We interviewed a broad range of landscape architects when my wife and I first started planning our new home in 2014. When we saw Arterra’s portfolio of thoughtfully-integrated landscapes and met Kate on site, we immediately knew we had found the right team for our project.

As the project evolved and our interactions grew, we came to appreciate Kate and Arterra’s highly collaborative approach and inspired designs that not only reflected our program inputs but also respected and were unique to the site.

From the plantings, to the site walls, to the water features, and hardscape, two years after move-in, we continue to marvel and appreciate the design work Arterra did for us.

I cannot recommend Arterra enough.

PCH had the pleasure of collaborating with Arterra Landscape on a large site at the Santa Lucia Preserve. We found them to be professionally astute, articulate in their visions for the site, and team-oriented in their quest to achieve those visions. Kate Stickley, the founding principal, was especially impressive in her role as the project architect. Her work on this project was honored for its design, and her clients made it abundantly clear how pleased they were with her final product.

Kate and Scott helped design our backyard for a complete home renovation. They listened to our goals for the backyard, and presented us with several design possibilities. Once we chose a direction, they helped us integrate on that to work out all the details. The results are amazing, from the hardscape to the softscape to the plantings. Scott had great ideas and patiently worked with us to get every details just right. Highly recommended!

We hired Arterra for full landscape design for a new home on our property in Portola Valley. We have loved working with them. Great design and asethetic, flexible, professional and easy to work with. Gretchen in particular has been fantastic.

Outstanding!! We hired Arterra to do a complete re-landscape job on our large and varied outdoor space. The job was complicated and included a new entry way, newly designed paved patios, and almost all new plants and shrubs. Vera and her team were without question the best part of our renovation team (we also did a major house remodel). Her ideas were creative and well conceived. She took spaces that used to be awkward, and created relaxed and comfortable outdoor living spaces–3 of them!! Vera helped us find a landscape contractor that we really liked and worked with him to make sure her plan was implemented in the most cost-effective and high quality way. She did things like repurpose the metal gate at our driveway into a gorgeous backdrop to a new fountain. It was an idea that highlights her creativity and respect for her clients tastes (we loved the gate, but it was just too heavy to continue using as a gate). Best of all, Vera and everyone we worked with at Arterra was delightful. They were polite, responsive and easy to work with. I highly recommend this outstanding firm.

Over the last few years I have had the great fortune to work with Arterra on a number of projects. They have consistently delivered fresh and exciting designs that are always sensitive to site and architecture alike. And their professionalism and commitment to making the most out of every project are infectious and bring the best out of the entire team.

I have been working with this team for more than a year now. Their artful attention to detail and strong execution have been impressive. HIGHLY recommended!

Arterra LLP Landscape Architects (Vera Gates Principal in Charge) was the landscape architect on a recent project — a green point rated 2-story house over a partial basement in Palo Alto. They were an integral part of a multi faceted design team. It was a great pleasure collaborating with Vera and her team at Arterra. The result was a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living on all three levels. The well used and very much enjoyed 2nd floor garden with shower, bath, and lounging area and the below grade patio are two of the more unusual and imaginative spaces that resulted from our collaborative design process. I look forward to working together again.

Arterra designs landscapes that are celebrations of the natural world in which they are set. Their commitment to green practices ensures that the use of water and resources is considered in every choice made. Their aesthetic is natural, modern and fun.

As an architect, I’ve been fortunate to work with Vera & Kate on a number of projects over the years, including at my own house. They are nimble and attentive, and able to work in many settings.