Meet Kirsten Reberg-HortonKirsten is expanding her practice of landscape design to specialize in the creation of healing, meditation and therapeutic gardens.
Kirsten has been designing residential landscapes since 2003. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a studio art degree, Kirsten went on to pursue a Masters in Landscape Architecture at NCSU. As she was near to completing her Masters, she and her husband moved to Maine where he worked as a professor of Agriculture at the University of Maine. During her time in Maine, Kirsten started Kalmia Landscape Design and worked with lakefront property owners to design landscapes that preserved water quality and enhanced the beauty of their properties. While in Maine, Kirsten authored the design portion of the Master Gardener handbook, as well as an extension bulletin on designing your landscape for Maine. Kirsten also gave numerous talks on residential landscape design. In 2005, Kirsten, her husband and baby son returned to Raleigh, NC permanently. Her husband, a tenured faculty member at NCSU continues to pursue his love for supporting organic farmers, and Kirsten continues to design residential landscapes. Her passion for helping her clients to realize their dreams for their home environment comes through in every design. When you work with Kirsten, you can be assured of a personal approach to your project that always takes into account your budget, values and aesthetics. Healing Gardens / Gardens and Wellbeing Kirsten’s love for landscape design stems from her belief that our physical environments are instrumental in the way that we feel. She believes that landscapes can provide a sense of safety, inspiration, beauty, sensory stimulation, and reverence. Whether it’s simply walking in a garden or natural setting, sitting on a bench and listening to the sounds around you, or getting your hands in the dirt, Kirsten believes in the healing and transformative power of nature and the connection of mind and body that opening up to the natural world brings. Currently pursuing a degree in Mental Health Counseling, Kirsten is planning to expand her work to include traditional talk therapy utilizing Therapeutic Horticulture and Expressive Arts modalities while continuing to do landscape design with a special focus on healing gardens. |
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What is it like to work with Kalmia Landscape Design?
1. We start by meeting at your home, walking your property and talking about your needs, likes/dislikes, and the ways that you and others use your landscape. Then we agree on how we will work together to create your design.
2. At this point, I usually spend some time measuring on your property and taking some photographs.
3. I go back to my office and begin working on your design. This usually entails the following:
5. I go back to the office and finalize your design and plant list. Sometimes I also create a project timeline and "To Do" list if that is something the client requires
6. We meet again for your design presentation
7. You move forward to implement your design
This can take 2-3 weeks and up to several months and years, depending on how we choose to work together. A typical small residential project will end up taking between 8 and 25 hours of time, or $400 to $1,250
Kirsten also consults with home owners and provides plant lists, will happily shop with you at the nursery of your choice, and occasionally can be convinced to help with maintenance.
2. At this point, I usually spend some time measuring on your property and taking some photographs.
3. I go back to my office and begin working on your design. This usually entails the following:
- Using my measurements and photographs to make a map that shows me the design area in a scale with which I can work
- Creating a structure for the design: paths, garden areas, play areas etc.. Sometimes I create 2 or 3 structures at this point
- Coming up with a draft plant list
5. I go back to the office and finalize your design and plant list. Sometimes I also create a project timeline and "To Do" list if that is something the client requires
6. We meet again for your design presentation
7. You move forward to implement your design
- Sometimes clients do this entirely on their own
- Sometimes clients request that I accompany them on plant buying trips, or mark beds and paths for them on their property
- Sometimes clients choose to work with a landscape installer. I have a few companies that I can recommend.
This can take 2-3 weeks and up to several months and years, depending on how we choose to work together. A typical small residential project will end up taking between 8 and 25 hours of time, or $400 to $1,250
Kirsten also consults with home owners and provides plant lists, will happily shop with you at the nursery of your choice, and occasionally can be convinced to help with maintenance.