This was our first time remodeling a backyard, so I was in desperate need of a creative eye and consultation. I had no idea what the process was like, what timeframes would be, and what costs came in at. John Kensla was key in alleviating all of our concerns. He was thorough, patient with our questions, and very responsive. We ended up asking John to re-design our front and backyards. He provided multiple layouts tailored to our specific requests, and took the time to talk us through the designs and compile our feedback. Additionally, he provided estimates as to what should be expected for costs of materials/labor. Timeframe and budget were our biggest concerns, so John did a great job of tailoring the design with those considerations in mind. After finalizing design, John provided a list of recommended landscapers to execute the design and recommended that we find a few of our own to ensure all quotes were reasonable. Throughout the remodeling, John would come by to ensure the plan was being executed to our specifications. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about working with John. He was transparent throughout the entire process, dependable in developing/executing our vision, and a pleasure to work with. He has my highest recommendation for any landscaping design needs. read more

I hired John Kensla from Infinity Sky Landscaping to overhaul my backyard, which was a disjointed mix of artificial turf patches, random grass areas, and a retaining wall with no coherent theme. John guided us through a clear three-phase process: 1. First, he did a thorough site assessment and gathered our input. 2. Then he presented three design options and iterated based on our feedback and budget constraints. 3. Finally, he delivered a detailed digital plan that included a full plant list and phased implementation. John was straightforward and professional throughout, open to multiple rounds of feedback, and helped us choose plants suited for our area. He also connected us with reliable contractors and even showed up on-site to ensure the work matched his design. In short, he delivered exactly what was promised: a cohesive backyard design with a professional approach. read more

Infinite Sky Landscape Design - Landscape design overview (only page 1 of 5 is shown) - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

Infinite Sky has been great to work with, very detail oriented which is super important when dealing with designers. John has an awesome 3 step process that makes everything simple and straightforward, his knowledge of plants, landscape & hardscape products is excellent, one of my favorite parts about working with John was that he is very upfront and doesn't need to overhype himself as his work speaks for itself, there's a ton of value in what he brings to the table. read more

I've been wanting to upgrade my backyard for years and finally decided to just go for it. I looked up local landscape designers and discovered John's yelp reviews. After reading them over, I decided to reach out to him and schedule a 1st meeting. When John came over, introductions were made and we showed him the yard with things we knew we wanted but also felt overwhelmed by the smaller details. John put us at ease with his expertise. He came prepared with previous projects before & after pictures and informed us of the process, assuming we of course selected him. We liked what he heard/saw. John also stated that he'd be willing to design our front yard if that was something we were interested in as both yards would be designed by the same person and have that cohesion. Our front yard was in need of an upgrade too. He made a point saying because we would have printed designs of the yard, we could do this project whenever we wanted. The process with John was smooth. He came to measure everything for his designs. Next were a couple digital plans he compiled based off of our wants along with potential plants he though would look nice (he travelled the neighborhood looking at what plants other yards had to help with his selections). We went over both printed designs. My wife and I discussed what we liked from each and let John know. John revised based off of our feedback and presented us with a final design that was a hybrid of the 2 previous plans. Our final meeting we went over the design. We were impressed by John's detail, how the plants were neatly color coded with a key, the placement of everything, and things labeled to make it easy for contractors. John gave us about 5 printed copies to give to various contractors and also gave us a digital version. He then went over pricing of everything that erred on the higher side so we weren't blindsided. He gave us various contractors he works with and informed us that if we were to use one of them, he would do check ins to see that everything was meeting his standards. All in all, we are very happy we spent money on John as a landscape designer. The yards look incredible! We've received many compliments on the yards. John really helped make an overwhelming task seem easy. Everything came together and are so thankful for John's expertise and knowledge. read more

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Long overdue review, my wife and I hired John to help guide us through redesigning our backyard in 2023 and loved how creative and flexible he was. He listened to our needs and tailored his design to include exactly what we wanted. Two years later and we still love our backyard. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking beyond a cookie cutter landscaping job. I also appreciated John's input once he helped get us in touch with a contractor. He was involved in all facets of our project and had great communication along the way. read more

We are happy we have John designing our backyard/garden. Not only did the design meet our expectations, but John is also very knowledgeable about the plants. The draft is very detailed and the contractor was able to follow his instruction. He also avoids toxic plants to keep our backyard safe for our dogs. read more

Infinite Sky Landscape Design - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

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I had an idea for my backyard and reached out to a couple backyard contractors but they were of no help with the details (type of pavers, plants, etc.). The contractors wanted a clear plan. So I reached out to John and within a couple weeks he was at my house talking about our backyard design. John provided great insights into what type of plants would be best for a south-facing yard, what layout would flow best for guests and kids, etc. After the first meeting we decided to go with John for the design and within a few weeks we had multiple designs. We picked one design and then modified it slightly to our tastes. John took our notes back and provided a detailed plan, a list of materials, and estimated cost to do the construction. We absolutely can't wait for the backyard design to be made a reality. John did more than I expected and has still been a great contact for one-off questions I have about the design. I'd 100% recommend John to others and would use him again for my front yard. read more

We hired John Kensla of Infinite Sky Designs to help us come up with a plan for improving the outside of our home. We purchased the home in September 2020 and wanted to improve the overall landscape, but had a limited budget. We new we needed to do something, but we came from out of state and we're not familiar with the local plants. We had some ideas, but really didn't know where to start. We had previously obtained some quotes from paver contractors and landscape lighting companies and landscapers; they each had their own ideas, but we needed someone to look at the whole picture and put it on paper. That's what John Kensla did. John was very professional. He met with us several times. First was to get to know us, get an idea of our budget, listen to our ideas and understand our expectations. He then came out and took detailed measurements which he used to put together a basic architectural plan. After that we met several more times reviewing and making changes to the plan based on our preferences or in order to reduce construction costs. At our final meeting he presented a very formal beautifully colored landscape design blueprint along with estimates of what he thought it would cost. He also gave us contact information on reputable local contractors that could perform the work. Having a well defined laid out plan allowed us to obtain estimates and compare them directly. If you have a small project that you want to do and know what you want, you probably do not need a landscape architect. But if you are thinking of improving or redoing your hardscape and would like to add some plants as well as irrigation and lighting, then I would definitely use a landscape architect to help you put it all together. John Kensla of Infinite Sky Designs did this for us and he did a great job for a very reasonable price. read more

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As a Contractor, I've worked off of John's plans for more than a few years. His designs are developed and concise. East to work from. John is always available to spot plants and make changes on the fly. James Doocy CEO California Earthcare read more

My husband and I interviewed several designers last year. We decided to contract John and he was a pleasure to work with. He was extremely professional, and he provided guidance and input when needed. We feel like he captured the vision we had for our backyard. He turned our dirt yard into a place where we love to spend time and entertain. We would highly recommend John. read more

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John was great to work with. He collaborated with us to narrow down a vision, was very receptive to our ideas, and showed deep care for the project as if it was his own. I would highly recommend John to anyone looking for design services. read more

I've requested a landscape design for my front yard, it was for a front entrance pavers and a modern landscape. The drawing was not a scale ( because of budget) but it worked just perfect. I'm happy with the results ! read more

We knew that we wanted to get a landscape designer to help with our yard and we were going back and forth between one of the national online design sites or someone local. I am so happy we decided to go local with John! He was extremely communicative throughout the entire process and the only thing we really needed to do is decide on what we wanted from his design options. John made sure that the final design was exactly what we were looking for and was willing to make changes up until the final design presentation. After we received the final design, he provides contractors that he has worked with previously. He continued to check in with us, to make sure his recommendations were getting back to us and that the quotes were in line with his estimates. We are now just waiting on the project to start (with one of his recommended contractors) and are so excited to see John's design come to life! read more

John is a pleasure to work with and his passion for what he does is clear. He is also very organized and takes time to understand his clients' preferences before doing the design plan. Initially, we hired a lower priced landscape designer but ended up with several drafts that were uninspiring, so then we reached out to John, who exceeded expectations. You definitely get what you pay for! read more

After first meeting with John to explore options, I hired John for a design sketch of our backyard with recommended plants and trees, colors, sizes, costs, etc. the service was very effective and cost efficient. Helps visualize options and finished product - able to take design sketch, suggested cost range, and seek bids with contractors for installation. read more

Infinite Sky Landscape Design - Same day sketch design service of our backyard; sloped border to our grass/gazebo/pool/patio - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

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John Kensla is a patient and creative landscape designer. We wanted low maintenance, kid and dog friendly plants in our backyard. Our final design plan was almost complete, but John double checked all of the plants to make sure they were safe and some of them were not, so we basically started from scratch. I really appreciated the extra time and effort he put into making sure all of the plants in our backyard were safe. This was actually our second time working with John. The first time was five years ago. I really do believe a great landscape designer is essential for a successful outcome in any landscape project. read more

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Your thinking "is this really necessary?". Yes, but only if you want it done exactly right the first time. Absolutely 100% worth the money- which I can tell you- John's prices and services blow his competition out of the water. The online Yardzen stuff will have you take all the measurements (more complicated than it sounds) and they give you a limited online interaction with a designer. They never come to your home, you never speak face-to-face. After they give you a design you have the ability to make changes once and then you're done. My neighbor used them and said she didn't actually like some of the design but wasn't able to make any further changes. My interaction with John was so much more personal and Being able to sit down with a design and go over the different parts together was key. Shooting ideas back and forth is how you get exactly what you're looking for. I knew exactly what I wanted, but wasted months trying to figure out how to make it work on my own. Without John and his precise measurements I would have had a mess to tear apart and re-do. He took all my ideas- entered my consciousness- added his awesomeness- and made it work. Watching this dream take form has been amazing, and I have John to thank! I'm so happy I had the ability to recognize my limitations and do it right, I'll be reaping the benefits for a long while. I met with John about the second week of March, had our final design by 3/26, and then broke ground late April. Here are some pictures of our progress (the pool is a separate project John worked around). read more

John helped redesign our front, back, and side yards, including a sizeable canyon slope in our backyard. He accommodated our wishes for a phased, iterative approach, so that we could invest in the remodel with minimal risks. He was respectful of Covid limitations and always wore a mask, and was very straightforward about how the entire process works. We knew what to expect each step of the way, and he helped answer a ton of questions at random times of the day. While we still have to schedule the contractors for installation, we are very pleased with the designs he's finalized. Thank you John! read more

John has been great to work with. He laid out his process clearly and was very communicative. His designs are beautiful, artistic and very well though out. I would definitely recommend working with him! read more

After contacting several designers, we hired John to do his same-day sketch service, as all of our landscaping needed to be replaced. All in our case is not a whole lot. We have a very small lot, so CAD drawings seemed overkill. We really left all of the design / plant selection up to John, as we don't have any knowledge of the subject or eye for such things. John did a great job, not only designing our landscaping, but recommending installers and guiding us through the whole process. I would recommend John whole-heartedly. read more

John recently completed a design for our front yard that we are very pleased with. His design process is well explained and you are given plenty of latitude for input. The finished design product is professionally done and makes the bidding process easy. John was very responsive to our questions and changes throughout the project. We are doing our yard areas in phases and will definitely be calling on John in the future. read more

Infinite Sky Landscape Design - Interim design prior to final in John's 3-step design process. - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

We wanted to redesign our mid-size backyard to a low maintenance but attractive one. We interviewed several companies, we felt John is very knowledgeable, easy to communicate and understand our needs, after reviewing some of his previous works, we decided to go forward with him. He has a clear process and explained to us before started. We went back and forth several rounds, my husband & I have special requirements for the landscape design and plant selection, for the 1st round, we almost totally changed John's design, but he was very patient and try to combine all our expectations to the design . After 3 rounds, we finally had the design we love, it proves that our point of view towards John turned to be correct, and we are looking forward to start the implementation soon. We would give strong recommendation for John based our experience! read more

John is the utmost professional; we had an excellent experience with him. He came to our home and looked over our landscape, listened intently to our vision for the project, and then used his expertise to make us a fabulous masterpiece. We could not have planned this project without his help; thank you so much!! read more

I recently received my final design plan from John and am happy with the way it turned out. John was very enjoyable to work with which made discussing and planning the design something to look forward to rather than stress about. We had a lot of requests/concerns and John was great at listening to all and finding solutions/adding useful input on cost and feasibility. We were provided two initial designs which were both full of thoughtful touches and interesting flow. In the end we chose ideas from both designs and John created a final plan that met our wants and was closer to our budget with a detailed itemized list of work/expenses. He was able to include specific plants and design touches that we requested into the plan while still considering the flow and compatability of the space. We still haven't started the actual work on getting the project done but John has already provided us with some recommendations for companies for materials that we were interested in as well as for labor. We look forward to providing an updated review/pictures once the project is complete. If you're looking for someone who listens well to your wants and has an eye for design, I think John is a great option for you. read more

Infinite Sky Landscape Design - Final design for backyard remodel with slipping hillside - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

John Kensla put together a very comprehensive plan for the restructuring and design of our columbarium at St. John's Episcopal Church. The committee was very pleased with his responsiveness the many options he provided and the guidance that he gave the committee in choosing the final details. I would give John five stars Tim Attaway read more

I purchased a house a few months ago and the back yard is in serious need of a makeover. I reached out to John and was able to set up my first consultation very quickly. On his first visit, he took a quick look at my yard, we brainstormed some ideas, and he explained the process; he also showed me his portfolio which was very impressive. I am someone who tends to ask A LOT of questions and John listened intently, answered all my questions, and made me feel at ease. The process itself was quite simple. He measured my yard and I received 2 initial designs a couple weeks later. During our second meeting, he explained both designs in detail and brought pictures of trees, plants, and ground cover (I don't really know my plants so I appreciated this). The final design ended up being a combination of both initial designs and I am very happy with it. I made a few changes/additions to the design along the way and John was very receptive to that. The final design also included an itemized list for pricing and a few recommendations for contractors which is really helpful. I haven't started work on this project but now I have a clear vision of what I'm working towards and that's super exciting! John has a high degree of integrity and professionalism. I will definitely be calling him when it's time to remodel my front yard. read more

I had about 3 or 4 companies come out to give a quote to redesign my backyard. My yard is fine now, though I knew it could use an update...and I don't have good future vision to unsee the current and plan the future. I had the usual mixed response from others who came out to look at the project: no shows. No quotes or responses. One told me he would give me a quote and then have one of their designers contact me. I'm not even sure how it would make sense to quote the work involved in designing a project when the designer hasn't even seen the space. John immediately gave the sense that he had a vision for the space and was excited to execute on it. He was vastly different from the other designers I met with. The design he came up with was perfect for the space. The contractors were impressed by his level of detail and his plans. The actual work has not begun yet, but we are excited to see how it comes out. read more

Thank you John for your amazing expertise in helping us design the plant layout of our backyard. You were quick to respond with the design, and the plants you recommended were spot on...and our backyard looks incredible! Thank you, thank you! read more

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John Kensla of Infinite Sky Landscape Design came recommended by another professional we know who did work for a family member in rainwater conservation. John was quick to respond to our initial inquiry for help in designing a new front yard landscape for us with a swale as the focal point. He walked us through the whole design process and was great in helping us decide what would work best for our space. His final design was precise, professional, insightful and beautiful, and it has allowed us the vision we need to complete our project. We are extremely pleased with Infinite Sky Landscape Design, and recommend John highly!!!! read more

Infinite Sky Landscape Design - Our beautiful final design! - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

John is a landscape designer with a unique vision he listens to the client but ultimately he has a very strong passion for design and is able to steer the client towards a direction that is sort of like a foundation of Harmony. Got a great team it specialized in drainage and he had a great team that specialized in plants and he was there to kind of oversee the whole process from start to finish. I would highly recommend infinite landscape design!!! My read more

We started working with John over a year ago to come up with designs for our front and back yards. I chose John because of his artistic eye. It was my first time working with a landscape architect, and I appreciated not only his artistic skills, but his ability to also do cost estimates associated with the design. John produced a few different versions of the design. We were concerned about the initial predicted cost, and John worked with us to reduce costs by removing extra plants, extra lights, extra boulders, reducing turf and paver areas, etc. The design looked beautiful on paper, but I had concerns about finding someone to make it a reality. Although John did provide some landscaper references, I decided to go with Tim Vu of Springview Landscape (http://www.springviewlandscapes.com) . While working with Tim we ended up reverting back to some of John's original design. We added back additional pavers and additional artifical turf, which really made a difference. John's large beautiful curved back patio really worked well with all that artifical turf. We also decided to add back new pavers for the driveway. John's beautiful front yard design included a curved paver front walkway that was complimented by a curved dry riverbed which splits into two streams. I loved John's design and I loved Tim's implementation of it. It was one of my best decisions to hire John. I wholeheartedly recommend him. read more

Infinite Sky Landscape Design - Backyard curved patio with artifical turf. - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

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John helped design a great yard space to increase the curb appeal of our home. Our initial consultation was 3-4 hours where we talked about what I wanted to see in my new space. I shared Pinterest boards and then left him to design and draw out the plan. Within a couple of hours he had a beautifully colorized planting diagram that helped me visualize what I wanted and it had a couple new directions in its layout that I hadn't thought of previously while still maintaining the level of effort I wanted in maintaining the garden. He listened really well and was easy going and knowledgeable during our time together. Once finished we went over the design together and he showed me images of each of the plants from a binder he had prepared. He also included a key with the name of each plant, and a quantity needed for the whole project. This proved to be incredibly helpful when working with the nursery to place the order. The store buyer even commented on how organized and helpful the list was. I didn't use one of his suggested contractors since I had already begun working with a construction company before I met with John. But, I did ask him if I could pay him hourly to help place the plants once we were ready for planting since we had merged his designs and plantings with our construction plan for the new pathway. He came for 3 hours and placed all the plants beautifully in our new space and I'm really glad we utilized him for this time. He was also available for questions about the design between our consultation and the final planting so I didn't feel like I was doing this alone at any point. This was my first big garden project and I really relied on his expertise and it paid off. Many of my neighbors have been commenting about how beautiful our yard now is and it's great to see my vision as a reality. read more

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John was a delight to work with for our backyard design. He showed his excitement in designing what my husband and I wanted while adding intricate details that surprised us. I highly recommend him...easy to work with and make last minute changes. Came prepared at each meeting too which was helpful for us. read more

Very creative eye for design and color. Love that I ended up with a visual of where i was going with my landscape plans and exactly how to get there! read more

The exterior of my house is a nightmare - pepper trees invading, overgrown bamboo, and weeds everywhere. I had planned on tearing everything out and leaving nothing but dirt and concrete. John changed all that. He truly has a unique vision for transforming an ugly landscape into a beautiful oasis. Working with my needs he created an outstanding plan to renovate this jungle. John provided a comprehensive list of tree and plant types, diagrams, cost estimates, and measurements of the entire outside of my home. He also gave me a list of contractors he trusts and the names of businesses where I can look at the types of materials I'm interested in. I couldn't be happier with the results. Easy to talk to, great listener, and highly skilled, he made the entire process seem effortless. I can't recommend him enough. read more

John Kensla is simply THE BEST! I had been wanting to overhaul my backyard for several years and was just unable to figure out what to do with it/what would look good. John came in and had a fabulous vision! He took the couple of ideas that I had and ran with it. I was blown away at just how perfect his design plans were! He had a good eye for design as well as an impressive knowledge of flowers and plants. The cost for plans was fantastic! John exceeded EVERY EXPECTATION that I had! One other thing that I wanted to point out was that I found John to be completely trust worthy and transparent. He explained how the whole process moving forward would work and even provided a "shopping list" of materials for me to provide to contractors so that I could ensure the contractors bids were properly priced. John made the process so EASY for me! I am so happy with his work. I recommend him to any and everyone. My only regret: I wish I would have called him years ago! read more

John was great; we had a wonderful experience working with him. We wanted to update our small backyard to create a cozy place to gather and enjoy the outdoors. I was afraid I would not find someone to do such a small job. But John was more than willing to help and approached the project with professionalism, reverence and enthusiasm. His vision, creativity and expertise were just what we needed. He connected us with a great landscaper who ordered and installed the plants, and he did a super job. We are so pleased with the final results and are so happy to have found John. read more

I found John through yelp because I was looking for someone who was unique with their designs and think more out of the box and whimsical with the design. He was great to collaborate with and my side yard looks amazing! read more

John Kinsla did a wonderful job reimagining a court yard that was overgrown after 20 years. It is now a showpiece. Because we liked the courtyard, we asked him to refresh other areas and we are delighted with the result. John was easy to work with and visited the site several times while the contractor was installing the plants. We highly recommend John Kinsla read more

I was very happy with the service provided by Infinite Sky. I had a unique project and John was very accommodating to my needs. We agreed on a very fair price for the work and he was able to tune around our project very quickly. I appreciated the great service and would highly recommend! read more