Room to Grow Designs

Room to Grow Designs did a fabulous job of turning our basic random landscaping into something that looks and feels intentional. They worked closely with us to understand what we like in terms of feel and look of our yard, the visuals that we wanted to see and not see from our yard, and then finally the kinds of plants we liked and did not like to design an outdoor space that we absolutely love. From the seashore landscape in our front area to English cottage-like feel in the back area with a patio and fire pit, we love the look and feel of the installation in year one and cannot wait to see it mature over the coming years. We added irrigation, at their suggestion, and that alone has made a huge difference. Ken was tremendous to work with and his professionalism and commitment to a quality finished product made all the difference. There is no doubt in our minds that if we need additional landscaping design and installation, Room to Grow Designs will be our first and only choice. We highly recommend them!!

We wanted everyone to know about our wonderful experience with Ken at Room To Grow landscaping and design. Our back yard was a disaster and needed a makeover. Ken looked it over and knew exactly what to do to pull it all together. We even gained a secret garden. Ken added boulders, interesting trees and numerous plants some which we had never seen before. We are very happy with the results and highly recommend his expertise and imagination. He is easy and flexible to work with. His pricing is fair.

Ken always followed through with his promises. We are an HOA and so it was critical for my partner and I to deliver on what we promised our Board. Ken made that easy by meeting all the dates set out but most of all delivering 4 beautiful gardens that will deliver color results for several years to come.

Very happy with our decision to go with Ken at Room to Grow Designs. A self-described garden geek, Ken's passion for gardening is matched only by his knowledge base. He moved us along the process from concept to design to implementation with skill, ease and flexibility so we always felt in safe hands. Ken is a guy who thinks with the creativity of a designer, works with the energy of a professional laborer and manages the budget like a businessman. He does what you only wish other contractors would do: shows up when he says he will, maximizes his time on site, and comes in on time and on budget. Our English cottage style garden was Phase I and was constructed in mid-fall and we are eagerly waiting for spring to see what amazing profusion of flowers and colors and textures will be revealed! To help us stay in budget, Ken worked with the general bones of the overgrown landscaped areas we inherited from the previous owners and he repurposed many of the mature, healthy plants that worked with the design—ultimately creating a brand new space. Looking forward to working with Ken to implement the rest! Highly recommended. Mark & Jenn Kennedy

Cannot say enough good things about Room to Grow Designs. They took a very rough piece of property we had just built our home on and turned it in to a serene and usable nature, kid and pet friendly yard. We are so excited to see the landscaping grow and thrive and plan to hire them again in the future for more projects.

Ken was so easy to work with presented a variety of ideas to get a sense of what we liked. Then he provided detail sketches and was willing to make adjustments. When I was overwhelmed with the names of so many plants, he provided images so he knew the types of plants and colors I liked and then put everything together to add color, texture, and variety. I was impressed with how he found a way to repurpose old brick when making a new brick entry path. He used the old brick to outline and create definition for the front lawn. He also spent time explaining the purpose and focus of the different areas. It's a fabulous redesign of our front space, and I always receive positive comments from visitors.

Our property was a blank slate of grass and bark dust. Ken and his team at Room to Grow transformed it into a wonderful place to live. In the backyard, he gave us a lush, dynamic garden providing privacy from neighbors with four season interest. After installing the back, we hired him again for the front yard - a modern, absolutely one-of-a-kind showcase which continues to turn heads. Ken was attentive, and easy going. Even when he had trouble with one of the sub-contractors, he remained professional, taking care of the issue without impacting the budget. I'd recommend Ken and his team to anyone. Dr. Amy Boyle

We moved to the Olympia area in the Fall of 2020. The house we purchased is set on one acre of wooded and open landscaping. The original owner built a stream and pond in the backyard but eventually filled in the water areas with small rocks. We saw great potential in restoring the landscape. The original patio adjacent to the pond was small and mainly occupied by a jacuzzi which disrupted the views. Several landscapers were invited to provide ideas for changing the entire layout. Ken Swarner of Room To Grow was one of them. Most of the companies were only focused on how much we were willing to spend. Some never bothered to provide quotes. Ken was different. He provided a vision for the entire backyard which included reshaping and restoring the pond area, expanding the patio, installing an outdoor fireplace, building a complete outdoor covered kitchen, and carving out a wooded nature trail. The result was truly amazing. Everyone coming to our residence is overwhelmed by the grace and beauty of Ken’s vision and creation. Here are the things which made this very complex project successful •Working together on the vision •Working a plan in stages to fit our budget •Working together in selecting materials •Working together to adjust the plan as needed as the construction took place •Fair and reasonable pricing In our opinion, the result delivered everything we envisioned and more. Our children and grandchildren absolutely love to spend time in our backyard, and it has created a harbinger for birds and butterflies which is a joy to watch. It doesn’t matter whether we are inside the house or out on the patio as the colors and shapes of the flowers, plants and trees radiate throughout and the sound of the water from the wonderful falling stream brings a calming effect. It is a haven of peace and serenity. For all the reasons above we give Ken Swarner and Room to Grow and exceptional rating. John & Debby D. Olympia

Ken has been a pleasure to work with. He originally told me that he wouldn't rush my project and that he would work on it until the end. Since mine is one that will require several years of ongoing work (due to my own budget), I am very happy to know that he will not pressure me at any step of the way. Our phase 1 has turned out better than I could have expected. Ken listens to what I say and interprets that into plants and landscaping. He knows what I want when I don't. I would not hesitate recommending Ken to anyone I know needing a good garden design.

Ken showed up on time every time which I really appreciated. I always felt he cared more about staying in budget than I did. He was always mindful of getting the most for my money. He also designed a beautiful garden.

If you are familiar with residential developments known for stacking as many homes as possible onto a small parcel of land... this review is for you. Downsizing landed us in one of those developments. Located at the bottom of a hill with three homes looking directly onto our patio, we had absolutely no privacy. Ken, our landscape designer from Room to Grow, changed our yard from a rectangle piece of grass into a stunning sanctuary of privacy. Ken's resourcefulness proved invaluable as he managed sub-contractors and post-pandemic glitches in availability of materials. He committed to a timeline, and stuck to it. By weaving together several gardens, placing strategic screens which provided the necessary focal points, he was able to design gardens with year-round interest, color, movement and texture throughout. It is beautiful! Room to Grow has proven to be trustworthy, dependable and creative. I have recommended them to our family and friends. Such a stellar business!