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John Steuernagel is a third-generation ornamental horticulturist with over 30 years experience, carrying on his family's reputation for thoughtful,
quality landscaping. He has a thorough knowledge of all styles of landscape design, and a gift for creating designs that combine utility with aesthetic beauty. He will spend countless hours at the drafting table visualizing and planning your space before ever breaking ground. Once he starts a project, John mentors and leads his dedicated staff through each project. You will not find a designer who is on-site more, from conception to completion, doing what he loves most, which is attentively sculpting nature. He is a multi-faceted artist and master craftsman: a stonemason and hardscape specialist, a carpenter, a mechanic, and a naturalist. John takes great pride in the specifics of his hand-drawn, simple, and graceful designs, and he puts his heart and soul into each garden.
Danielle Steuernagel has always been a nature enthusiast, hailing from the woods of Western Massachusetts. There she met her future husband, Sculpt designer and co-founder John Steuernagel. Danielle worked as an elite event planner for over a decade, organizing high-end parties for corporate clients such as MTV Networks, Audi, and Fox Broadcasting. In this high-stress and fast-paced career, she learned the art of both design and client relations. Eventually, Danielle turned her talents to the family business. Danielle runs the Sculpt office and also works alongside John as an “ exterior designer,” helping dial in the details that match the vision. She finds the highest-quality vendors and understands the latest trends and innovations in design. With an eye for detail and organizational prowess, she keeps each job on track. Danielle is accessible to the client at every phase, from design to building to maintenance.
Born in England, Tim moved to America in 1982, landing in Florida, where he first started landscaping. He moved to San Francisco in 1992 to work for a large landscape construction company, where he met John Steuernagel. After 16 years working as an irrigation and lighting specialist, he joined the Sculpt team. Tim is a conscientious, crafty leader, with a wry sense of humor. He enjoys time with his partner Cat and their son Francis.
Carlos was born in Guatemala in a small farming community and worked in the cornfields in his youth. Our youngest employee, Carlos moved to San Francisco at age 18 and began working for a general contractor in San Bruno. He has learned many different crafts, but specializes in carpentry and masonry. Carlos is a trusted worker who will eagerly take his hand to anything, working with care and precision.
James hails from a small farming village in France and moved to the Bay Area at age 17. He has been landscaping and gardening ever since. James has focused on working with local landscapers and developing his own client base. He is a highly motivated individual who enjoys working with plants and whose happy demeanor on the job is contagious. When not hard at work with Sculpt, James can be found foraging for wild mushrooms and riding his dual sport motorcycle everywhere.
After an initial phone consultation, John and Danielle meet with you in your space for a little “garden therapy,” in which they discuss the integration of your ideas and personal style into the Sculpt design. Topics explored include garden access, screening and privacy, and the specific features you might want to include, such as an outdoor kitchen, water feature, heated seating, or hot tub. Your lifestyle will figure prominently in these talks, so that your new garden will fit into your life seamlessly.
John and Danielle share a passion for elements of both traditional and modern design, utilizing influences that range from their shared past in the hardwood forests and traditional gardens of the East Coast, to a more wild and free California coastal look. The overall Sculpt style is infused with a Japanese sensibility, incorporating elements such as bamboo, stone, running water, tea houses, and attention to simple design, with sustainability and conservation always top of mind.
Once the initial design is approved, the Sculpt team gets to work. Unlike most designers, John is onsite every day, keeping the integrity of the original design and adding to it as the job progresses, and that is what makes every garden a work of art. Danielle and John hold weekly on-site meetings with the client to make sure new ideas are explored, potential problems are ironed out, and client input is incorporated at each phase of construction.
After the completion of your new living work of art, the relationship with Sculpt continues. The Sculpt team will create a schedule to maintain and oversee your garden, as needed. As your garden grows and matures, it can and will change dramatically, and they will make sure these changes match the intent of the design. You will always have access to the Sculpt team to check on the progress of your space over time.
Read about the history and evolution of Sculpt Gardens.
I've had the opportunity to experience work by John at Sculpt Gardens and I'm blown away by his work! He has a gift for creating beautiful, serene spaces that are inviting and innovative.
- Sally B.
I have had the pleasure of working with Sculpt Gardens on various projects over the past ten years, and have always found them to have a great penchant for designing outdoor spaces that seamlessly fit into the surroundings, while retaining a serene and modern aesthetic. If you are looking for a company to assist with every step of the landscaping process, from design to implementation, look no further as they have created some of the coolest outdoor spaces I have seen in the City. Highly recommended!
- John F.
From our very first meeting with John to the end of the project, he was great to work with. John's team is great, and they do beautiful work. We wanted something peaceful and lovely for the adults to enjoy as well as a space that was child-friendly, and we ended up with just that. Before Sculpt, we never went out back. Now we have an extension of our home that we really love. Highly recommend!
- Elle S.
Just hosted a backyard party yesterday and our backyard got compliments all around. I love the fact that the yard looks great AND requires so little maintenance. Kudos to the Sculpt Gardens team for creating a space that doesn't just age gracefully -- it actually looks better every year. Now that's forward-thinking design!
- Gary O.
Please contact our office today to discuss how Sculpt can help you with your project.
Sculpt Gardens Inc.
Landscape Design + Construction
415.988.7655