Step No. 1 in any remodeling project, indoors or out, is to figure out how much you can afford to spend. Your budget should drive the design, not the other way around.
A lot of homeowners wind up heartbroken when they discover that the stone or barbecue or sound system they wanted as the centerpiece for an outdoor living space is out of their reach.
Set a realistic budget and share it with your landscape designer, who can help you find something equally pleasing for a better price. If you’re afraid to reveal how much you’ve got to spend because you believe the the landscape company will take advantage of you, you’re working with the wrong guys. An honest, experienced landscaper will tell you what you can get for the money you have, and, in fact, how to stretch those dollars to make the most of them.
