Santa Barbara’s landscape is a rare blend of coastal light, mountain edges, and Mediterranean rhythm. The right landscape design doesn’t compete with that. It collaborates with it. The five firms listed here are masters of that balance, known for outdoor spaces that feel intentional, enduring, and quietly luxurious.
1. Elevate by Design
Why They Stand Out
Elevate by Design is known for creating outdoor spaces that feel fully resolved. Architectural in clarity, yet soft in presence. Founded by Paul Wrona and Chris Turner, the firm brings award-winning experience from Colorado to the Santa Barbara region, blending their signature calm restraint with a deep respect for local terrain. Their gardens don’t just look beautiful, they feel composed, purposeful, and connected to the structures they serve.
Aesthetic Approach
Elevate by Design leans into clean geometry and warm natural materials. Their plant palettes often feel coastal and restrained—favoring texture, tonal variation, and movement over bright seasonal bursts. In Santa Barbara, their work often balances crisp, modern lines with site-sensitive elements like native stone, curved retaining walls, and layered foliage that blurs the line between cultivated and wild.
2. Bosky Landscape Architecture
Why They Stand Out
Bosky is a well-respected name in Santa Barbara for estate and vineyard landscapes that feel both luxurious and site-specific. Their team is known for meticulous attention to the natural contours of the land and for creating spaces that invite flow, comfort, and elegance. The firm has earned praise for its ability to blend outdoor utility with a distinct sense of artistry.
Aesthetic Approach
Bosky’s style leans traditional but not stiff. You’ll often see gravel paths, low stone walls, and curated Mediterranean plantings like olive trees and lavender. Their spaces feel grounded in place, often pulling from European influences while remaining true to the local climate.
3. CommonGround Landscape Architecture
Why They Stand Out
With more than three decades of experience, CommonGround has built a reputation for client-first design and highly personalized landscapes. Their work often begins with an in-depth site reading and conversation with the homeowner, leading to outdoor spaces that feel lived-in, comfortable, and naturally integrated.
Aesthetic Approach
CommonGround creates informal, expressive landscapes. You’ll often find boulder groupings, soft meadow grasses, and a relaxed sense of spatial organization. Their gardens feel like extensions of the terrain rather than imposed geometry. Ideal for clients who want their space to feel effortless and timeless.
4. La Tierra Landscape Corporation
Why They Stand Out
La Tierra is a family-led firm with a long history of estate-scale craftsmanship in Montecito and Hope Ranch. Their team combines horticultural knowledge with detailed hardscaping expertise, making them a favorite for clients with complex or expansive properties. They’re known for executing layered, high-maintenance gardens with ease.
Aesthetic Approach
La Tierra favors rich, lush planting with a tailored edge. Expect mature trees, structured boxwood hedges, and winding paths that reveal garden rooms or courtyards. The work is romantic, intentional, and often tailored to complement Spanish Colonial or Mediterranean Revival architecture.
5. Ground Studio
Why They Stand Out
Ground Studio has built a reputation across California for modern landscapes that feel calm and complete. In Santa Barbara, they approach each project with a high degree of sensitivity—studying light, view corridors, and architectural context before the first plant is placed. Their work speaks quietly but lingers.
Aesthetic Approach
Minimal and sculptural. Ground Studio emphasizes proportion, negative space, and restrained plant palettes. Their landscapes often feature large swaths of native grasses, carefully positioned stone, and a few well-placed trees. Perfect for clients who want clarity, calm, and cohesion.
Conclusion
Santa Barbara’s best landscape design firms offer a range of styles. From formal and romantic to modern and restrained. But no matter the aesthetic, the common thread is thoughtfulness.