Eco Minded did our entire backyard in 2025. This was our first home (new construction), and the backyard was a blank canvas on just over a quarter acre lot. We didn't know where to start. That all changed when we called Eco Minded. They made the construction/landscaping process seamless and easy from start to finish. It only took 3 months to do our entire .2 acre backyard. Everything from plants, our deck, pergola, turf, putting green, fruit tree grove, pavers, built in grill, and walkways! They also provided the drafting plans to submit to our HOA, 3D designs, assistance for plant selection meetings, and a direct line of communication where they responded every time within the hour. We also had the same crew working on our project from start to finish. They also didn't pause our job to work another job and come back, it was nonstop progress! The crew always showed up on time or early and even worked through heavy winter / spring rains to make sure the project stay on track. Even with our budget, Todd and Dave used their personal connections and discounts to save us money while not taking a cut. For example, we saved 20% off the total amount of the turf saving us a few thousand dollars. If you're looking for a full service contractor that gets the job done on time with amazing quality, communication, and transparency for all budgets, please go with Eco Minded! It'll be the best decision you've ever made! read more

See all

Eco Minded did a fantastic job on our home remodel. The communication and collaboration during the entire process kept us at ease and it couldn't have come out better. They did a great job from design to installation. It was also nice that the owner is still so involved in the business and made sure to reach out and check in the entire time. read more

ECO did huge landscape project at my house in 2018 and just recently (2025) did a cleanup/replant Once again, super impressed. Communication and collaboration from owners and employees is what I appreciate most -and the yard is beautiful read more

Eco Minded Solution did an excellent job remodeling my house. I highly recommend this company. They completely gutted and remodeled the house. Fixed a cracked slap and replaced a huge deck, patio and driveway. Design changes were made to the house to better utilize the space and make it feel larger. The design and construction teams communicated clearly throughout the process. The teams addressed all my concerns and desires to make sure I was happy with the completed project. The house is beautiful and very practical. I could not be happier with the result and the people who worked on the project. Everyone on the project was knowledgeable and experienced. Each person who worked on the project wanted to ensure that I was more than happy with the result. Great company and people to work with! read more

See all

After all the plants in my front and backyard died, I reached out to Eco Minded Solutions to help convert my withering yard to a xeriscape rock garden, equipped with landscape lights and an expanded drip system. They were very attentive to each of my questions/concerns, while being conscientious of my budget. They fit me into their schedule within the month, followed my design to a tee, and were flexible with last minute changes. Overall, they did an amazing job. I definitely plan to use them again for any future yard renovations. read more

Eco Minded Solutions - New plants, landscape lights, fixed drip system. - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Eco Minded Solutions did a fantastic job transforming our outdoor space (San Diego - August 2023). Special kudos to Todd for his dedication throughout the design, construction, and post-project phases. We received several quotes from other firms, which mostly suggested basic designs like demo, turf, and peripheral planters--quite unimaginative. In contrast, Todd and his team at Eco Minded Solutions brought a creative vision that turned our yard into something truly special. The results are better than we could have imagined, as evident in the photos. This project exceeded our expectations, and I highly recommend their services. read more

See all

We recently finished our 2nd remodeling project to our home and we couldn't be happier with the results. This project was much larger than the first. The design team understood our vision and offered their expertise to refine and improve on all our ideas. Their expertise in maximizing our space and functionality was helpful and they seamlessly integrated the new addition with the existing structure. The construction team lead by Chris, was punctual and provided a good communication throughout. They demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship and stuck to the project timeline. Unforeseen challenges which are bound to arise, were communicated timely and they resolved issues effectively. We have used them before and I would use them again. Thanks Eco Team! read more

Our project was supposed to be over the course of 4 weeks and it lasted more than 15 weeks. We've had issues in all portions of the work, from the design to the execution of the work. We don't recommend any small projects with them, stay away at all costs. See the pictures, they talk for themselves. On the original plan, the custom planters that the designers failed to be able to implement in our yard (they did took pictures of our yard and measured everything before the project started). On the day the project started, the contractor noticed right away that it was impossible to put them there. The designer was there, stated he will come up with a solution, 2 weeks later the contractor had finished installing the drainage for those custom planters and asked me if the designer had come up with a solution. (Please note here that one of their proud aspect is that the designers and the contractors are within the same company) He forgot! On that very same day, the designer sent us a website with the planters we needed to buy, that they would fit perfectly, providing the 3D view we had wait for. It appears the contractor was unable to install them correctly since they started to leak. They tried many ways to stop the leak (sealing around, sealing under) but the drains couldn't catch the water due to the planters. One of the owners suggested saucers, which we put, but now I have paid for drainage that's useless, a waste of money and time. read more

See all

I just wanted to say thank you again for a job more than well done. The final product has exceeded our expectations and we are beyond happy with literally everything. Dave and Todd, we are grateful for you and your team's expertise, craftsmanship, and flexibility to help make our vision a reality, even when our wants shifted on the fly. Not to be repetitive but we couldn't be happier with this transformation. Thanks again everyone! read more

We had Eco Minded Solutions complete our backyard remodel at the beginning of 2020. Fortunately, we were able to complete the project before COVID hit and before all the lockdowns. Since March we've been working from home and with all the lockdowns it's been great enjoying our little private pieced of paradise. The backyard was probably cool in the 60's but had fallen into disrepair as it served as a rental property for 20 years or so. Our goal was to start clean, short of the existing pool which was to be refinished. The project was going to be tricky as one side of the pool was bounded by a slope covered in large boulders. We enjoyed working with Todd Haydel (Eco's landscape architect) who always made himself available to us by phone, email, text, or meeting up in person at the property. Todd was able to work in everything we wanted and was helpful to keep us in the bounds of our budget. Parts of our design were difficult to make decisions on but Todd sent out several drawings with different options and helped us work through the tradeoffs. The construction team was top notch as well. Headed up by Mike Leggett, who visited quite often to assure things were on track and make sure any questions or suggestions we had were addressed. The amount of boulders they had to move around was crazy but they had it done in almost a day. We ended up repurposing all the rock to build a really nice looking retention wall. We appreciated the fine little details the construction team added that went beyond the original design. Occasionally my wife and I needed time to sort out a few details and make final decisions, and Mike was kind of enough to give us time to resolve things. These guys do great work and beyond that were just great folks to work with. read more

See all

We used Eco Minded Solutions to build a custom home and provide landscaping. This review refers to the custom home build and not the landscaping. We are delighted with the quality and aesthetic of the home. Initially, we provided Eco with basic permitted plans from an architect. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the plans resulted in Eco having to do more design work than they anticipated (e.g., roof type, specific window/door mfg., water heater brand, etc.) This resulted in Eco having to offer more design services than planned. However, given that they are a design and build firm, they were able to step up to the plate and help us in both domains. Below, we detail the pros and cons of working with them. Pros: 1. We were a heavily involved and admittedly high-maintenance client, and Eco was open to this. It sometimes created conflict, but we worked through it to create a better final product than we could have hoped for. 2. Their designers and contractors are hands-on and talented. For example, Sarah, their designer, was excellent. If you get the chance to work with her, do so. 3. They were easily reachable. 4. They were open to making multiple changes to get the aesthetic we looked for (which was contemporary and modern). 5. Eco's team adapted to our changes throughout the project, but it did require quick decisions, numerous change requests, and discussion, as expected in a complicated custom home build. Using Eco for the design would have minimized this and is our recommendation. 6. Their project managers, including Marc Cohen, were onsite often and took the time to understand and address our needs. 7. Contemporary homes require more (skilled) labor and Eco sourced an excellent teams of sub-contractors (notably their painter and electrician). 8. The overall project cost was more than anticipated due to design changes to reach our aesthetic and COVID-19. 9. They honored the fixed price arrangement (even absorbing some costs due to misestimation), and prices for change requests (based on changes initiated by us, or due to unexpected findings like a poor foundation) were fair. 10. We ran out of warranty for our sliding glass doors, and Eco expeditiously helped us fix an issue that arised and paid for it. Thus, when push came to shove, they showed up for us. Cons: 1. There was sometimes friction, likely because Eco hadn't built a contemporary custom home before with basic plans from another architect. In addition, they may not have been used to heavily involved clients. Thus, there were learning costs on both sides. 2. The project took longer than expected, and COVID was a significant factor in this, along with our basic architectural plans requiring additional design. 3. There was some employee turnover, which happens across the board in this industry. 4. The environmentally conscious aspect was more absent than we had expected. It was rarely brought up, which could have been better. Overall, we could not be happier with our home, and on account of that, we recommend Eco Minded Solutions enthusiastically. read more

See all

Todd H., Dave M. and the entire Eco Minded team were fantastic to work with. From initial design to the final delivery, they were professional, communicative and responsive. The end product turned out better than we could have ever imagined and it was completed on-time and on-budget, a rarity into today's world. I would highly recommend the Eco Minded team and have already referred them to several friends and colleagues. Thank you Eco Minded! read more

I'm a little late in writing this review however it goes without saying that we were very happy with our results with the Eco Minded Solutions team. Our designer, Gustavo, worked with us to bring our ideas to life and it just so happens that he worked on the same projects that drew us to them in the first place. We had a few conditions that had to be met. A budget, a well thought out drainage system, and several requirements from our association. They exceeded our expectations on all of them. 1) Design was exactly what we wanted. 2) They finished on time (4 weeks from beginning to end) - even with a ton of rock they had to remove. 3) They finished on budget. 4) They were flexible with us on any design choices/updates during the process to ensure it was exactly what we wanted. 5) We were able to see all materials and choices during the process. 6) Mike and his team on site were clean, mindful of our neighbors, and walked us through every part of the process. We cannot wait to have them work on our front yard. read more

See all

We did our landscaping with Ecominded , Michael was on top things all time, he made sure supplies & construction material arrive on time despite pandemic shortages, he definitely went the extra mile and treated our project as his own personal. Dave from construction team done amazing job building our pond finishing the hardscaping. Overall great experience we are satisfied with our new front, court and backyards read more

Had a great experience working with Todd, Barry and the rest of the Eco Minded Solutions team. We redid our backyard, and they worked with us from concept, through construction and install, to questions on maintenance and best practices afterwards. read more

Eco Minded did an amazing job with our courtyard renovation project. Gustavo, the landscape architect, met with us several times and listened to our wishes and designed a modern courtyard that's exactly what we wanted and more. He was extremely thorough, incorporating hardscape, planting, BBQ, firepit, lighting and sail shade into a spectacular hangout space. Dave Milton project managed the build and kept the project on time and on budget and handled additional requirements timely and cost effectively. Would highly recommend this team!!! read more

See all

I recently bought my first home, a small spanish style place in North Park, that required some new landscaping (think 2,500 sq ft lot). It was tricky to find the right company to help because of the tight space and total revamp goal my wife and I wanted to achieve. Lucky for me, I found Eco Minded. The design team was prompt, and came with thoughtful imagination and sound recommendations to make the most out of the space. That, coupled with the fact that they work end to end with the construction team handling everything (eg finding the right vendors for Spanish accent tiles outside) including the demo, hardscape, and landscape. From beginning to end, the entire crew took their time to answer our questions, were patient and helpful when we encountered a challenge and made the whole process fun. I couldn't be happier. read more

everything was seamless from the design, our input, and execution. the yard and work looks amazing!!

We had Eco Minded design and build our backyard paradise back in 2017 and we loved it. So, in 2019 when we started thinking of our kitchen and fireplace remodel, we reached out to them to see what they could come up with. We worked with Sarah on the design and she was wonderful. All of the items on our wishlist and more were included in the design and to borrow a term from TV, our home now sparks joy everyday. We love how everything turned out and that they were able to work around the challenges of COVID-19 with regards to shipping times, supply shortages, etc. We will hire Eco Minded again for future projects if we move and we have already recommended them to friends and family. One friend is on their second project with Eco as well and they are very happy with the result. Photos included. read more

See all

So as time passes and and all the flaws in my landscaping design become apparent, I have buyers remorse. I can't say I'd recommend this company anymore. 1. Ineffective yard drainage. When I was going through the design process with EMS, I remember expressing that my number one concern was drainage. We had an unfinished yard on a new construction home and water was pooling everywhere. They installed drains, true, but as time passes I'm learning that all the drain heads aren't connected the way they were laid out in my design. It becomes a detective game with a hose trying to figure out which drain connects where... this is especially problematic when troubleshooting a clog. Additionally, several months after completion I was horribly disappointed to see moisture trapped against the foundation of my house. The filler construction muck on my lot allows for very little drainage. I would have hoped a knowledgeable landscaper would notice this problem during the design process. It would have been very convenient to have known about this prior to hardscaping so that we could have easily installed a French drain system around the foundation of the house. The design that was installed left drain heads in place at ground level, so all that water below the surface can't escape to my newly expanded yard drainage system. I'm not looking forward to tearing things up to fix this. 2. Cut corners on gas lines. We had a fire pit installed. Where ESM tied into my gas main, they used an incorrect fitting that would not tighten correctly. Whoever installed the fitting knew it was leaking because they filled the gap with sealant to pass the gas inspection. Three months later the sealant cracked and we had to call out a plumber to fix the gas leak by installing a correct fitting. 3. Plant massacre. Bad timing, we ended up planting in the hot season. Within one month we had lost over 100 plants. Our Project Manager told us as soon as we made the final payment he could schedule the replacement of the dead plants. After 2 more months of getting blown off by him we had to directly contact the owner to get it taken care of per the warranty in our contract. We were happy that they finally replaced the dead plants, but disappointed that all the care we had taken to choose specific plant species or colors no longer mattered because our warranty only covered like kind replacement. It had taken so much effort to get to replacement that we just let it go. 7 months later we are still waiting for many of the plants to start to look established. Spring is here, so who knows, maybe they'll come around? I can't help but feel that we should have hired a horticulturalist to know which species would have been best suited to our soil type and sun or not be decimated by wildlife. I don't think these guys were very knowledgeable on that front. I'm also convinced that the basic soil amendment I was promised during the design process never happened. Holes were dug, plants were put in holes, and space in between was covered with mulch, that's it. I would still recommend them for hardscape. The fire pit looks great. Our concrete turned out well. And all of the fence work and wooden screens have nice straight lines. The pavers are nice and level, but I do wish they would have used the sand that locks in place between pavers. We've lost a lot of sand, so in the near future we're going to have to address that as well. read more

See all

Todd was so helpful and knowledgable on our site visit and had so much great advice to offer. He went out of his way to work with us and was a pleasure. I will be referring my friends to work with Eco Minded Solutions on any future projects! read more

My family just finished a significant home remodel to our 1960s outdated house. We met with Josh and team to discuss our project which included a whole house remodel, addition and an ADU for family when they visit. The design team is detailed with gathering information to make sure the design program matched all our objectives. The construction team was great too. I am amazed with their quality of workmanship. They started early, work hard, and make sure our house was cleaned up at the end of the day. Our schedules our complicated and so they are very accommodating to meet us on weekends to review project updates with us. They did an excellent job! I would use them again and recommend them. read more

Eco Minded Solutions - Home remodel - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me - San Diego, California

Eco Minded is run by very nice people but they are incompetent in the services they provide. The people that run the business are competent however they are not the ones completing the tasks on a job site and are seldom seen after they lock you into a contract. Let alone their lack of attention to detail, they created and left my project in an unsafe state putting my family at risk. They severed an underground natural gas line during the backfill process after their work had passed city inspection. When this line was then connected to the natural gas source there was a steady leak of the gas in our fire pit area. I have 2 small kids that play in the backyard area where the leak was eventually found. This is unacceptable from a service provider considering natural gas is highly toxic to breath. In addition to the above mentioned, during the install process of our back patio pavers they ruined 90% of them with mallet marks. When I asked them about the marks they said the marks would come out and reassured me that they would fix them. When these marks did not come out, they tried to back track with lies saying that the pavers arrived damaged. to which I asked why they would install damaged pavers without bringing the issue to my attention. They ruined about $20,000 worth of pavers and are now instructing us to activate the arbitration clause in their contract. This is not a company I would recommend to anyone who cares about their hard earned money going to the task they are trying to accomplish. Eco Minded is not accredited with the BBB and I blame myself for not using a business that was. Looking at a neighbors project that Eco Minded "completed" there are gaps between fence frames and the wood, there is poor execution on finishing details and a general "unfinished" look to the job. So why did they earn 2 stars? They did complete some work. Their work did pass inspection when needed. I don't know about you but to my wife and I details are important, we will be looking at said details for the foreseeable future. read more

We thought we were getting a (near) 5-star contractor but instead we got a disappointing and stressful experience. The design was okay (perfunctory) and the plant palate was unimaginative, but we did agree with the plans. The onsite crew was great and worked very hard. However, there were constant issues with oversight and communications. They pulled out plants that we agreed should remain (they did replace them with minimal, small plantings), they had to rebuild parts of the pergola twice when we noted that it was not being built according to the plans, and they did not tells us they shut off the water to our pool. When they turned the water back on there was a flood that they did not tell us about for several days. We had to pay them to repair the damage. We had weekly meetings but after a while they quit taking notes. I am not sure they really cared much about our job and towards the end the crew would skip days or only work a few hours as they were obviously working elsewhere. There were a number of third party components to our job and, initially, we were told, "we will coordinate, don't worry" but at the end the message became, "call them yourself". We ended up serving as contractors to arrange these aspects of the job, many of which were not completed until after Ecominded had finished the landscaping. They did not bother to check in with us to see if we needed help or if everything was installed correctly. Thank goodness there were no issues. Supposedly they did a "plant check" after they were finished but we were never contacted and have no idea if this happened. There are a few scraggly plants that may not make it. I would definitely recommend considering other contractors for your job and look for somebody who will pay attention and properly supervise the work to completion. read more

We recently partnered with Eco Minded Solutions to redesign our back yard and couldn't be happier with the results. The project consisted: : 1) Tearing down an existing deck and rebuilding a larger and more functional one that included two levels - a built in bar w/ concrete bar top and grill on the top level and enough space for a table and chairs and a nook for a day bed on the second level. 2) Re-landscaping the back yard w/ plants, new wooden gate and new lighting to add privacy and better ambiance. The vision for the deck was fairly ambitious given the tight quarters of the back yard and certain constraints we were working with, but Barry and team did a fantastic job taking the vision we had in our heads and creating a plan that would not only meet our design expectations, but would also deliver within our budget. Given the complexity, the job took a bit longer than anyone anticipated, but Barry and Dave (the lead on the project) were great at communicating where things were at and keeping us in the loop. Like any major project, there were also small challenges along the way - for example, how best to lay the concrete counter top since it was in an L shape - but Eco Minded Solutions was good at explaining things and working with us to make sure the end product was exactly how we envisioned it. In summary, we found Eco Minded solutions to be not only professional and quality-centric, but very customer focused and willing to listen to our feedback as the project developed. We now have an ideal deck and back yard that our entire family can enjoy every day. We would certainly refer or hire Eco Minded solutions again for any future projects! read more

See all

I debated for a while whether to post this review, but now, I want to share how unhappy I was with this company. We hired Eco-Minded to design our backyard. At first, we were happy working with Kara, our design consultant, and the crew team were nice and hard-working people. Besides those people, we were not at all happy with Ash, our Project Manager, for his lack of response and communication. The design was not executed to the blueprint accordingly. Since our yard is about 1,000 square feet, both Ash and Kara initially said that it was going to take about three weeks to complete. They ended up finishing a total of THREE WHOLE MONTHS instead. Here were some things that went wrong and just left me irritated overall: - We ordered 32 pre-fab 20" blocks to be used as steps throughout the backyard. Both the foreman and the Project Manager had overlooked the blueprint and poured concrete instead. We had concrete everywhere! They tried convincing us to keep the look because they knew they were going to eat the cost for their mistake. They said a couple of bs remarks like saying it still "looked nice" and it would also be "safer" for our kids to walk on since the corners were smoother compared to the tile's sharper edges. Um..concrete is concrete. Why on earth would I hire THIS expensive company to pour concrete all over the yard? They almost convinced my husband, but heck no, that would not go past me. Needless to say, I made them change it pronto. - We wanted to hang market lights on one of the entry ways. Kara advised us to buy the lights first and then have it ready for the crew to install. Well, the crew had no idea on what to do with the lights. We didn't have guidance from anybody on this...It delayed the completion for another week and a half. - We couldn't find an outdoor lighting that we liked for our pergola. So I had shown Ash a picture of what I was looking for, which was just a bunch of lights in different shapes and sizes to hang in varying heights. He said that he would take care of it by building something for us. When his staff came, they didn't have a clue on how to install them because they hadn't received any direction from Ash about it. Obviously, there was no communication between himself and his staff. - My husband and I were trying to decide whether we should do our front yard and back yard either in phases or both at the same time. Since our two yards combined were not that big, Ash was trying to convince us to complete it in the front yard since it was going to save their company money on the overhead to bring the concrete truck out. It made sense to me that he was suggesting that to us, but it was also added cost for us as well. We told him that we wanted to think about it further and to give us a price comparison. He agreed to follow up with us on this. About a couple days later, the crew brought out a concrete truck and they were already ready to pour! My husband asked them to hold off until he could get a hold of Ash. When they spoke on the phone, Ash said that it would have costed a couple thousand more to do the paving. We decided to stick with concrete as planned, but we were irritated that he didn't follow up like he said he would. - Part of their incentive program was that the $2,000 design consultation fee would be credited back to us if we decided to hire them during the initial consultation. In the contract, it said that we would receive the credited check after the first week of progress. Well, after I hadn't seen the check in the mail until towards the end of the project, I followed up with their Controller on when we would be getting it. He casually responded with "well, just deduct $2,000 from your balance next time". When I told him that we had just given them a check to the foreman that morning, he replied with a simple "oh, I'll issue a credit memo on the next one". This incident was handled very unprofessionally. - Our final and major pet peeve of all: Ash hadn't respond to any of our emails at all. Good luck on chasing him down and getting answers from him. We were constantly chasing our Project Manager down for feedback and questions. We felt lost and didn't feel as confident along the way due to the lack of communication. The Controller nor the Project Manager didn't follow through with what we had on the contract. We just weren't happy with their overall service. If you are strongly considering of hiring this company, BE CAREFUL. Even when we had a written contract, just stay on top of it and make sure that everything is going as according to planned. Although we were happy with how our yard turned out, we weren't at all happy with Eco-Minded and will not recommend this company. read more

Eco Minded Solutions designed and completed a remodel of our side yard. It had been a mess of bark chips and an old garden shed. They helped us create a great park-like atmosphere along our house with a lighted flagstone path. Eco Minded Solutions did a great job and were very responsive to our input. We would definitely use Eco Minded Solutions again. read more

See all

When we decided to landscape our front and backyard, we had a plan that was quickly shot down by multiple companies who had come to give us estimates. We even had one company say they didn't want the job. These misses led us to EcoMinded Solutions and Todd. From the start, Todd saw our vision for a Palm Springs-like oasis and made it come to life through his additional designs and renderings. Todd came out to our house multiple times to walk through our yard to make sure the design was exactly what we wanted. Working with Todd gave us the confidence to sign a contract with Eco to complete the work. We have all had situations where contractors and workers show up randomly and don't follow the plan. That was never our experience with Eco. Working from home during this process allowed us to see for ourselves what a dedicated team Eco has. Felipe and his son, Jonathan, were amazing. They were at our house every day by 7 am and worked so hard to make our dream yard a reality. Our project manager, Dave, was extremely knowledgeable and helpful when it came to making changes during the build process. He was able to recommend the perfect alternate materials that fit our design and budget. Dave also made us feel like Eco VIPs by coming by for scheduled weekly meetings and he was always a phone call or a text away when we had questions or concerns. The dedication to our project did not stop immediately upon completion. Dave stopped by a few more times to make sure the build and design had lived up to Eco's high-quality standards. We have had endless compliments and neighbors we don't even know stop and stare while they are on walks down our street. Our 95 year old neighbors insist we have the most beautiful yard in town and we agree. read more

We signed up with these guys to landscape our home. The end result was nothing like we were promised, we were told if the plants aren't what you want don't worry we will replace them. When we said these aren't right they talked about additional costs to replace them. From setting expectations, to understanding our requirements, to showing up on time to communicating these guys got everything wrong. I finally asked to have the owner contact me, his response was "well you know our warranty is expired now". Faced with the option of paying these guys more to fix things, we decided we would pay someone else to fix it. Don't use them! read more

This was my second experience working with EcoMinded and I can't recommend them enough. In my most recent project, I redid the kitchen and only bathroom in my 100+ year old house. The team came up with a design that made the space feel so much bigger, and the construction team was fantastic to work with during the course of the project. EcoMinded has great attention to detail, and everyone on the team is responsive and will go the extra mile to make sure that their customer is happy with the finished product. I am grateful that I chose EcoMinded for this project and would make the same decision over and over again! read more

EMS is a stellar company that offers design build services. We had a large exterior project and dealt primarily with Dave Milton as the overseer/manager and Todd Haydel as the designer. We get nothing but compliments on our hard and soft scapes and constant requests for EMS' contact info. All the workers who actually performed the work did a great job and were very reliable about coming every day and working all day. Anytime workers were not going to come, we were always told ahead of time. In terms of scope, EMS is like many design build companies who are A-Z with the exception of pool and fence work. Doing change orders was easy and completed very quickly. Overall I highly recommend EMS as a design build company and I would probably only use them for work in the future. read more

Eco was recommended to me by a family member who used them several years ago. Our landscape project with Eco began mid-January, 2023, and was completed in April. It was front and backyard, driveway, pool deck, concrete walkways, retaining wall, exterior lighting, plants, and irrigation.....Eco did what they promised, when they promised; and in the design phase, when we needed some of the projected cost shaved off, Barry had creative ideas so we could still get what we wanted. Every person that we worked with, from the design team and finance person, to the project manager--and especially the laborers, who we had the most contact with (I was actually a little sad to see them leave on the last day of the project)--were responsive and respectful and eager to please. There were no unexpected delays or costs. I had never hired a company for so large a project before and I wasn't confident that I knew all the right questions to ask. I appreciated that my questions were always answered in a timely manner and that I received guidance where needed. read more

Eco Minded Solutions tackled a difficult project to redesign our back yard and give us much needed space. The planning was difficult and the work complex, but they helped us work through the design and permit process and ultimately completed a beautiful project that has transformed our outdoor space. read more

The Eco Minded Solutions team did an amazing job on our landscaping project. Let me share our experience here and tell you why we highly recommend them. When the project started in October 2018, our criteria for selecting the firm were: 1. To be able to design a modern-style landscape. We looked into numerous landscaping designers' and contractors' websites but very few of them demonstrated their strengths in modern-style landscaping. Some pictures in Eco Minded Solution's website hit our sweet spot. 2. To be able to deliver design-build projects. We wanted a seamless transition from design to construction, and possibly through maintenance. Eco Minded Solution was one of the firms that could do it. 3. To be able to balance between environmental conservation and landscaping We wanted to have our yards environmental-friendly but did not want them to look like Arizona. The project completed in June 2019. Here are the reasons we highly recommend Eco Minded Solutions: 1. Truly Customer-Oriented Services We ended up making numerous minor changes to the landscape design during the construction phase. Mike, the PM of this phase, listened very patiently to our last-minute requests and made great efforts to accommodate them into the design and plant selections, at the same time gave us professional suggestions and helped us lower the cost. In result, due to a reduction of plants quantity, we received a hefty credit at the end! 2. Punctual and Dedicated Team with Timely Services The crew came to our house every day from Monday through Friday without any delay. They never juggled multiple projects. This was a huge comfort. To keep watching the progress everyday was a great joy. Mike was making himself available 24-7 through i-message and emails to respond to us quickly on critical decisions. 3. Excellent Quality I am a civil engineer and have been involved in many construction projects. So I am not easily impressed but the quality of the Eco Minded Solution team's work, especially in concrete finishes of the patio and the front steps, was top notch. I took a day off and watched their concrete job. Their attention to details was unbeatable. Lastly, if we have to bring up one negative, it should be that their accountant would always send you invoices ahead of the milestone dates. It was a bit annoying first but now I think it's actually a good practice. We want this type of small but hard-working company to grow big and it should take a serious accountant to manage healthy cash flow. read more

We worked with Eco Minded Solutions on a backyard remodel for our North Park home. Prior to the remodel, we were embarrassed of our tiny ugly yard and never wanted to spend time out there. When Kara and Barry came over for the free consultation we gave them a list of everything we would have in our dream backyard, but also a budget that we were comfortable with. At our first design meeting Kara came to us with a design that included everything on our wish list. We were way over-budget with everything on our list included, but since every item was broken out by price, we were able to cross things off until we reached our budget, which was so helpful. There was absolutely no pressure for us to exceed our budget. After we prioritized what we wanted, Kara came back to us with the new plan based on what we had chosen. She came to our meeting with sheets of paper that had photo examples of all the plants they were going to use, and examples of what the flatwork, fire pit, and deck would look like. I sent her some Pinterest photos of plants I hoped they could include, and when she came back with the third iteration of the plan, it was perfect! She and her design team listened to absolutely everything we asked for. The construction started on time. Dave, our project manager, was very professional, responsive, and great at solving construction challenges that popped up during the project, with virtually no added expense, which was so appreciated. Our crew was on time every day, and always friendly and courteous. Improving our yard was a big financial commitment, but it's the best thing we've done since we've lived here. Before EMS, we never used our backyard, but now we are so proud to show it off, and we spend so much time out there - it has become an extension of our house. Prior to construction we thought we had a tiny yard, but when they were done, our yard seemed SO much bigger, all because they understand how to make the absolute best use of the space we do have. All of our friends that we've had over have commented on how big it looks now. We are thrilled with the finished product and have recommended them so highly, that our dear friends are already working with EMS on their backyard. As soon as we have saved up enough money, EMS will be back to do our front yard. read more

Eco Minded Solutions recently completed work on our backyard and my husband and I are very happy with the end result. We found them at the Del Mar Home Show and were drawn to their unique designs. Every other vendor seemed to offer the same thing and their designs often looked like something we could come up with ourselves. The yard design plan they created was really thoughtful and took into consideration everything we asked for. This was pretty good considering our yard is pretty small. I really appreciated the attention to detail in the design. Before starting work we got 3 other bids. We first felt Eco's bid was high (which it was) but after getting other bids it wasn't by a huge margin. Ultimately for us the decision came down to the quality of the work. The other people we spoke to did come in cheaper but we were not confident they would execute the plans properly. The beginning to end process was very easy and it was great working with them. We always knew what was going on and when to expect certain things. Everything was explained to us really well and the crews working on the yard were professional. What suprised me the most is the follow up appointments after the job is completed. They will be coming back to check on the yard for the next few weeks to make sure the yard is still doing well. I wasn't really expecting that so it was a nice surprise. read more

We had to get our backyard redone so we looked at this company due to their service that comprised of both design and construction. We liked the idea of a one stop shop and after looking at other competitors, their package pricing was hard to match. I reakky was torn in terms of giving them 3 or 4 stars. If i can choose, i would give them 3.5 stars but i will err on the higher end and give them 4 stars. Pros: 1. The onsite crew and Project Manager were responsive, attentive and professional. We had an HOA complaint about the Porta potty and dumpster in the front of the house and they promptly removed them and took a longer walk to the restrooms at the clubhouse. 2. They are flexible with change orders and accommodates changes when requested. When we asked for additional lighting, it was added with ease. 3. The company offers a design and construction package so you have a one stop shop for any outdoor project. Cons: 1. The designer recommended a stone for use of a cobblestone band that was inappropriate for the application that it was intended for. This resulted in rework and a change order that costed us an additional $750 to get the cobblestone the way it was envisioned. Though the company supposedly took part of the cost for this rework, this should never have happened since it should be assumed that when you hire a designer that the recommendations given are viable ones. 2. Though after the 2nd attempt, the cobblestone looked 10x better, the transitions between the grout and concrete was still a bit messy and didnt have the clean lines I was expecting. Overall, they did a good job. I just wished that during the design session, the designer spend a bit more time on the details to realize that the rock recommendation was incorrect instead of letting it be found during the build phase and costing additional costs on both ends. read more

It has now been a while since we've used EMS. Here is our story. Upon planning of our backyard project, we had good interactions with this company. They showed up on time, and returned phone calls promptly. Then we went through two different designers (for various reasons) and finally ended up with one of the owners who seemed bothered when we had questions, and who clearly lacked enthusiasm for our project. As with remodeling or construction, there are going to be issues. I get it. We'd had the house remodeled within the last year, so we knew what to expect, but the issues were endless. We'd spent months of planning, the fiirst issue was when they started pouring for the water feature, it was the wrong feature in the wrong place. All rebar and concrete had to be pulled. it was soon discovered that the plans were off by 2 feet in width and a couple feet in length. So everything was going to be askew or in the wrong place. So much for the plans (which if I remember correctly was $1500). When they were going to pour for the walkways, they had taken too much dirt out of the backyard and had to fill it from another project, and some of the forms for the walkway WE ended up fixing the morning of the pour, because everything looked off and a bit janky. The actual workers were great, and I don't want to give the impression that they didn't know what they were doing. The backyard looks good, but the process needed better attention to detal. (there were numerous other problems as well, just don't want to drone on) One last detail. We'd purchased an aftercare package. The plantings are very expensive (in my opinion). After the first week, we'd contacted EMS and told them it looked like one of the plants wasn't thriving, and could they check it out ($150 a piece x3), they said it was fine. We emailed them again a week later.....it's looking like they're dying. Nothing. Basically all three died within a couple weekds. $450 down the drain within weeks and no follow up about it whatsoever. Now were dealing with an irrigation problem that has been going on for months now. It's part of the guarantee, but it seems like it's way down on their list of priorities. Not a big fan right now of the follow up skills of this company. Also, there was stucco damage to our home during the demolition stage of the project. Again they said they'd fix it, and zilch happened. The backyard is beautiful, but the road getting here has had many pitfalls. read more

Honest, helpful, upfront and very easy to communicate with. Excellent customer service and would absolutely reach out to them again in the future. read more

With how crazy the real estate market is right now, we wanted to explore the option of building a custom home. We were clueless about the process and was just researching since we were interested in purchasing land. Eco Minded Solutions happened to be the one of many we called and we are so glad we did! Arturo, went above and beyond what we would expect from a simple phone call. He surprised us by saying he was going to the actual property to assess it! His willingness to help and timely responses definitely made us want to work with this company. Although we didn't end up acquiring the land, they definitely made a good impression. I can tell Eco Minded Solutions is a company who values the customer experience, has great employees, and would be awesome to work with. read more