studio M MERGE

We've been in our house for many years and have lots of experience interviewing, selecting, and working with landscape architects. Without a doubt, our most successful landscaping undertaking has been the recent rehabilitation of our front yard. This project's design was the work of Andrea Sessa of Studio M Merge. It included, among other things, solving the tricky slope issues and upgrading all of the hardscape to eliminate sagging steps, broken pavers, and other problems. We also requested a planting plan with (i) an interesting variety of textures and colors--but not so much variety that it would look fussy or cluttered and (ii) drought-resistant plants that didn't look like desert plants. We could hardly believe our good fortune in finding Andrea. She is in a class by herself. She combines her technical expertise with an exquisite sense of design. (She designs interior spaces as well as landscapes, no doubt contributing to her sense of proportion and attention to detail). She subtly and seamlessly incorporated architectural detailing of our 1926 house into the landscaping. She cleverly arranged the space so that it doesn't feel like you've climbed 22 stairs from the sidewalk to the front door (although you have). During construction, she made regular site visits, making minor (but important) adjustments, as needed. She worked well with the contractor and subs. The result far exceeded our expectations: we could not be happier with our beautiful, fragrant, and inviting front yard. A significant component to Andrea's success was her approach to working with us as clients. She listened carefully and took notes. We had as many meetings as it took to work out the details. She welcomed input from us throughout the design, construction, and installation phases. She was respectful of our ideas and preferences, she did not rush us to make decisions and always, always maintained her sense of humor. It was a pleasure working with her.

I love working with Andrea! She has a clean and pure aesthetic. As a builder, there is nothing better than an architect who maintains the same standard of quality and professionalism that makes the work a pure pleasure. Having worked on multiple projects with Andrea and her vibrant team at Studio M Merge, we love the challenge to deliver the project and details that they design.

We hired studio M Merge to do a major landscape design for the front and back yards of our home. Andrea and her team created a beautiful, modern design which complemented our home perfectly. They were thorough, detail oriented and fun. Andrea listened carefully to our needs and wants and introduced many unique design elements to create a unique landscape for our family. Finally, the job was completed exactly on time! I would strongly recommend studio M Merge for your landscape project.

Andrea and her team were great to work with! I was managing a large residential remodel in the Oakland Hills and needed to coordinate some of the exterior details with Studio M. The project was a success largely due to Andrea's dual expertise in landscape architecture and architecture. I would strongly recommend Studio M Merge!

Andrea designed a complete backyard remodel for us that involved extensive grading, hardscape and landscaping. The job turned out even better than expected and we constantly get accolades on the design. She chose the plants beautifully and 5 years out the yard looks better than ever and the plants have maintained and grown in even with restricted water use. I would highly recommend her and we plan to use her services again!