Del Mar

Del Mar Landscape Design: Built for the Coast

From the ocean-view bluffs of Del Mar Beach Colony to the canyon-adjacent lots of Del Mar Heights and the Crest, EcoDesignSD designs and builds landscapes that hold up to coastal conditions without sacrificing style. Salt air, marine layer, tight lot lines, and view corridors all shape how a Del Mar landscape needs to be planned — and we design with those realities from day one, not as an afterthought.

Expert Landscape Design for Every Del Mar Neighborhood

Del Mar is a city of contrasts — the density and charm of the Village, the open bluff-top lots of Del Mar Beach Colony, and the larger, more private parcels of Del Mar Heights bordering Torrey Pines and Fairbanks Ranch. Many properties fall under the Del Mar Design Review Board and, along the coast, the California Coastal Commission, both of which influence plant selection, fencing, drainage, and hardscape materials near bluffs and public view corridors.

Our team is experienced navigating these approvals, so your design isn't just beautiful on paper — it's buildable. We start with a site walk to assess sun, wind exposure, soil, and any coastal setback or bluff considerations, then design a landscape suited to the property as it actually sits.

Getting started is simple: schedule a consultation, walk the property with our design team, and leave with a clear vision — from concept sketches through custom 3D renderings.

Comprehensive Landscape Design & Build Services in Del Mar

Coastal Del Mar properties call for materials and plantings that can handle salt air, wind, and marine-layer moisture while still meeting local design standards. Our Del Mar landscape services include:

  • Luxury landscape design for coastal and bluff-top properties

  • Custom hardscape design — pavers, natural stone & decorative concrete

  • Outdoor living spaces built to take advantage of ocean views and breezes

  • Outdoor kitchens & fire features for cool coastal evenings

  • Patio covers & pergolas for wind and sun protection

  • Retaining walls & slope solutions for bluff and canyon-adjacent lots

  • Salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant & native gardens suited to coastal conditions

  • Irrigation & drainage systems designed around coastal soil and marine-layer moisture

  • Pool & spa integration for a cohesive indoor-outdoor coastal design

  • Landscape lighting that highlights architecture and views after dark

  • High-end fence & gate design compliant with coastal view-corridor guidelines

We manage the full process from design through installation, so you're working with one accountable team from first sketch to final planting.

Local Design+Build Experts Who Understand the Del Mar Coastline

What sets EcoDesignSD apart in Del Mar? We're a family-owned, woman-led design+build studio with more than 25 years of experience across San Diego's most design-conscious coastal communities — Del Mar, La Jolla, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, and Coronado among them.

We know the realities of building on the coast here: salt exposure, wind-driven plant stress, tight lot setbacks, and the Coastal Commission and Design Review Board processes that shape what can be built and planted near the bluffs. Our plant selections, hardscape materials, and drainage designs account for those conditions from the start.

Because we handle design and construction under one roof, there's no hand-off between an architect and a separate contractor. You get a single team accountable for the vision from the first rendering to the final walkthrough.

Bring Your Del Mar Landscape Vision to Life

Ready for a landscape that matches the character of your Del Mar property — and holds up to the coastal elements? Join homeowners across the Village, Del Mar Heights, and Del Mar Beach Colony who've trusted EcoDesignSD to design and build outdoor spaces that feel like a natural extension of coastal living.

  • Yes. Many Del Mar properties, especially those near the bluffs or within public view corridors, require Design Review Board or California Coastal Commission approval. Our team is experienced with these submittals and designs with those guidelines in mind from the start, helping avoid delays during approval.

  • Salt air and ocean wind are hard on many typical landscaping plants. We select salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and native species proven to thrive in Del Mar's coastal microclimate, so your landscape stays lush without constant replacement or upkeep.

  • Yes. Many Del Mar properties, particularly in Del Mar Beach Colony and along the bluffs, have tight lot lines or dramatic elevation changes. We specialize in maximizing usable outdoor space on constrained or sloped lots while respecting setback and view-corridor requirements.

  • Del Mar's marine layer adds moisture and humidity that inland San Diego doesn't deal with, which changes how irrigation and drainage should be designed to avoid overwatering, root rot, or runoff. We engineer systems specifically for coastal moisture patterns rather than a standard inland irrigation plan.

  • Yes. Pool and spa integration is one of our specialties — we design hardscape, planting, and lighting around the pool as one cohesive space, which is especially valuable on Del Mar's view-oriented properties where sightlines matter as much as square footage.

  • Very. Native and drought-tolerant garden design has come a long way from gravel-and-cactus landscaping. We design lush, layered, water-wise landscapes using California-appropriate plant palettes that meet sustainability goals without sacrificing the polished coastal look Del Mar homeowners want.

  • It starts with a consultation and property walkthrough, followed by concept design and, when helpful, custom 3D renderings so you can see the space before construction begins. From there, our in-house team manages installation start to finish — hardscape, planting, irrigation, lighting, and any Design Review or Coastal Commission coordination — so you have one accountable team throughout.

Servicing All of Del Mar

We proudly design and build landscapes throughout Del Mar, including the Village, Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Beach Colony, and the Crest — as well as Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and more.

Why Del Mar Homeowners Choose EcoDesignSD

  • Family-Owned Design + Build Company — one team, start to finish

  • Woman-Owned & Led by an Architectural Designer — design-first thinking on every project

  • 25+ Years of Design & Construction Experience in San Diego's most exclusive coastal communities

  • Sustainable & Water-Wise Landscape Solutions built for Southern California's coast

  • Licensed, Insured & Professionally Managed — Contractor License C-27 1001505

  • Custom 3D Renderings & Design Plans so you can see your project before it's built