Pratolino Landscape Design

I’m so happy we hired Gianfranco with Pratolino Landscape Design! We had just come back from visiting the Alhambra in Spain and we asked Gianfranco if he could use some Moorish flair to his design and he accomplish that by rebuilding a set of stairs faced with tiles that display the intricate design of Moorish patterns. Furthermore, we have a shaded area in our garden which Gianfranco took full advantage of by creating a sitting area taking full advantage during the hot days of summer. Large Arizona pavers provide the hardscape with a nice island which is planted with a variety of drought tolerant succulents and cactuses. Just gorgeous! His planting design is marvelous and now, 3 years after installation everything looks stunning and luscious. All around beautiful design with incredible attention to details. We’ve turned the home into a short-term rental, and the guests always gush over the garden—it’s become a major selling point. We couldn’t be happier, and highly recommend Pratolino Landscape Design.

We highly recommend Pratolino Landscape Design. Owner, Gianfranco Pescetti is a creative genius. His attention to detail and creative design far exceed the normal scope. Gianfranco's UC Berkley degree in landscape design is apparent. Pratolino Landscape is diligent and very cost effective. The resources that Pratolino has access to are part of the formula. Our plants and trees are absolutely amazing. We have been an inspiration to the neighborhood, everyone is asking, " Who did your landscaping? " Gianfranco does not just plant a garden, he composes a garden. We are extremely happy. Thank you Gianfranco Pescetti, you are brilliant! We couldn't be happier!!

Gianfranco's vision has transformed our yard into a retreat, a dining room, and a gathering place, all in one, frankly, stunning design. We were delighted at how informed and articulate he was about all of the infrastructure that underlies our beautiful garden. Gianfranco's design eye incorporated all of the things we talked about with him and he made them better than we could have imagined. The colors of the hardscape glow in the afternoon sunlight and the plants he chose compliment one another and the setting perfectly. He and his team brought his design to fruition in a way that has made use of the electrical and water infrastructure both seamless and easy to use. Our new garden is both easy to maintain and even easier to enjoy. All of this work was done in summer of 2017 with some hard deadlines that were all met. And now we are on season #2 where we can see the plants really start to thrive. We wholeheartedly recommend Gianfranco and his team at Pratolino Landscape Design!!

We hired Gianfranco with Pratolino Landscape Design with no idea of what to do with our space except for knowing we wanted to live as much outside as possible. Outdoor living in Tahoe is very short due to harsh winters, so we wanted to make the most of it. After meeting for the first time Gianfranco studied the space thoroughly and gave us a beautiful program. He specified the views we should open up, and the areas we should screen for more privacy. He also laid out a creek so the sound of water would mask traffic noise from the nearby main road. His vision kicked in and he provided us with beautiful drawings that included 3D renderings, so we could really understand his vision. After we agreed to the design, he brought in a great crew that proceeded in grading an area – previously a gentle slope – transforming it into 4 very spacious patios beautifully paved with gorgeous flagstones, a stone fire pit, stone steps, and a truck load (literally) of carefully chosen small and large plants, as well as big trees. In short, we couldn’t be happier with Gianfranco and Pratolino Landscape Design.

Pratolino Landscape Design was extremely helpful through out our projects. As we are newer to the Tahoe area we had little knowledge of what plants would survive up here. Gianfranco did an excellent job helping us learn about native plants/trees, along with others that could be options for our space. He was also very sensitive to our budget, and helped us stay well within these parameters. We really appreciated how he complimented the existing landscaping with his well thought out plans and selections. By upgrading our landscaping and garden the house will a fresh look and is taking on a new life, and we couldn’t be happier.

I was faced with a piece of mostly barren steep land around my house in Tahoe. Because of the steep grade and a pedestrian bridge from the parking area to the house, the land was not really usable or accessible. I told Gianfranco my functional requirements: that I wanted to have a welcoming entrance, a way to get into the land from the bridge, and for it to look nice. And because I'm in the Tahoe Basin, we have very restrictive laws on total coverage, so most of what we do has to be water permeable, and mostly cement and mortar free. Gianfranco created for me a space that far exceeded my expectations, with gorgeous dry-stack stone terrace walls, decomposed granite walkways, as well as a creek with cascades and a pond that attracts lots of birds and frogs. He also added a beautiful private sitting area next to the pond, a face-lift for the bridge with new see-through cable railings, and stunning fine-masonry granite columns that welcome you to the space! Then he finished it off with fire-resistant deciduous trees around the house (forest fires are a big concern here), and a variety of low-maintenance and critter-resistant plantings that bear flowers and colorful fall foliage throughout the seasons. And, all of it was set up with automatic irrigation for easy maintenance. Then, Gianfranco has kept an eye on the garden as time went by, making sure the plants were getting the water they need from the irrigation, and making small adjustments as needed. In short, he transformed the front of my house from an ignored and unused area to an outdoor living space that I'm proud to invite guests into for a glass of wine and that gives my place huge curb appeal.