The best of landscape design in the West, from minimalists to maximalists to native plant specialists to edible garden enthusiasts. Take a look at the full list of winners here, and view the 2025 Sunset Western Home & Design Directory here.
Lucas & Lucas: Best Wine Country Wild
Dan Quiñones
Lucas & Lucas, a dynamic design duo based in Northern California, masterfully unites architecture and landscape to create seamless indoor-outdoor environments. Its projects, ranging from modern estates to intimate gardens, reflect a deep connection to the land and a commitment to regional authenticity. With a focus on integrating homes with their natural surroundings, Lucas & Lucas crafts spaces that embody the essence of California living.
Inner Gardens: Best Gold-Standard Garden
Inner Gardens
Inner Gardens, led by visionary designer Stephen Block, brings the art of wabi-sabi to life with landscapes that celebrate natural beauty and imperfection. Known for integrating vintage vessels and striking container plantings, its work blends antique charm with West Coast ease. Each garden is a curated retreat, combining timeless design with a love for nature. Inner Gardens doesn’t just design landscapes—it creates living works of art that grow more beautiful with time.
Pine House Edible Gardens: Best Kitchen Garden
Thomas J. Story
Pine House Edible Gardens, led by visionary designer Leslie Bennett, transforms outdoor spaces into lush, productive landscapes that celebrate the beauty of edible gardening. Its designs seamlessly blend aesthetics with functionality. With a commitment to sustainability and community engagement, Pine House Edible Gardens cultivates spaces that nourish the body and soul, embodying the essence of California’s garden-to-table lifestyle.
Christian Douglas Design: Best Lush, Layered Landscapes
Sasha Gulish
Christian Douglas Design reimagines outdoor living, integrating edible gardens into elegant landscapes. Its “food-forward” approach combines classical design with regenerative agriculture, creating spaces that are beautiful and bountiful. From expansive estates to urban courtyards, each project fosters a deep connection to nature and the joy of homegrown harvests. Christian Douglas transforms ordinary gardens into extraordinary, sustainable sanctuaries.
Appleton Partners: Best Outdoor Living Room
Brett Sumner
Appleton Partners LLP transforms outdoor spaces into timeless retreats, blending historic inspiration and modern elegance. From sun-dappled courtyards to seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, its designs celebrate nature and craft deeply personal, livable landscapes. Known for meticulous attention to detail and a client-first approach, it creates spaces that are artful and effortlessly welcoming—perfect for the West’s casual sophistication. Appleton’s work doesn’t just enhance the outdoors; it redefines how we live in it.
