GUIDING PRINCIPLES
“I’m driven by a deep respect for the natural world and a passion for designing spaces that harmoniously blend human play and serenity with nature’s thriving ecological systems.”
-Brit Sastrawidjaya (BE Co-founder)
What Drives Us: Crafting Landscapes Rooted in Principles
How We Build Eco-Friendly Outdoor Spaces That Inspire
Have you ever walked into a thoughtfully designed garden or outdoor space that instantly made you feel at peace, inspired, or connected to nature? At Blueprint Earth, we create sustainable landscapes. We strive to create that sense of wonder with every project—a space that not only feels like a living, breathing work of art but also embraces sustainable, eco-friendly practices that help nature flourish. Outdoor environments that we create feel like living works of art while prioritizing eco-friendly, regenerative design practices that allow nature to thrive.
“I’m driven by a deep respect for the natural world and a passion for designing spaces that harmoniously blend human play and serenity with nature’s thriving ecological systems.”
-Brit Sastrawidjaya (BE Co-founder)
Each project we take on is shaped by three guiding principles: honoring the rhythms of nature, a dedication to timeless craftsmanship, and a commitment to creating spaces that foster connection and joy. These principles are the foundation of everything we do at BE, and they inspire us to design outdoor environments that stand the test of time, nurturing both nature and the moments that matter most.
These values guide every BE project, ensuring that each space is not only visually stunning but also sustainably designed to stand the test of time. Below, we’ll share the core considerations that make our approach unique and impactful.
A Rain Garden designed by Blueprint Earth
Honoring Rhythms : Water
In the Pacific Northwest, rain is more than just a weather pattern—it’s a constant companion that can work wonders for your garden if you know how to embrace it. Thoughtful stormwater management allows us to harness the rain’s potential, turning it into a resource that nourishes your landscape and protects the environment. But it’s not just about handling the rain—it’s about working with it. For example, rain gardens help absorb excess water, preventing runoff and reducing the strain on local water systems. Permeable surfaces allow rain to filter naturally into the ground, helping to prevent flooding and erosion.
The rain is a force to be worked with. It amplifies our gardens during the summer months, bringing bounty to the flowers, fruits and vegetables that support us and wildlife. When directed in a garden it can be soaked up by the soil and harnessed by the microbiota within a healthy soil.
Honoring Rhythms : Soil
Humans have such an opportunity to ensure the survival of humanity and other living creatures by being mindful of how the soil is treated. We are constantly bombarded with a wide range of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides at nurseries and hardware stores, often without any real education on the ecological effects these products have on the environment. The truth is, if you don’t know what you’re putting on your plants, it’s crucial to research and make informed decisions. Our choices matter, not just for the plants, but for the entire ecosystem.
Sustainable landscaping practices offer powerful solutions for regenerating soils and promoting a healthy, thriving environment. Using organic fertilizers, mulching, composting, and practicing crop rotation are just a few ways to naturally enrich the soil. Incorporating native plants is another key element, as they are adapted to the local ecosystem, requiring fewer chemical inputs and supporting biodiversity. Additionally, minimizing soil disturbance through no-till gardening and avoiding synthetic chemicals allows the soil’s natural microorganisms to thrive. By prioritizing these sustainable practices, we not only nurture our gardens but also help regenerate the soil, ensuring its health for future generations.
Honoring Rhythms : Plants
BE is all about crafting a harmonious environment that supports the delicate balance of nature. One of the ways we do this is through what we call "bloom choreography." This concept involves carefully planning the timing and arrangement of flowering plants to ensure there’s always a bloom in season, providing a continuous source of nectar and pollen for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. By designing with bloom choreography in mind, we help to create a landscape that nurtures these vital creatures throughout the year, supporting their survival while enhancing the overall beauty and health of the garden.
Bloom choreography isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a key practice in promoting biodiversity and sustaining healthy ecosystems. By layering plants with different bloom times, we ensure that pollinators have access to essential food sources year-round, helping to maintain their populations and foster a thriving, balanced environment. Whether it’s early spring Red-flowering Currant, summer coneflowers, or late-season asters, each plant is strategically placed to create a continuous flow of blooms, inviting pollinators into the garden and encouraging ecological connections. This thoughtful, deliberate approach not only supports the pollinators but also ensures that your landscape remains a vibrant and dynamic space, bursting with life across every season.
Our approach focuses on creating landscape systems that exemplify both beauty and functionality, while leaving ample space for life’s most meaningful moments.
Timeless Craftsmanship
Great craftsmanship is designed to endure. At BE Landscape Design & Construction, we believe in making timeless decisions that can be passed down from one generation to the next, whether it’s to children or future homeowners. Our approach focuses on creating landscape systems that exemplify both beauty and functionality, while leaving ample space for life’s most meaningful moments. Whether it’s a dinner party, a game of catch, a quiet moment of wellness, or a retreat for solace, we design gardens that cater to a variety of experiences and offer versatility over time.
We select materials that will withstand the elements and the test of time, ensuring your investment endures for decades. Meanwhile, we embrace the changeable nature of trends, allowing elements like accessories to be a place where new ideas can bring joy and fresh energy. With our expert team guiding the process, each project is crafted to remain vibrant, functional, and purposeful for generations. Timeless spaces are not just about resilience—they’re about creating lasting legacies. By blending the artistry of a skilled designer with technical precision, we ensure your outdoor haven is not only beautiful but built to endure and thrive through the years.
“We believe that the spaces we build have the power to foster relationships, enhance daily life, and deepen our connection to nature.” Blueprint Earth founders, Brit and Eric with their oldest daughter.
Fostering Connection
Landscape construction isn’t just about shaping a physical space—it’s about creating a lasting connection to the land and to one another. At Blueprint Earth, we believe that the spaces we build have the power to foster relationships, enhance daily life, and deepen our connection to nature. Whether it's designing a vibrant garden, an inviting outdoor living area, or a sustainable landscape, our goal is to help clients choose the right elements that align with both their vision and the land’s unique character. We take pride in crafting landscapes that not only look beautiful but also serve as lasting backdrops for meaningful experiences, from quiet moments to shared memories with loved ones.
To create spaces that truly resonate with the people who will experience them, we begin by examining the family or business dynamic, the needs of the home’s furry/wildlife inhabitants, and the community. This provides a foundation for curating spaces that reflect these unique requirements. With this understanding, we thoughtfully select and design functional furniture and garden areas that enhance the lifestyle of the people living within. These spaces then become like building blocks, which we can move and rearrange within the garden, ensuring they are perfectly aligned with the natural rhythms of the land. This careful, deliberate design process allows every element of the landscape to serve a specific purpose, creating a cohesive environment that promotes connection, comfort, and lasting memories.