Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture
About us
Kim Rooney Inc. is a full service two person landscape architecture office specializing in residential landscapes of all sizes and styles. Kim's design work has been awarded in Seattle, Canada, and Chicago. We greatly value our clients and take care to provide the highest level of expertise. We believe that the design process is both fun and important. We recognize that your home is likely your most valuable investment. Whether your project requires an elegant hardscape solution, pretty planting design, problem solving for grading, or creating a play space for your children that working with kim rooney inc strives to bring you the best design solution for you. Call us to discuss your needs. We look forward to working with you. Office line (206) 920-1323. Additional DBA - The Garden Design Studio.
Business highlights
21 years of experience
Services we offer
Landscape architecture, driveways, garden design, grading & drainage....I design everything for the outside of the house., outdoor fireplaces, patio design, stone retaining walls
Reviews
4.635 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 86% | ||
| 3% | ||
| 3% | ||
| 6% | ||
| 3% |
Showing 1-25 of 35 reviews
C C.
Mar 2022
Cost of Kim’s services for planting a ~1500 sq ft hillside: 20-25k Cost of construction: 40k For professionals who are providing a long-term service, any negative reviews are red flags because it indicates that they were not professional in resolving issues privately with their client. In our case, Kim was defensive, made many costly mistakes, and then billed us for the hours spent discussing and resolving them. She charges principal level rates for inexperienced site research and permit assistance and cannot take ownership of her mistakes with professionalism and grace. She also makes it difficult to detect her mistakes because her contract insists that her office is the only one allowed to submit for permits. I heard from a few people in the design and construction business that they preferred other LA firms over Kim’s. This should have been a red flag from the start but I ignored the suggestion and hired her due to her 5 star ratings. Here's our experience: 1. She makes costly mistakes and does not take ownership for them. She unnecessarily delayed our permit process about 10 months when it could have been done in 2 months—she forced us to go through a lengthy design and permitting process because she was convinced that our hillside was a Steep Slope even though our Survey didn't indicate the presence of one. Luckily, a city reviewer emailed all of us asking why Kim drew a Steep Slope on her plans which was not in the Survey she submitted. It took a couple emails and a call from me to convince her that our slope was not steep. She billed for these discussions, the revisions, and resubmitting permit revisions. She had a hard time taking ownership for this mistake, and instead blamed the surveyor for not labeling the Steep Slope. The surveyor is not responsible for labeling it if it doesn’t exist, Kim. The overall financial damage of her mistake was over $15k, among the unnecessary hours billed by Kim, the unnecessary permit fees, and an unnecessary Geotech report we had to get as a result of this process. 2. She mistook a shrub for a protected tree and drew it in the wrong location on our Planting Plan. When I texted her, she told me she was billing me for discussing this mistake and that she would charge me for revising the Planting Plan around the correct location of the shrub. What’s to keep her from taking advantage of me and making intentional mistakes just so she can charge me more? 3. She didn’t deliver what she promised on our proposal and pushed back on our vision because she was afraid the city wouldn’t allow it. She billed us hours for inaccurate site research, mislabeled our setbacks, and didn't design short retaining walls which the city would have allowed. 4. She also seems desperate and pushy when it comes to money. One time, she spent an hour texting me to call my bank to see if they could speed up a payment hold of 3-5 days. That hour would have been better spent on proofreading her plans.
Stephen R.
Oct 2014
Kim and the two subcontractors she employed were professional, communicated clearly, and they completed all work as promised. There were a couple of miner revisions that were necessary due to issues on the property the were unforeseen, but we felt Kim and her subs worked to develop and effective an reasonable alternative. Overall, we were very satisfied with her work and management of the project and are considering completing phase two in the Spring.
John S.
Feb 2014
I was able to schedule time with Kim within two days of our first conversation. During our first appointment, she listened to what I was interested in doing, and where I needed advice. She asked permission to give me all her thoughts; we walked around the yard and she provided ideas for both hardscape and landscape, which was exactly what I was looking for. She asked questions about some features we might be interested in, and we scheduled a follow up appointment to review two conceptual plans for a driveway, walkway, entry way and two patios. The statement of work was handled over e-mail and phone. She returned to review the conceptual plans and was very knowledgeable about the process, material options, etc. We selected one of the two conceptual plans and made some adjustments. She created the associated removal plan, hardscape materials, grading and layout for the components we planned to do first, and also obtained cost estimates for us. Throughout our engagement with Kim, she was very prompt, professional and thorough in her communication. She was also very flexible when we decided to remove some features from the plan that had been part of the statement of work. I will engage her if needed for further work, and also plan to have her consult on a landscape plan for a challenging area of my yard. I enjoyed working with Kim and look forward to working with her again.
Jeremy S.
Nov 2013
Primary concern was her professionalism - my wife walked up to us as Kim was going on about her advice, and Kim didn't acknowledge her - pretty much ignored her and barely stopped to take a breath. Kim has lots to say, and low on the interactive style - so a style / personality conflict with us - might work for someone else... Maybe she had a bad day and was not aware that she would affect others. The expertise/recommendations she gave seemed fine and pretty much matched the description of service.
Response from Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture
"I gladly welcome the opportunity to talk about what being a licensed professional actually means. In the construction industry many contractors are not responsive. About half do what they say they are going to do. I believe the other A reports I have on this site reveal exactly just how "professional" my company is! I would like to say two things. First the client was extremely difficult to get a hold of and I went well beyond my responsibility to reach them. [Member name removed] purchased a big deal consultation for 99.00. I responded to them via email at least 5 times and attempted to call them well over 10 times. In a final effort to reach this home owner I contacted Angies List and explained my earnest effort to even get a response from the home owner. Angie's list was helpful to give me the mailing address and I send a regular mailed letter. The angies list representative praised me for my efforts and stated not very many companies would make as many efforts to contact a non responsive home owner. It took [Member name removed] over two months to respond to me. I was extremely persistent in order to provide them the service they had already paid for purchased. This shows that I have respect for the clients dollar and value every client that reaches out to my office. Second, I met with the [Member name removed] after my normal hours. It was getting dark and time and light were not on our side. We finished the consultation well after the sun went down. I was happy to help them as they had a very tight budget and clearly needed a professional to help them with the property. The wife arrived almost 20 minutes after the consultation had started. I did actually acknowledge her as I recall that I shook her hand hello and continued with my input. She went inside to put her bag down and asked about the front walk which I addressed. We took a few minutes to get her up to speed about what I had already spoke about. Namely the removal of a large rhododendron and the enlargement of the driveway for ease of existing the vehicle she had just gotten out of. People hire me for my professional opinion and I make every effort to give them as much advise as I can in the short time I have with them. If 1 out of 20 feel I talk too much I would rather err on giving them more advice than less. I also sent them a scope of service which took another hour of my time to which they also did not respond. I believe this client and I have differing opinions of what professionalism actually is. Websters Definition of Professionalism is:the skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well. I believe I displayed skill in what I spoke about, judgement in that time was short and I wanted to keep the meeting going as they only had an hour and it was already dark and polite behavior in that I made every every to be courteous not only during the meeting but before in my efforts to reach them. I also was: 1. on time, 2. provided helpful and useful professional advice and solutions for their landscape, 3. clean and well dressed 4. was courteous 5. went beyond the call of duty to make sure that I made contact and completed my work in as prompt a manner possible. 6. Followed up as promised with a scope of service. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about professionalism. After 20 years in the industry it is something I consider a strong value of mine and gladly welcome every chance to provide my service in as professional a manner as possible."
Kathy M.
Oct 2013
We hired Kim to help us with a landscaping plan for our backyard. Since we are also replacing the deck in the backyard, she offered her expertise regarding our deck plan. Kim's input was so valuable and timely. She got a detailed drawing of our new deck to us in just a couple of days. Our new deck designed by Kim is much more in keeping with the style of our home. Kim's knowledge of design and landscaping is extensive. She saved us from making some costly mistakes. We will definitely have her come back when the deck is finished to design a final landscape plan.
Dana T.
Sep 2013
She listened to my ideas and also gave me alternatives to my ideas. We walked thru the yard discussing what made the most sense.
She was on time and explained next steps, if I wanted to engage her services further.
she sent her proposal within 3 days of meeting.
She was on time and explained next steps, if I wanted to engage her services further.
she sent her proposal within 3 days of meeting.
Robert W.
Sep 2013
Fabulously! The money spent was well worth it because of the useful information, good ideas and suggestions for changes that I could make myself as well as when it would be a good idea to get a professional in.
She listened really well to what I was looking for, and then proceeded to respond on every issue. This was a most valuable consultation. I will likely use her services again if I decide to go ahead with some of the plans we talked about.
She listened really well to what I was looking for, and then proceeded to respond on every issue. This was a most valuable consultation. I will likely use her services again if I decide to go ahead with some of the plans we talked about.
Eliza D.
Aug 2013
It went great! I have already hired Kim to continue the process of landscape design.
Chris L.
Apr 2013
We are very happy with the layout and plans. Kim listened to our needs and wants really well and took them into consideration in her plans. Our friends want her phone number :-)
Carolyn T.
Nov 2012
It was excellent. My first impression of Kim was that she was very competent and I was confidant that she would do a great job. But what pleasantly surprised me was how thoughtfully she took into consideration my tastes and personal preferences throughout the entire project. I had some very specific design requests that honestly, I thought might be very difficult do develop and execute, especially considering the landscape we had to work with. Kim did an excellent job incorporating everything and the final product was a landscapes that was both beautiful and functional while capturing the quiet retreat-type setting I longed for. Kim's involvement in the entire process is what ensured that each stage of the project was done correctly as she very much had a Hands-On approach which I also appreciated. I can whole whole heartedly recommend Kim and I look forward to working with her again in the future. And by the way, she has also become a good friend.
Andrea A.
Apr 2012
We are extremely pleased with the landscape work that Kim Rooney did at our home. Kim is very professional, knowledgeable, responsive, creative and easy to work with. From the time that we first contacted her, she was responsive in setting up a time to meet. She asked a lot of questions, and understood quickly what we were trying to accomplish in our project. After several meetings, she provided us with several design options that were exactly what we were looking for in terms of materials, plants, and prices.
We particularly appreciate her working with the landscape contractor as she was on hand daily to oversee their work and make small changes that enhanced the project. She was particular about where rocks should be place, their angles, how many plants in a grouping, and was very attuned to the sun and shade aspects of our garden and the types of plants that would do well. She was also present for our walk through with the contractor, and was helpful in making sure made that even small details were completed.
Kim was very creative not only in the overall design but also in her ideas to reuse some of our plants and rebalance the landscape. She made sure that small garden areas related to but not part of the original project were updated so that it all fits with the style of our yard overall.
The landscape project that Kim designed for us is very attractive, has seasonal interest and color, and greatly enhances the entry way to our home. We continue to receive many compliments from neighbors even 6 months after the project was completed. My husband and I really enjoyed working with Kim and we love the landscape design that she created for us. I highly recommend Kim Rooney.
We particularly appreciate her working with the landscape contractor as she was on hand daily to oversee their work and make small changes that enhanced the project. She was particular about where rocks should be place, their angles, how many plants in a grouping, and was very attuned to the sun and shade aspects of our garden and the types of plants that would do well. She was also present for our walk through with the contractor, and was helpful in making sure made that even small details were completed.
Kim was very creative not only in the overall design but also in her ideas to reuse some of our plants and rebalance the landscape. She made sure that small garden areas related to but not part of the original project were updated so that it all fits with the style of our yard overall.
The landscape project that Kim designed for us is very attractive, has seasonal interest and color, and greatly enhances the entry way to our home. We continue to receive many compliments from neighbors even 6 months after the project was completed. My husband and I really enjoyed working with Kim and we love the landscape design that she created for us. I highly recommend Kim Rooney.
Jeff R.
Dec 2011
We hired Kim based on the strength of her reviews on Angie's list and a first meeting in which she made a good impression as she described the process that she uses to complete the projects she takes on. She started by preparing 3 different concepts for our yard, each of which provided a different feel and pricing. This was very useful for my wife and I to decide what we valued in our project. We chose an option and Kim finished up plans with our input.
Kim also worked with her preferred general contractor and directed their efforts during implementation of our project.
Kim has good design instincts and did a nice job on the design. However, we found her to be difficult to communicate with as she tends to be set in her approach. While I thought she did a good job on the design, I would not use her again to oversee actual implementation as this portion of the project has more to do with communication and managing client expectations than actual design work. For us, Kim was not as strong in these areas.
Kim also worked with her preferred general contractor and directed their efforts during implementation of our project.
Kim has good design instincts and did a nice job on the design. However, we found her to be difficult to communicate with as she tends to be set in her approach. While I thought she did a good job on the design, I would not use her again to oversee actual implementation as this portion of the project has more to do with communication and managing client expectations than actual design work. For us, Kim was not as strong in these areas.
Joan C.
Oct 2011
Everything went well. Kim's plans were beautiful and she was able to fit us into her schedule since we were pressed for time.
Ronda W.
Dec 2010
It went very well. Kim designed the plan, went over it with us, made changes. She worked the the landscapers during each phase: removal, implementing the design, planting. She met us at a rock center to help us choose a dish rock. She worked with us to place our existing plants within the design. Our budget was not huge and Kim managed to make the yard look lovely with relatively minimal plantings. The reason we gave a B on price is simply because we had nothing to compare prices to.
Pirkko B.
Dec 2010
This was not a big job. It kept getting delayed because it was difficult to entice good professionals to come and look at the small job. I found Kim on Angie's List, contacted her and set an appointment right away. She developed a detailed plan, adjusted it readily in response to our requests. She brought in a contractor to do the actual work and supervised it. Her fee covers the design and contract supervision. We are pleased with the outcome. It was a pleasure to work with Kim as she was very prompt in returning calls or emails and always followed up as promised. She coordinated things well with the contractor doing the work.
Response from Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture
"Thank you for the kind report. It was a pleasure to work with the Borlands. All jobs and clients are important to me regardless of size, complexity or budget. I loved that this client knew a good bit about what they wanted and had a specific hydrangea variety to incorporate. We installed the planting right before the snow came Thanks to the contractor that builds my designs quick response to the client and my resquest we were able to plant a day early and beat the snow."
Robert M.
Jul 2010
We had a horrid looking patio dating from the 1980's that we never used and had pretty much been defeated by mold and moss. Knowing nothing much about plants or patios, we hired Kim to redesign the entire space. This was one of the best decisions we ever made. She listened carefully, paid close attention to our style and engaged in good dialogue over design options. She also project-managed the construction with great patience but also great attention to detail. Her encyclopedic knowlege of plants was impressive, as was her knowledge of code (our back space is a restricted area with difficult zoning challenges). The result is breathtaking---we have a beautifully designed patio with ample built in seating set off by an artistic waterfall that blends into the stones and curves of the concrete. The before-and-after is truly amazing, and we now have a beautiful, artistic space for entertaining or just enjoying the outdoors. I would recommend Kim without hesitation.
Response from Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture
"I greatly appreciate the wonderful report from this client. The concrete pour was very very challenging and they were extremely patient during construction. During the design the client was very easy to work with and very clear about their needs and style. They were very open about likes and dislikes and were not afraid to tell me if they wanted something to be changed or modified. Because of their open communication even during the constrcution it was easy to meet their needs and expectations. Thank you very much for your kind words and your business."
Paige L.
Jul 2010
Kim did an excellent job redesigning and landscaping our front yard under very aggressive timelines. She is very diligent, professional and easy to work with and I would highly recommend her services to anyone. I would also use Kim again without hesitation.
Dawn P.
Apr 2010
Kim took the time to survey our yard, drew up beautiful concept designs, and was very patient as we worked to make changes to fit our needs and budget. She's a very good listener. Not once did we ever sense impatience or frustration on her part. Once the design was done, she did all the work to schedule and oversee the work done by landscapers. She also did multiple drawings to design a porch that complemented our house and coordinated the building work. The work was done on time and on budget. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Kim, who was enthusiastic and supportive the entire way. We were thrilled with the outcome when the project was finished and are still enjoying what she did.
Response from Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture
"This member was wonderful to work and came as a referral from a fellow yoga practitioner who is a good friend of hers. It was a pleasure to transform her entry. The house is a very charming bungalow. I think the changes made to landscape better fit both the architecture and the clients style. Thank you for your trust. It is a great treat to work with appreciative clients:)"
Mark C.
Apr 2010
She assisted in reviewing the landscape contractors with me when I was deciding which one to select for the job. This was very helpful. During the course of the project, she spent many hours emailing back and forth as the job unfolded to keep the project moving smoothly. She brought a lot of energy to the project and had a number of fun/unusual designs. She made lists of problems and followed up on them until they were resolved. She was also flexible with the design and changed elements as the project demanded. Kim is a very visual person who best grasps a concept when she can see a model/drawing of it. The end result of all the work is quite beautiful with all of the details coming together nicely. As with any project, there were problems along the way. A number of these problems centered on communication. Kim spent the extra time to clarify these issues and make the job details as clear as possible. Sometimes multiple reviews of certain project elements were necessary. Kim does not typically automatically redraw plans to indicate changes that have been made on the original plans after the project is bid. If additional drawings are requested, she will do them on an as requested basis either from the client or the contractor. Otherwise, change orders are expected to be noted by the contractor on the old plans. If significant changes are made to the plans, it then becomes important to make sure that the new designs are clearly communicated to every subcontractor. A mechanism for dealing with these changes should be discussed early on. Resolving these discrepancies later can become a problem when each person has a different set of plans.
Response from Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture
"This project was a highly complex hardscape with a great deal of detail happening in a very small space on capitol hill. The material and the design although seemingly simple were quite sophisticated. Over the past 6 years I have established a great relationship with a contractor called Malone's Landscape. They were not picked as the contractor. We ended up working with a contractor that although is well known was my first time working with. the communication with this contractor and his subs was very challenging. It further confirms my trust in the usual contractor I use. The more I work with the same contractor the smoother the communication. I am grateful to have had such a discerning client give me such a nice review. Thank you Mark."
Jerry P.
Mar 2010
Excellent work from start to finish, very professional throughout.
Response from Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture
"The members were awesome to work with as well. I take a good deal of pride and joy in helping my clients reach their project goals and create environments that fit their needs and style. They trust me and so I do my best to keep their trust. We do something out of the box on the water feature and it did have a small challenge. It kept going off. They were patient in allowing the contractor the time to figure out how to solve the issue. Which he did and now all is good in the members' backyard."
Mark C.
Feb 2010
Timely, thorough, thoughtful, innovative work presented with different options/approaches to the landscape design. I felt that I received very well done plans for the project.
Christina S.
Oct 2009
Because of Kim our project was a success; without her it would not have been. Her knowledge and expertise are incredible, and she was great to work with. If we had it to do over again, we would have done it right and hired Kim first and let her design and supervise the whole project. It would have been less costly. We will never do another landscape project without her. She's amazing.
Melissa B.
Sep 2009
Working with Kim was an absolute pleasure. Kim worked closely with my husband and I to understand our needs and design style and then developed a plan to help us complete our dream project within our realstic budget. Her beautiful design has completly changed the look and feel of our house. We could not be more happy with the outcome.
Joy P.
Aug 2009
Our project went better than planned. Kim asked us initially our lifestyle and what plants we liked (also recommended growers to visit). From there she did drawing plans for the hardscape needed and planting plans. We let her choose Malones for the hardscape. Meetings with Malones and Kim brought up costs of lights and sprinkers and any initial piping/wiring which should be done in in phase 1 or phase 2. Malones finished the job in 1/2 the time expected. There were some issues that came up at "substantail completion" and Kim was on it, and they were resolved within 1 week. Kim's portion of ll this was just over $3,000 including the planting plans, and Malones was $11,000. The rest went to tree trimmers, and brush clearers, and excluded all our labor.
RENEE F.
Jul 2009
Everything went very smoothly. Everyone was totally professional and responsive.
Licensing
State Contractor License Requirements
All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our Find Licensing Requirements page.
*Contact business to see additional licenses.
FAQ
Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture is currently rated 4.6 overall out of 5.
No, Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture does not offer free project estimates.
No, Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture does not offer a senior discount.
No, Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture does not offer emergency services.
No, Kim Rooney Landscape Architecture does not offer warranties.