PNW Outdoor Living is a starting point for planning an outdoor space in Seattle and the Puget Sound region: ideas, cost ranges, design kits and a directory of local firms. Use it to shape your project and your conversations with professionals; the professional you hire confirms what works on your property.
Articles and guides
Our articles share general guidance drawn from Northwest gardens, local practice and published sources. Every property is different. Soil, slope, drainage, trees, utilities, setbacks, codes and permit requirements vary from lot to lot and city to city. Before you build, install or plant, check your plans with a licensed contractor, landscape architect, arborist or other qualified professional, and with your local permitting office.
Project Budget Estimator
The estimator gives planning ranges based on typical Seattle-area material and labor pricing. Your price depends on site conditions, access, materials, timing and the firm you hire. Use the range to set a budget and start conversations; a contractor's written bid is the number to rely on.
Design kits
Each design kit is a design guide: plant palettes, layout ideas, materials and product suggestions in a few styles. Hand it to a licensed contractor, who will confirm what fits your site and pull any permits. Outdoor showers, plumbing, lighting and electrical, drainage, and structural work such as decks, walls and foundations are installed by licensed professionals.
The PNW Outdoor Living Collective
The Collective is a directory of independent local businesses. Each firm is responsible for its own work, licensing, insurance, warranties and contracts with you. A listing is an introduction, and the choice of whom to hire is yours. Before you sign, we suggest you:
- Look up the firm's contractor registration with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and, for larger projects, references from recent clients.
- Get scope, price, schedule and payment terms in writing.
Some firms are members of the Collective and appear as featured listings. Membership is free during our founding period. If a listing ever reflects a paid placement, we will label it.
Links and products
We link to other websites, businesses and products we find useful. Those sites have their own terms and privacy practices. If we earn a commission from a link in the future, we will say so next to it.
Questions
If something on this site looks wrong or out of date, tell us at hello@pnwoutdoorliving.com. We read every note.