Solful Design started from a personal project renovating my own backyard. When I purchased my first home, its backyard was simply a “dirt lot”. The only thing that grew there was weeds every spring.

During this time, I had recently begun my career and was spending most of my day indoors and even when I was home, I was usually inside. I started longing for a connection to nature and time spent outside. So I spent every weekend possible camping or hiking, used all my PTO for trips across the world to places like the remote forests on Vancouver Island, northern lights excursions in Iceland, and snorkeling in Bali and Hawaii - all with the purpose of immersing myself in nature. I reached a point where all I wanted was to be in nature, all the time.

One day, it occurred to me that the connection with nature I sought could happen right at home, in my own backyard. I could cultivate the healing power of nature into my daily life through landscape design. I created a quick sketch of a layout for the backyard, as shown on right. I envisioned my backyard as an “outdoor living room” - it included a central flagstone patio as a gathering space, flanked by native vegetation and fragrant plants including rosemary and lavender.

We spent every weekend for an entire month building the backyard. It was one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on. The best part about finishing the project was I had a space that now just needed minor maintenance, not a complete weeding overhaul. I also could use the space for outdoor family and friend gatherings.

Realizing that I enjoyed that project so much, and that it checked off all my boxes: work on something outdoors, work with my hands, and connect with nature, inspired me to turn this into a full-time business so I could help others experience the same transformation, bringing their property back to life. Now, I blend my design skills and experience with a love for sustainable landscapes, creating spaces that are beautiful, low-maintenance, and cultivate a connection to nature. I’m continuing to grow into gardening, and eventually, into micro-agriculture.