Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture

I’m a 30 year pro contractor working the upscale homes on marin and Piedmont and montclair; these people provide Amazing Service, negotiated the price, same day plans for a small job done very reasonable and professional!!! Highly recommended!

As an architect practicing in San Francisco, I have collaborated with Ive and Shades of Green on four separate projects in the Bay Area. I have always found her and her team to be inspired and dependable. We look forward to many projects together in the future.

We had a very disappointing experience working with Ive Haugeland — the Principal at Shades of Green Landscape Architecture.
We met with Ive two times and she also took time for a call with my partner. After our meetings, we were really excited to work with her. Our project is complex, the options are limited and our budget is tight for the scope of work. So, our goal was to work with a Landscape Architect who could advise us on a global plan and how we should phase out the work. We expected to spend between 20 and 30K on stage one.
After our first few meetings, everything felt great. We were excited to work with Ive and she seemed very excited about our home and our yard. Before going forward, I asked to speak with references and spoke to two past clients who gave glowing recommendations. In fact, both of these clients were so happy with the work Ive and her team had done for them, they were looking to use her for projects at new homes they had recently purchased.
Ive seemed clear on what we wanted and our aesthetic and we paid a deposit and waited with excitement for our plan — she was to present two options one a lower priced option and the other being the whole deal with all of our dreams answered. When Ive presented the plan, she and one of her employees presented two options. This is where the problems started.
When we met and she presented her suggestions, we were less than impressed — Option 1 provided no structural changes (the main reason we were consulting with a Landscape Architect) and Option 2 was the suggestion WE had suggested in our initial meeting. But, frankly, the bigger issues were beyond disappointing and sloppy and are the reason I’m writing this review.
— One of our main objectives was off street parking and Option 1 did not address this.
— The measurements for the stairs she proposed for Option 1 needed to be remeasured as she was discussing her proposal because we all questioned if they could actually be built to scale.
— A walking path she suggested was right in line with a low roof line and would cause us (we’re both over 6′) to hit our heads.
— She did not take into account the correct placement of a fire hydrant in front of the house and had to send us a revised version of Option 1 to move a walkway.
— When discussing Option 2, it was obvious that one of our 80 year old Oak Trees was right where she was proposing to build a driveway. When I mentioned this she said «I guess it will have to trimmed or cut down.» I was furious as we had discussed how important the trees where to us.
— When discussing the options she presented, I asked how much certain items of the proposal would be and she said «I really have no idea.» I would expect that a price range estimates would be included but I was wrong.
We are out over $ 2,000.00 and we received nothing that we can use. I found her work sloppy, careless and an insult to us. It was obvious that our project meant nothing to her. I’ve showed her proposal to two Landscape Architects I’ve met with since and they both agreed that her proposal did not address our issues. Both of theses LA provided great solutions and we are currently working with one now.
I’m sure other people have enjoyed working with Ive and her team. However, we did not and I can not and would not recommend working her and Shades of Green Landscape Architects.

I still believe that Shades of Green Landscape Architecture has many satisfied clients. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.
I hired Shades of Green to help me redesign my landscape which involved planting new plants throughout the property, new hardscape for the house entry way, additional lighting, and new retaining wall. The project potentially could cost approximately $ 20,000 to $ 30,000 when complete. I found the company’s principal, Ive Haugeland, to be thorough. She provided good client relationship. My dissatisfaction was with her Associate, Jamie Morf, who worked on my project as a designer and a project manager.
These were some of the things I found unpleasant about Jamie:
1. One month into the project, she had deliverables which were scheduled to be delivered in three weeks. Three weeks came and passed, I did not hear from her. I was surprised to receive her monthly invoice with only 3 hours spent on the project. I inquired about the deliverables in which she said she had moved the deadline out three more weeks. However, she neglected to mention that to me before the original deadline expired. In addition, there was no apology. Later, I learned that she was very busy with various clients so she did not get to my project. I found this very unprofessional.
2. Throughout the project, I found that Jamie was not very detail-​oriented and forgetful. She forgot things we discussed in meetings which resulted in design suggestions that completely contradicted my requests. As a result, it needed rework which required additional hours that she billed me for.
3. Often, she provided large invoices for very little results. I did not receive clear explanations of what she actually did to warrant the hours spent. I did not feel that I was fairly billed for the amount of work I received from her.
4. She had very poor project management skills (e.g. time management, status updates, communication, budgeting).
Finally, after three months and with a completed design plant, I terminated our relationship. I am in the process of hiring another landscape architect to carry out the remaining of the project.

Over the years, I’ve become so impressed with Shades of Green that I just HAVE to Unilocal them! I’ve referred many clients (of all price ranges) to Shades of Green (including myself) and to date have been extremely happy with their service, their up-​beat energy, thorough follow-​thru, creative thought and new ideas — all emphasizing sustainability. Over the years, I’ve seen Tyler and Ive featured on TV, in Dwell, Sunset and more. It’s so great to see Shades of Green succeed and continue to stay on the forefront of landscape architecture design. Their style leans towards contemporary, but they can do any style well, it all depends on what their Clients want. Their portfolio is impressive and ranges from Single Family to Commercial. Don’t be surprised if you find a friend in them as well! You should check them out at
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