Topics
Landscape Architecture
From site planning, to hardscapes, to green walls, landscape architecture elevates the design of any project, large or small. Our landscape team works closely with our architects and interior designers, so we all enjoy seamless communication of ideas and problem-solving.
Our landscape architecture services.
Reinventing Your Home, Inside & Out
Custom Residential
From small remodels to the construction of new homes, single-family residences are somewhat of a signature around here. We love working with clients to bring their dreams to life. Old or new, traditional or contemporary, and everything in between — we’ve got the team for you.
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New Construction, Whole-House Transformations
Custom Homes
Designing and building a custom home from the ground up can be both deeply personal and highly complex. Our integrated design teams — architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture — can help you navigate the process with ease to create a home and property you love from indoors to out.
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Reinvented Homes and Spaces
Remodels & Additions
Our teams delight in home remodel projects of all shapes, sizes, and styles. Whether you’re adding on or remodeling in place, love a traditional look or prefer a sleek, modern feel — we relish the challenge of transforming a house that’s not quite right into a home you love.
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Outdoor Living, Landscape Refreshes, Residential Estates
Residential Landscapes
Our site design team cohesively blends indoor and outdoor living with beautiful, functional spaces lush and verdant with life. Whether you simply need a backyard refresh, or if you’re seeking comprehensive design services for your entire property, we love to design dynamic landscaped spaces.
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Low-Rise, Mid-Rise, Mixed-Use
Multifamily Residential
Our multifamily team focuses on distinctive projects we can weave into the greater neighborhood around them. Just as our residential and commercial projects are customized to our clients, our multifamily projects are designed to feel unique, inviting, and integral to their surroundings.
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New Residential & Mixed-Use Buildings
Apartments & Mixed-Use
With in-house design services in architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, our dynamic teams collaborate on new mid-rise apartments and mixed-use developments. We are passionate about designing buildings and spaces to please the residents who live there, the developers behind them, and the surrounding community they share.
Learn more.Our landscape architecture studios.
Custom Residential, Multifamily, Commercial, Civic & Community
Landscape Architecture
Beautiful outdoor rooms expand our experience and build community. Spending time outside is essential to our health and happiness. From our own backyards to everyone’s public parks, we love designing verdant, sustainable spaces people simply love to be. Knowledgeable and passionate, our landscape team has experience on projects public and private, large and small, commercial, residential, and civic.
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Custom Residential, Multifamily, Commercial, Civic & Community
Sustainable Practice
Sustainability is much more than certifications and solar panels. It is about improving the world we live in both environmentally and socially. It’s about reconnecting us with nature and providing opportunities for delight and discovery. Our integrated approach ensures we are thinking about sustainability from all angles to design the best, healthiest, spaces possible.
Learn more.Our landscape architecture posts.
Landscape Architecture, Sustainable Practice
Environmentally Responsible Landscape Design
Being a good partner to the planet often begins right at home. If you’re curious about ways you can integrate sustainable design into your yard, garden, and other outdoor areas, there are many options! It’s an excellent place to start thinking about environmentally responsible landscape design.
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Custom Residential, Landscape Architecture
Using Drones for Site Planning
You’ve probably heard of drone technology — but did you know it can be an effective tool for design projects? We’re breaking down all the ways drone technology can improve your project, create efficiencies, and help you collaborate with your design team.
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Custom Residential, Landscape Architecture
The Value of Hiring a Landscape Architect
Are you unsure if your project requires a landscape architect? Spoiler: it likely does. Landscape architects can help you gain a deeper understanding of your site, its composition, limitations, and areas of opportunity. If your project touches the soil, it's ideal to include a landscape architect early in the design process.
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Custom Residential, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture
Must-Have Spaces for Kids
Designing spaces for your little ones can be fun — but it can also be a challenge to create a space that can withstand their growth, needs, and ever-changing interests. Here are some unique, must-have kid’s spaces that will give your child their own room to grow.
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Landscape Architecture
Steps of the Landscape & Site Design Process
So, you want to update the exterior of your home. Maybe the plants are all wrong or you want an outdoor kitchen. Or maybe you’re hoping for an even bigger impact. Whatever your goals, the site design process at Board & Vellum is designed to support you every step of the way.
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Landscape Architecture
Four Must-Haves for Summertime Get-Togethers
With holiday weekends and summer gatherings starting in earnest, you may be thinking more about what your outdoor space needs to be comfortable for you, your family, and your guests to enjoy. Never fear! It doesn’t take much to take your outdoor space from good to great in preparation for your next get-together.
Read more.Our landscape architecture sustainability practices.
AIA 2030 Commitment
Board & Vellum is an AIA 2030 Commitment signatory because we understand that the impact we have as AEC professionals is immense.
LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council
Our team includes many LEED-accredited professionals who possess comprehensive knowledge of contemporary sustainable practices across disciplines and sectors.
Living Building Challenge
We have multiple team members with experience on Living Building or other ILFI-certified projects, the most rigorous green building certification in the world.
Our landscape architecture recognition stories.
Best of Houzz 2023 & 2024: Design
In 2023 and 2024, we were recognized for Design on Houzz. We’re always grateful for the continued support of our wonderful clients and dedicated collaborators. Here’s to being recognized for the 11th years in a row!
WASLA Award of Merit 2023
Board & Vellum is honored to be presented with a 2023 Award of Merit from the Washington State chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Best of Houzz 2022: Design
We enjoy the collaborative process of our work — with 80 five-star reviews on Houzz, we’re thrilled to see our clients and collaborators are happy, too. We are excited to be recognized for Design for the 9th year in a row.
Gray Awards Finalist for Residential Landscape Design, 2021
Board & Vellum is honored to be a Gray Awards Finalist for landscape design, earning the recognition for the rooftop garden at the Lucille on Roosevelt.
Our landscape architecture team team members.
Zack Thomas, PLA
Director, Landscape & Site Design
Zack co-launched B&V’s ”Site Design Studio,” and is excited to take on landscape projects of all shapes, sizes, and scales. He loves to get out of the city on weekends and makes a point of traveling to another country each year.
Yi-Chun Lin, NCARB, NOMA
Director, Architecture, Landscape & Site Design
Yi-Chun’s diverse experience across typologies and sectors enables her to guide collaborative project teams on commercial, multifamily, and single-family projects, connecting culture, environment and the human experience through design.
Would you like to learn more?
We’re thrilled that you’re interested!
Our Story
Board & Vellum is vibrant design firm built on the idea that an informed and engaged team leads to better design and happy clients. We wouldn’t be where we are today without passion and hard work, and those same two things keep us going strong today.
Our Process
Bringing your project from “idea” to fruition is a little different at Board & Vellum. We give personal care to each of our projects, and you’ll be in the loop every step the way. The bonus: we are an integrated firm, so each project has access to plenty of great knowledge — and that leads to better design.
Considering a project, or curious about something?
Say hello, and send us your questions via the form below. We’re always pleased to make new connections, and eager to get to know you, your project, and your goals.