I will create the hand drawn concept drawings to scale. During the consultation, we will determine the direction of the concepts. Every project is unique and therefore the concept drawing approaches are always unique. I will typically do 2 concepts for most creative areas, and 1 concept for areas that are very strait forward. The concept drawings are emailed for your review.
+ 7- Online Meeting / Phone Conference +
Once you are completed reviewing the concept drawings, we will set up either a phone call or preferably an online meeting. We will discuss the concepts in great detail and define how we will move forward. Most of the times, we will end up taking ideas from each of the concepts and combining in some way. Sometimes, one concept will nail it and it is a matter of making minor adjustments.
Based on our review of the concepts, I will create a refined concept. This may be an overlay over on of the concepts, a totally new concept drawing, or a computer drawing. Think of this phase as we are polishing up our design ideas and preparing for the final plan.
The Landscape Master Plan is the final product that will serve as the legal construction document for the project. It is to be used by contractors to accurately price out the project and to ultimately build it. It is truly the only way to compare apples to apples if you are putting the project out to bid. This plan will also serve as the document that will get submitted to the township for approvals. This plan shows all necessary site design features with adequate detail. It is the culmination of all of our ideas and efforts.
+ 10- Your One-of-a-kind project gets Built ! +
Once the plan is complete, it will go to your selected contractor(s) or go out to bid. Once the contractors are selected and all is worked out, the project will come to life. I am happy to guide you through the entire process from the completed plan to the completion of the project.
+++ How Your Project Gets Built +++
I would be happy to explain in much more detail over the phone or in person the process of taking our completed design to the execution phase.
+ Brian’s role once the design is complete+
I absolutely love that I have the opportunity to transform outdoor spaces. I love to see my projects through to the end when I get to photograph them. Most of the times this is possible as my clients like to have me involved to a certain degree. When I am brought into a project by contractor, or you select one of my recommended contractors, I have the opportunity to see it through. I you go with a random contractor, I can be involved to whatever degree you wish at an hour rate compensation.
+ Who will build my project ? +
I am part of many types of landscape projects, all with their own origination. Most often I am brought in by great landscape contractors to projects that require my design attention. In this case, you will likely proceed with the landscape contractor who introduced us, although, you are not required to as I am a separate entity and you are paying for my services separately. If you do not have a contractor, I am happy to say that I work with many great contractors that specialize in all aspects of outdoor projects. If you are an ambitious homeowner, my plans are perfectly suitable for you to install it yourself depending on the project elements.
+ Initial Consultation + [ Explained above in #4 of the Design Process ]
$ 400 - All of North Jersey- North of New Brunswick and Flemington
$ 500 - South of New Brunswick and Flemington TO North of Trenton, Freehold, and Long Branch
$ 600 - South of Trenton, Freehold, and Long Branch TO North of Burlington and Forked River
$ 1,000 - South of Burlington and Forked River TO North of Woodbury and Atlantic City
$ 1,400 - South of Woodbury and Atlantic City TO New Jersey border
+ All locations outside of New Jersey will be determined by me after reviewing the exact location +
+ Landscape Master Plan + [ Includes all phases explained above in the Design Process ]
Typical design fees for custom Pool Projects range from about $ 5,000 - $ 10,000, most falling somewhere in the middle of this range. I work on a huge variety of project types. Projects not involving a custom pool are less expensive.
The design fees are affected by many variables. The following are some of the more major variables that will help me determine the price.
- Size of property and areas to be designed
- Characteristics of the property
- Starting document information such as property surveys, grading plans, etc.
- Level of detail required in the design areas as well as the design style- Complicated design features such as pools, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, cabanas, etc.
- Township requirements and submissions such as simple permits vs. variance - Characteristics of the clients
- Project demands such as timing, phasing, etc. - My role relating to the evaluation of contractor pricing and project consulting
- All the other endless amounts of project variables...
I make myself available to my clients for consulting services for my continued involvement in their project during the build phase. If a client selects a contractor(s) that were not my recommendation, then my involvement above and beyond the creation of the Landscape Master Plan will be an additional fee billed at an hourly rate as agreed upon. Typically, if a client selects my recommended contractor(s), then the client pays no additional consulting fees, they are paid to me by the selected contractor at a reduced rate.
Typical hourly rates for this type of involvement are between $100 - $150 per hour. These additional consulting fees will be discussed in detail and will be a separate contract from the original design fee contract. Clients have the ability to pick and choose when they want me to be involved and to what degree.
Most of the time, I dedicate a few hours to each project that I am not paid for that are above and beyond my design contract. I am ok with this as it is part of what I do to take care of my clients. However, there are projects where I am inundated from all angles and need to dedicate my time to help things move along with a given project. For this, I need to compensated for my time as every minute I am not doing billable work is every minute I am not generating income for my family.
All other INFORMATION - Design Process, Pricing, etc.
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Contact Me at: 973.920.7266 | brian@poolartist.com
The Pool Artist | Brian T. Stratton Landscape Architect provides custom swimming pool designs for New Jersey NJ, Pennsylvania PA, New York NY, Connecticut CT, as well as Nationwide and International locations.
Morris County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Boonton, chatham borough, chatham township, chester borough, chester township, denville, Florham park, east hanover, harding township, green village, new Vernon, Jefferson, kinnelon, Madison, mendham, mendham borough, mendham township, brookside, Montville, pine brook, Towaco, morris plains, morris township, Morristown, mount olive, budd lake, flanders, Parsippany, Pequannock, pompton plains, Randolph, riverdale, rockaway, rockaway township, Roxbury, ledgewood, Succasunna, Washington township, long valley.
Somerset County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Bedminster, lamington, pluckemin, pottersville, bernards township, basking ridge, liberty corner, lyons, west Millington, Bernardsville, brachburg, north branch, Neshanic station, bridgewater, far hills, franklin township, green brook, Hillsborough, Manville, millstone, peapack-gladstone, Gladstone, Somerville, Raritan, warren, watching
Hunterdon County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Alexandria township, Bethlehem township, clinton township, annandale, east amwell township, Delaware towhship, ringoes, Holland township, kingwood township, Lebanon township, Raritan township, readington township, whitehouse station, whitehouse, three bridges, Tewksbury township, oldwick, union township, west amwell township, Lambertville
Bergen County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Allendale, alpine, Bergenfield, closter, demarest, Dumont, edgewater, Elmwood park, Englewood, Englewood cliffs, fair lawn, fort lee, franklin lakes, glen rock, Harrington park, Hasbrouck heights, Haworth, hillsdale, ho-ho-kus, Leonia, mahway, Maywood, lodi, little ferry, midland park, Montvale, Moonachie, new milford, north Arlington, northvale, norwood, Oakland, old tappan, Oradell, palisades park, Paramus, park ridge, ramsey, Ridgefield park, ridgewood, river edge, river vale, roceslle park, rockleigh, Rutherford, saddle brook, saddle river, upper saddle river, teaneck, tenafly, Walkwick, wallington, Washington township, westwood, wood-ridge, woodcliff lake, Wyckoff
Essex County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Belleville, bloomfield, Caldwell, cedar grove, essex fells, Fairfield, glen ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, millburn, Montclair, north Caldwell, Newark, Nutley, orange, roseland, south orange, west orangeUnion County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Fanwood, Garwood, Kenilworth, mountainside, new providence, roselle park, rosell, plainfield, summit, Westfield, Berkeley heights, clark, cranford, hillside, scotch plains, Springfield, union, Westfield
Middlesex County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Carteret, cranbury township Dunellen, east Brunswick, Edison, Metuchen, Jamesburg, milltown, Monroe township, old bridge, Piscataway, woodbridge
Mercer County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: East Windsor township, twin rivers, ewing township, Hamilton township, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence township, Lawrenceville, pennington, Princeton, Princeton borough, Princeton township, Princeton junction, Robbinsville township, Windsor, west Windsor township
Ocean County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Avalon, Stone harbor, manteloking, brick, lacey, lavalette, cape may
Sussex County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Andover township, Branchville, byram township, lake Mohawk, fredon township, green township, Hampton township, lake Hopatcong, Lafayette township, Newton, sandyston township, Sparta township, lake Mohawk, Stanhope, Stillwater township, Sussex borough, Vernon township, highland lakes,Hudson County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Bayonne, jersey city, Hoboken, Kearny north Bergen Weehawken, union city, west new york, Secaucus
Passaic County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Bloomingdale, Clifton, haledon, hawthorne, little falls, north haledon, pampton lakes, prospect park, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, Haskell, wayne, packanack lake, pines lake, west milford, woodland park
Monmouth County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Aberdeen, Allenhurst, Allentown, atlantic highlands, avon-by-the-sea, Belmar, Bradley beach, Brielle, colts neck township, deal, Eatontown, fair haven, Englishtown, farmingdale, freehold borough, freehold township, hazlet, hightlands, holmdell, howell, Keansburg keyport, hazlet, little silver, long branch, malapan, manasquan, Marlboro, matawan, Middletown, millstone, Monmouth beach, Neptune, ocean township, oceanport, red bank, Roosevelt, rumson, sea bright, sea girt, shrewsbury, spring lake, spring lake heights, union beach, upper freehold, wall
Atlantic County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Absecon, atlantic city, brigantine, beuna vista, egg harbor city, egg harbor townhip, Galloway, Hamilton township, Hammonton, linwood, longport, margate city, Mullica, northfield, Pleasantville, port republic, somers point, ventnor city, wymouth township Cape May County New Jersey custom Swimming Pool Design & Pool Designer: Avalon, cape may point, cape may, dennis township, lower township, middle township, north wildwood, ocean city, sea isle city, stone harbor, upper township, west cape may, wildwood, woodbine
Greenwich Connecticut, Hamptons NY, East Hampton, West Hampton, South Hampton, Bucks County PA, New Hope PA, Long Beach Island, LBI, Sagaponack NY, Long Island New York, etc. Eleuthera Bahamas Swimming Pool Designer, Nassau Bahamas pool design, Exuma pool design, Cat Island pool designer
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Looking to design a pool in: Harrison, NY 10577 Gladwyne, PA 19035 Weston, MA 02493 Far Hills, NJ 07931 Boston, MA 02110 Riverside, CT 06878 Old Westbury, NY 11568 Greenwich, CT 06831 New York, NY 10005 New York, NY 10007 Greenwich, CT 06830 New York, NY 10065 New Canaan, CT 06840 Rye, NY 10580 Short Hills, NJ 07078 Darien, CT 06820 New York, NY 10021 Boston, MA 02108 Wellesley, MA 02481 New York, NY 10282 Kenilworth, IL 60043 Glencoe, IL 60022 Winnetka, IL 60093 Chicago, IL 60604 Ladue, MO 63124 Lake Forest, IL 60045 Chicago, IL 60603 Chicago, IL 60611 Hinsdale, IL 60521 Clayton, MO 63105 Minnetonka, MN 55391 Des Peres, MO 63131 Leawood, KS 66211 Chicago, IL 60602 Madeira, OH 45243 Edina, MN 55424 Highland Park, IL 60035 Chicago, IL 60606 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Oak Brook, IL 60523 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Oak Brook, IL 60523 Miami Beach, FL 33109 Palm Beach, FL 33480 Naples, FL 34102 Houston, TX 77010 Charlotte, NC 28207 Sea Island, GA 31561 University Park, TX 75205 Houston, TX 77024 University Park, TX 75225 Atlanta, GA 30327 Vero Beach, FL 32963 Austin, TX 78746 West University Place, TX 77005 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Houston, TX 77019 Surfside, FL 33154 McLean, VA 22101 Houston, TX 77056 Pelican Bay, FL 34108 Sullivans Island, SC 29482 Atherton, CA 94027 Palo Alto, CA 94301 Los Angeles, CA 90067 San Francisco, CA 94111 Portola Valley, CA 94028 Moose Wilson Road, WY 83014 Medina, WA 98039 Teton Village, WY 83025 Los Altos, CA 94022 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Palo Alto, CA 94304 San Francisco, CA 94129 Santa Monica, CA 90402 Newport Beach, CA 92657 Los Gatos, CA 95030 Los Angeles, CA 90272 Los Angeles, CA 90077 Los Angeles, CA 91436 Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 Tiburon, CA 94920