2026 Elemental Design Group, Inc.
Landscape Architect in Monterey County
Landcape Design, Build & Architecture
Elemental Design Group is a licensed, award-winning landscape architecture firm with deep roots in Monterey County. Led by Rhadiante Van de Voorde, ASLA, a landscape architect with over three decades of experience, our studio provides full-service landscape architecture and design for discerning homeowners throughout Monterey, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach, 17 Mile Drive, Cypress Point, Seaside, and Big Sur.
We handle every phase of your project, from initial site analysis and concept development through architectural drawings, plant selection, custom fabrication, and contractor oversight. Whether you’re transforming a Carmel cottage garden, designing a resort-style estate on 17 Mile Drive, or creating a sustainable native landscape that honors the wild beauty of Big Sur, we bring the same level of artistry, precision, and care to every project we take on.
WHAT WE DO
Landscape Architecture, Design & Build Services on the Monterey Peninsula
Landscape Architecture & Design
Full-service planning, concept development, and architectural drawings tailored to the unique terrain and microclimates of the Monterey Peninsula. From Carmel cottages to Pebble Beach estates, every design is site-specific, sustainable, and built to endure for generations to come with meticulous attention to detail.
Plant Selection & Coastal Planting Design
We specialize in plant palettes that thrive in Monterey County's coastal conditions: salt-tolerant species for oceanfront properties, drought-adapted natives for Carmel Valley's warmer inland climate, and lush shade plantings for the fog-cooled neighborhoods of Seaside and Monterey.
Hardscape, Stone & Custom Fabrication
Inspired by the natural materials of the Central Coast: local stone, weathered wood, and hand-forged metal, our hardscape and custom fabrication work creates spaces that feel rooted in their surroundings. Patios, walls, water features, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens designed to complement the landscape, not compete with it.
Hillside Grading & Retaining Walls
The hillside terrain of Carmel Valley and the coastal bluffs of Big Sur demand engineering expertise alongside design vision. We manage complex grading, retaining wall design, and drainage solutions that create usable spaces.
Pools, Spas & Water Features
From infinity-edge pools that mirror the Pacific horizon to serene koi ponds and sculptural fountains, we design water features that become the centerpiece of your outdoor living experience - each one crafted to bring movement, sound, and a sense of calm to your landscape.
Contractor Selection & Project Oversight
We partner with trusted local contractors across the Monterey Peninsula, managing every phase of installation so your project is executed exactly as designed, on time and on budget giving you complete confidence from groundbreaking to completion.
Landscape Architecture & Design
Full-service planning, concept development, and architectural drawings tailored to the unique terrain and microclimates of the Monterey Peninsula. From Carmel cottages to grand Pebble Beach estates, every design is site-specific, sustainable, and built to endure for generations to come with meticulous attention to detail.
Plant Selection & Coastal Planting Design
We specialize in plant palettes that thrive in Monterey County's coastal conditions: salt-tolerant species for oceanfront properties, drought-adapted natives for Carmel Valley's warmer inland climate, and lush shade plantings for the fog-cooled neighborhoods of Seaside and Monterey.
Hardscape, Stone & Custom Fabrication
Inspired by the natural materials of the Central Coast: local stone, weathered wood, and hand-forged metal, our hardscape and custom fabrication work creates spaces that feel rooted in their surroundings. Patios, walls, water features, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens designed to complement the landscape, not compete with it.
Hillside Grading & Retaining Walls
The hillside terrain of Carmel Valley and the coastal bluffs of Big Sur demand engineering expertise alongside design vision. We manage complex grading, retaining wall design, and drainage solutions that create usable spaces.
Pools, Spas & Water Features
From infinity-edge pools that mirror the Pacific horizon to serene koi ponds and sculptural fountains, we design water features that become the centerpiece of your outdoor living experience - each one crafted to bring movement, sound, and a sense of calm to your landscape.
Contractor Selection & Project Oversight
We partner with trusted local contractors across the Monterey Peninsula and manage every phase of installation so your project is executed exactly as designed, on time and on budget.
OUR CREDENTIALS
CA Landscape Architect License #3944 | CA Landscape Contractor License #926561
As a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Elemental Design Group upholds the profession’s highest standards of design, sustainability, and ethical practice. For clients on the Monterey Peninsula, that membership is a mark of confidence that you’re working with a credentialed firm that is recognized and accountable at a national level.
What Our Monterey Clients Say
Why Elemental in Monterey County
From the wind-sculpted cypress groves of Pebble Beach and the storybook cottage gardens of Carmel-by-the-Sea, to the golden oak-studded hillsides of Carmel Valley and the dramatic coastal bluffs of Big Sur, every corner of Monterey County carries its own distinct character. The best landscape architecture doesn’t override that character, it deepens it. We know the microclimates, the permit landscape, the native plant communities, and the subtle differences that make a garden in Seaside feel entirely different from one on 17 Mile Drive.
Rhadiante Van de Voorde, ASLA, brings four decades of landscape architecture experience to every Monterey County project, along with a design philosophy rooted in Feng Shui principles, natural materials, and spaces that restore as much as they impress.
Japanese-Inspired Oasis in the Heart of Carmel
Landscape Architecture in Monterey County — Your Questions Answered
For most residential projects in Monterey County, particularly those involving grading, retaining walls, drainage, or properties near the coast, working with a licensed landscape architect is strongly recommended and in many cases required. Coastal Commission jurisdiction, HOA guidelines in communities like Pebble Beach and 17 Mile Drive, and Carmel-by-the-Sea’s architectural review process all benefit from the expertise and credentialed drawings that a licensed landscape architect provides. Elemental Design Group holds CA Landscape Architect License #3944.
We serve homeowners throughout Monterey County, including Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach, 17 Mile Drive, Cypress Point, Seaside, and Big Sur. Our studio is based in Monterey, and the Monterey Peninsula is our home territory.
Landscape architecture fees vary based on the scope, complexity, and size of your project. For a full-service residential project on the Monterey Peninsula, including site analysis, concept design, architectural drawings, plant selection, and contractor oversight, design fees typically range from $15,000 to $50,000+, with total project budgets (design + installation) commonly ranging from $75,000 to $500,000+ for high-end properties. We’re happy to discuss your project and provide a clear scope and fee proposal at no obligation.
Yes. We have extensive experience navigating the Coastal Commission permitting process, Pebble Beach Company HOA guidelines, and Carmel-by-the-Sea’s architectural and design review requirements. Our licensed drawings and documentation are prepared to meet these standards, and we guide clients through the approval process from start to finish.
Elemental is a fully licensed landscape architecture firm, not simply a landscape design or contracting company. That distinction matters: our work is led by Rhadiante Van de Voorde, ASLA, a credentialed landscape architect with four decades of experience and a design philosophy rooted in Feng Shui principles, natural materials, and spaces that are as restorative as they are beautiful. We handle every phase of your project in-house, from concept through installation oversight, and we bring deep local knowledge of Monterey County’s terrain, climate, and regulatory environment to every project.
Yes. Big Sur is one of the most extraordinary and most demanding design environments on the California coast. We have experience working with the unique terrain, land-use regulations, and ecological sensitivity of Big Sur properties, and we approach every project there with the respect the landscape deserves.