Studio Petrichor

We started with Shawn in 2018 to design a native garden that would fit the formality of a Federal style colonial home. He developed a thorough and detailed design that would transform our landscaping, modernize the irrigation, and create "meadows" within a formal structure of pathways. He listened to our thoughts and desires and his design was passionate and inspired. His partner, Leigh, brought us her expertise in Hugelkultur which makes our home so unique and visually exciting. His contractors have been responsive, timely, and creative as well. This was the first real "remodeling" job we've done on our home in 30 years and it was a great experience. Now, we get to enjoy real seasons and the subtlety of native plants and flowers. The front of our home is attractive and graceful, and the backyard is our peaceful retreat. Shawn continues to work with us to enhance the landscape and oversee any additional work by his contractors.

Studio-Petrichor was patient with our time line allowing for the project to completed at our pace. Shawn and his team helped us get the project to the finish line. His landscape contractor and crew were professional, attentive and tidy. We decided to work with Shawn because of his casual and collaborative style of design. Shawn is knowledgeable, experienced and attentive to detail. We chose to use Native California plants for our front garden because they compliment the Mediterranean style of our home. The garden requires some attention on a regular basis but can also be a bit on the wild side. Couldn't be more pleased with the outcome and highly recommend Studio-Petrichor.

We hired Shawn and his team for a time sensitive landscaping addition we needed for a county permit. From the beginning, they were prompt, thorough, communicative and completely professional. Without missing a beat, they took up the work, which had been done by another party, where it had been left off, went out of their way to communicate directly with the county, and came up with exactly what we needed to meet our creative, environmental and budgetary needs. Added to that, they were personable and polite, and just a pleasure to work with.

Shawn is passionate, artistic, and very knowledgeable in designing unusual and beautiful gardens specializing in California native species. His design for our home incorporated our ideas for water features and conservation, and he cleverly married the formal look of our house with a meadow-scape. He has hardworking and committed subcontractors who, despite busy schedules, came through on time and on budget. His team was very conscientious about keeping the yard secure and safe for us and our dogs. This was the first major project we've done on our home in 30 years. It was important to us that the landscaping project enhance our property and our enjoyment. Shawn has exceeded our expectations!

Over the past 20 years, while working with numerous trades and contractors we have found that a smooth collaboration involves someone with integrity, flexibility, communication skills and great creative vision. Shawn has all of those traits. We wanted a naturalistic garden with native plants. Shawn explained in great detail why a certain plant would not thrive in an area that we requested. Or why certain elements we requested would make the area look cluttered. Our favorite part of the process was the education he provided on regenerative landscape practices and permaculture. Shawn is a great combination of artist and educator. We also appreciated Shawn's reliability and professionalism as he carefully listened to each of our wish list items and followed through on them. We look forward to posting photos soon.

Shawn took a steep hillside behind my house that was full of dead ivy and converted it into a native California Plant Garden. He is knowledgeable about native plants and how to have a garden that respects the environment. He is a pleasure to work with as well as being reliable and on budget.

We began working with Shawn January 2017. Shawn is extremely knowledgeable of the complexity of landscaping in the Los Angeles area and the challenges homeowners face. A balance between design, budget and the environment. Our next phase of the project is due the get underway this fall and we look forward to working with Shawn again.

My favorite thing about working with Shawn is his passion for plants and gardens. He is so thoughtful with his designs and a true artist! Not only have my husband and I been extremely impressed with his designs, but Shawn has been easy to communicate with and very professional. He just completed the design for the back and front gardens, and our rooftop garden. I can't wait until the install!

There are only a handful of designers like Shawn who are truly creative and talented, Shawn is a real "Landscape Architect". We have known Shawn for over a decade now and have used him on numerous projects at our home, as well as, investment properties and he continues to surprise us. His extensive education at several prestigious schools has definitely paid off and is easily noticeable through his deep understanding and knowledge of all plants and trees. His work is always impeccable and his ideas are consistently fresh and original. He understands all types of home designs and is very organized and focused. We have no doubt that Mr. Maestretti's business will continue to grow and flourish and he will become a highly sought-after Landscape Architect! Shawn is perfect for anyone who takes excellent care of their property and has high-quality taste.

Our first contact with Shawn Maestretti, the principal of Shawn Maestretti Garden Architecture (SMGA) was in the spring of 2017 on the Annual Theodore Payne Foundation Garden Tour where we able to meet him and see his work. Our site is a small but quite steep hillside property. Shawn Maestretti and his staff came several times to look at the site, take photos, and discuss our hillside and our visual, environmental, and fiscal concerns. He was very open to all our needs and quite clear when one of our choices might not work on this site. Any issues during construction and planting that we brought up were promptly responded to and resolved to our satisfaction. Shawn, a teacher at the Theodore Payne Foundation, is quite knowledgeable about plant materials and a big advocate of using native plants. He expanded our knowledge of the native plants possible for our hillside and their environmental benefits. Also very important, the construction and irrigation team that he worked with was terrific, always prompt and professional in every way. We were very pleased with the way our little bit of canyon paradise has turned out. The final design brings our steep and linear hillside together as a whole using color and texture. SMGA has also made a clear long-term commitment to follow up on the job as these plantings mature. We have already scheduled another small job, “phase 2”, on another side of the property. We would recommend SMGA most highly for any landscape design and construction needs.

LShawn and team were such a pleasure to work with. They are dedicated, detail-oriented and extremely knowledgeable. We wanted a lush, beautiful and drought-tolerant garden for our Malibu beach house, and they delivered. We currently get to watch our gardens grow and thrive with something blooming through each season. His use of vibrant greens and pops of colorful, architectural succulents has made our home not only beautiful but unique to the neighborhood. I highly recommend hiring Shawn Maestretti to anyone that wants a garden designed with thoughtfulness, passion and integrity. Rosen Residence

I have hired Shawn and his team to help me on a few projects because of his creativity, knowledge and enthusiasm. I have known Shawn since he was a landscape architecture student and his passion for the environment and design has always impressed me. His planting designs are not only sensible, thoughtful and always beautiful, but more innovative than most designers that I know. I hope to work with Shawn and his team again on future projects.