We loved our experience with Angelica and Matt and the entire OES team. After extensive research of Austin-area landscape architects, my husband (an architect) determined that OES had the most impressive project portfolio and approach. What he especially appreciated is that OES is about so much more than plant installation. They have skilled welders and carpenters on their team, who completely transformed our property. They took us from flat spreads of dying grass to outdoor LIVING spaces, inviting our family and friends to enjoy the Austin weather. Angelica and Matt bring expertise and hands-on experience to every project, large and small, and they also know how to listen to the needs and wishes of the client. Throughout the years, we have used them for three major projects: transformation of three yards (involving steel retaining walls and steel and wood pergola), design and installation of a custom steel fence, and a swimming pool with limestone patio, wooden decks, and custom steel gates. If a problem arose--such as the gate shifting due to shifting temperatures--OES was always quick to respond by sending someone over to correct the matter. We give OES our highest recommendation. read more

We've worked with them several times on outdoor projects involving fences (wooden slats with wooden posts and custom metal doors) and metal structures. Service was great and everything lasted 10+ years. read more

We've worked with Angelica and Matt several times over the years... the first project was even pre-OES. The designs they've done have held up over time (with normal wear & tear) and we've found them to be so helpful. Summer 2023, we asked Angelica to look at some updates we needed (new wood on a walkway, new roof on a pergola), to fix a problem with water streaming off of our roof and to give us an estimate on a new fence. The fence timeline estimate wouldn't work for our project because our neighbor needed it before an inspection, but the rest of the projects were completed quickly and painlessly. The water runoff issue from our roof had plagued us since we bought the house and we are so excited it was a simple, relatively inexpensive fix. It has been wonderful to watch OES grow over the years. Thankfully, Angelica is still the same practical, grounded, knowledgeable professional we met 13 years ago, with a ton more experience now that shows through in her confidence and recommendations. read more

When we first started talking with OES, we just said "we want to put a pool in, can you help fix the rest of the yard?" Never did I imagine that we would end up with an entire outdoor living space and yard which was modern, unique, and totally matched the esthetic of our house. I loved working with Matt and Angelica on the design. Matt would take my vague, random thoughts, 100x them, and show me in 3D what it would look and feel like. His ideas were deeply thoughtful and creative. Angelica has so much knowledge of plants and kept everything on track and coordinated with the pool company and subcontractors. Greg and the whole crew were great during the build. If you want something truly special, talk with OES to make it happen--it completely transformed out house. read more

The founders Matt and Angelica are two of the best people you will ever meet. Their professionalism and passion for what they do truly shines through in their work. If you even have a question about whether or not they are the right fit, sit down and have a consult with them. I will almost guarantee you will choose them to do your business with. No need to look any further than OES. read more

The experts at OES transformed my ho-hum, not particularly useful small yard into handsome, elegant spaces, solving existing problems with good design. All through the process, they were upfront with timelines and costs, particularly during pandemic uncertainties. I have recommended their work to two other families. Yes, Angelica charges $250 for the first visit to walk your property and to talk over possibilities. For me, the expertise that she shared during that walkthrough was absolutely worth her fee. I ended up with a yard that is makes the most of the available space and is totally tailored to my needs/wants. read more

Open Envelope turned our regular back yard (and front yard) into an oasis of the next level. We had seen their work on a home tour, so we gave them a call. First, we met with Angelica who shared their approach to design and build. Then, she and Matt met with us to share their vision for our yard. They maximized our space, focused on our needs, and gave us so much more than we could have ever asked for. Their designs were modern yet warm, inviting, and functional. The build crew were super professional. We ended up with a yard that EVERYONE says is amazing. Angelica and Matt and the rest of the OES crew are wonderful to work with from the first day to the reveal. We have the best landscaping in the neighborhood, and it is all thanks to them! read more

Open Envelope Studio - the front of the house - General Contractors Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had this company redo our yard several years ago. we got very personalized service, they listened to what we wanted, and gave us the yard of our dreams. People tell us to this day how beautiful our yard is. Always a pleasure to thank Open Envelope Studio read more

Update 1/11/24: Per your delayed (2.5 + yrs later) response, we met with you in mid 2021 and paid your "$250 consult fee". Per my previous review: you were not up front (prior to the appt) w/ your lengthy timeline - over a year process to get started, 6 weeks between multiple appts to even get a plan. I'm not sure if it was my husband that made the appt, but you did come out and sit at our kitchen table. After you left, we literally felt like with such an unrealistic timeline, that you try to do as many "$250 consults" as possible. You led us to believe that all the landscaping companies were having supply issues but that was not the case. After our meeting, we had reputable company come out (no $250 fee) and start our project early fall 2021. They had no supply issues and they do large projects in our area consistently w/ excellent reviews. End note: There was no reason to reach back out to you as it just seemed like we were duped. read more

I don't think I can say enough about the exceptional team at OES. "Outstanding" is probably not strong enough of an adjective. This entire team, from the owners - Angelica and Matt who designed and charted out the plans - to the project manager Greg, to his whole crew - well we were blown away. They showed up on time (actually earlier before sunrise) and did this diligently every work day. The communication from the leaders were clear and often. The follow up on any open tasks was consistent. And the workmanship? Well, we cannot stop looking at our beautifully transformed backyard and pinch ourselves. The OES team is like a team of Fairy Godmothers that made magical things happen. This project was a huge undertaking and they came up with creative ideas to transform our yard. We are already excited about doing another project with them down the road and have no doubt we will be so happy with the results. If you want a successful project with GOOD people and an exceptional work ethic, don't even bother with anyone else. Go to Angelica, Matt and the OES team. You will have zero regrets. Thank you OES team! read more

OES did a great job transforming my outdoor space. What was once a soulless patch of dirt has been transformed into the future home of my garden. Owning a house in the #78723 I needed someone who could come and terraform my sloping backyard. OES did this with an inventive eye towards design, structure and what my final garden will look like. I'm already thinking about hiring them again. read more

Incredible! Open Envelope Studio did an amazing job bringing our property to life. We are so very happy with the results. Our home is our dream house, but the outside really needed some work. We wanted more usable outdoor space with the contemporary / mid-century modern look that we like. After learning our wants and needs, Open Envelope Studio came up with something far more beautiful than what we had been able to imagine. They took the ideas we had, developed them further and customized everything to fit our property perfectly. The results are stunning. Not only is the landscaping very well designed, but also the deck, driveway, pavers, planters, fences, walls, etc. were very well constructed. Angelica and Matt, the owners, are great people who did far more than we expected to make sure we were happy and everything was perfect. All the awesome staff at OES really care about what they do, and it shows in the details. We really enjoyed meeting everyone and seeing the process as everything came together. Open Envelope Studio is the type of company makes you proud that they exist in our town. Integrity, craftsmanship, service, style - they have it all. You will be very happy if you hire OES for your landscaping and outdoor space design. read more

We cannot sing enough praises of our experience working with Open Envelope Studio. We were desperate to create an attractive and usable space in our large, embarrassingly barren backyard. Not only did they create a usable space, they created a unique, architecturally interesting shade structure and designed a paver pattern and ground cover just as interesting. In addition to an amazing hardscape, the landscape was matched to perfection. The plants are gorgeous, arranged beautifully and appropriate for our climate. No worries of plants that will only last one season. The space feels and acts as an extension of the house rather than separate. Friends and visitors meet the back yard with a jaw dropping "wow" where they used to opt indoors. Open Envelope was very professional without intimidation from the initial phone call to the final day of installation. We met for a detailed design discussion and shortly after received a detailed rendering, beautiful nonetheless, and cost estimate for our review and approval prior to scheduling a date to break ground. They problem solved materials and design to meet our budget and did not try to hard sell anything. Their crew was kind, courteous, professional and never left a mess. They always communicated with us on time frame of phases during the project. They delivered on all expectations and more. We are beyond grateful for their vision and execution and highly recommend them. The family enjoys coffee, popsicles and cocktails daily in our new space. Thank you Open Envelope! read more

We could not be happier with OES. They came up with a beautiful design that transformed our "blah" backyard into a cozy and inviting oasis. They are innovative in their design approach and have built a strong team to back them up. After collaborating with them over several phases we are BEYOND pleased with the final result! They were such a joy to work with. I HIGHLY recommend them!! read more

OES did a fantastic job for us. They transformed our tiny patch of sod into a useable outdoor living space that we love. We have a very small backyard in a new subdivision in central Austin and OES gave us everything we dreamed of ON TIME and ON BUDGET. Incredible! Very professional and talented. Highly recommended! read more

If you are looking to transform your outdoor space, do yourself a favor and hire OES! Our entire experience with them was amazing. The design they created for our backyard feels like an extension of the house and we love to spend time out there. Their work quality is top notch and there is an extreme attention to detail. Additionally, all members of the OES team were a pleasure to work with (punctual, good communicators, respectful of property and neighbors). The process started with an initial walk-through where Matt and Angelica saw our space and we discussed what we were hoping to achieve. Their innovative ideas during that initial walk-through convinced us to go ahead with the work, and we are so glad that we did! They came up with creative ways to meet our budget and never pressured us to do more. The finished product is even better than we had anticipated. We highly recommend them!! read more

OES is an landscape design firm with multiple 'best in class' skill sets. The concepts and design are driven by architectural training with an eye for the dimensions and aesthetics of the space. Plant selection is driven by horticultural experience and education to choose the right plants as it relates to native, drought resistant, evergreen, etc. In my case, I had an idea of what I wanted for a new house that I was building, but allowed them a blank canvas to present me their concept. They came back with something so different, yet so perfect. A great design doesn't mean much if the installation and execution aren't equally well done. The OES team carried through the design perfectly. In fact, I would challenge anyone to find higher quality steel fabrication anywhere. Additionally, because of the extremely wet and cold winter, the job took longer than expected. The OES team was respectful of our property, our neighbors and was just fun to be around. The bottom line: every time I look outside, I smile. I highly recommend OES. read more

I live in Denton, Texas and literally BEGGED this company to come landscape my yard. I had seen their work on FaceBook and loved everything they did. I cannot be happier with the work they did and my yard is absolutely beautiful!! In fact, neighbors kept looking for a film crew to arrive because it looked so much like one of those landscaping shows! People stop when I'm in my yard to tell how gorgeous it is. They worked in a very timely manner, cleaned up the job site after each day of work and they finished on time. What I paid for the job was worth every penny!! read more

We worked with OES to build an outdoor laundry set up for our small home that lacked w/d hookups. I assume this fell outside their usual scope of work since it wasn't a typical landscape project-- or even a typical w/d installation project-- but this didn't seem to detract from their interest or level of service at all. Angelica, Matt, and Damon were attentive to our needs, provided us with a thoughtful design, were receptive to our feedback, and executed the job beautifully. They were also very patient with our questions and communicative throughout the process, including through delays with our permits and subcontractors. I'm really glad that we went with OES for this project, and would recommend them to others! read more

Open Envelope designed and built a steel shade structure that spans the breezeway between our house and garage. They did a great job coming up with a design and the finished product looks sharp. I've worked with a variety of contractors over the years and Open Envelope is among the best. They showed up when they said they would, completed the project on time, cleaned up after themselves, and the final result exceeded my expectations. I look forward to hiring them again for future projects. read more

OES does absolutely beautiful work--on time and within budget. Matt and his team did a screened-in porch, deck, and elaborate planter for me, plus some plantings in an existing bed. It all came out better than I ever could have expected. The workmanship is truly artisan quality. It is very clear that Matt is an architect. The precision and attention to detail is superb. I would recommend OES enthusiastically to anyone seeking a unique and beautiful outdoor living space. read more

We could not be happier with the beautiful results that Matt and Angelica produced for us. We had an idea of what we wanted, but Open Envelope had a great vision and knew how to put it in place. Our yard is so much more useable and every day we love "living" in it. It was a pleasure working with the team. They were all communicative, timely, neat and just a joy to have on site. You will not be disappointed if you hire this team!! read more

Open Envelope transformed our relatively unusable and seemingly small side and back yards into beautiful, usable areas that feel comparatively enormous for dining and lounging. The design is excellent and the work quality is as good as it gets. Angelica and Matt Norton are talented and dedicated down the tiniest detail, as is their crew. Everything was done exactly as promised and the end product is even better than we ever imagined. I would highly recommend the company. read more

OES is beyond amazing. When they started our yard was a massive hill-side pile of mud and clay with crumbling retaining walls and funky flower beds - now it is a show stopper! Their ideas (as well as improving upon our ideas/suggestions) were beyond anything I could have imagined. They put a lot of thought into our family- how our yard functions, how we want use it and the plants that will work best. We even pushed them outside their normal scope and they did everything to research and ensure the results were perfect. In our yard they customized and installed steel retaining walls, wooden fencing, a stair-step pathway, a pool-side sun deck, a shaded patio, weather-proofed our pergola. They brought in contractors for artificial turf and a newly-created irrigation system. And, of course, planted perfectly complimentary plants, flowers, trees, bushes and bamboo. All through the course of our project they didn't stop till the project was just right. Since our project finished we recently re-hired them to custom design and install an outdoor kitchen incorporating our existing grill and added a sink, fridge and counter space. We now love having parties at our house and without fail the first thing people say walking in our door is gushing compliments of our backyard. I've referred them to friends who are also very happy with their work and thankful for the recommendation. As a final note, their pricing structure is ideal and very transparent which made it easy to understand and accommodate within our budget. read more

I used these guys for two large steel planters and a deck on the front of my house. Here is why I would use Open Envelope Studio and would recommend them to anyone: 1) answered initial inquiry and showed up on sight to discuss job very quickly - I made several inquiries with several companies and Mat was very prompt in his response in comparison - great start. 2) plans and estimate were done very professionally and on a timely basis. I felt like communication was excellent and I knew exactly what I was getting before we started. 3) the guys that worked on the job were so professional and courteous it was a pleasure having them on sight. 4) they were neat on the job sight and left things picked up at the end of each day 5) they were able to make adjustments in the project as needed and Shawn even mocked up a cardboard example so I could see dimensions clearly before proceeding. 6) even though I was not using them for another project I had doing at the time, they did not hesitate to give advice when asked or jump in when help was needed. ( unusual circumstances ) In other words - I feel they went above and beyond, and that seems so rare these days. Matt promised I would be satisfied with the job and he was right! And neighbors seem to love it too which is always a plus. read more