In Conversation with Mint Design

What made you start Mint Design, and how did those early projects bring your vision to life? 

We saw a chance to create a design-led practice that brought architecture and landscape together with more ambition. At the time, there was a real appetite for pool designs that went beyond the standard rectangle - something more expressive, more site-specific. Early on, we focused on showing clients what was possible when you stepped outside the box.  The blend of nature and architecture came from a desire to soften the hard edges of contemporary homes. As architecture leaned into minimalism - glass, concrete, steel - we looked for ways to reintroduce warmth, tactility and softness through planting. Sometimes that meant bold, leafy green structure. Other times it was finer, floral movement. But always, it was about creating balance, texture and life in the space. 

How do you make outdoor spaces feel like a true extension of the home? 

It starts with function. A design has to work for how people live in their home day-to-day. From there, we think about flow — how you move from the living room to the alfresco, or down a hallway toward the pool. Those transitions should feel effortless. 

Once the layout is right, we focus on form, rhythm and materials. Planting is never an afterthought. With so many pools, courts and paved zones going in, greenery becomes even more important. We try to lift it to eye level, have it climb vertically, or spill from planters — anything to keep that visual connection to nature, even in more structured spaces. 

What advice would you give someone starting a landscape project? 

Engage a designer early, whether you’re building new or reworking an existing space. If you’re designing a new home, bring in landscape thinking once your floor plan is final. It gives you time to get the indoor–outdoor flow right and make sure the architecture and landscape are working together.  For established homes, the approach shifts. It’s more about how you live now, what’s working (or not), and how your garden could support your lifestyle better. A good designer helps you look beyond what’s there and reimagine the space to bring more flow, function and ease. The more time you give the design to evolve, the more personal and lasting it becomes. In the end, it should reflect who you are and how you want to live — now and into the future. 

Has a client ever changed the way you think about design? 

One project in particular stands out where the client came to us with a bold vision that challenged our typical approach. They wanted something pared back and minimal but still full of personality. At first glance, that brief sounds contradictory. But the more we leaned into it, the more clarity we found. We stripped the design back to its essence and committed to one strong idea, running it consistently through the entire site. It reshaped the way we think about restraint, how fewer moves, done well, can actually be more powerful than an overworked scheme. It was a reminder that great design often lies in the edit. 

What’s next for Mint Design, and where do you see things heading in your industry? 

We want to keep working on projects that push ideas. It’s not about big budgets; it’s about clients with a clear vision and the trust to let us explore it. That’s when the best work happens. As for the industry, there’s a shift happening. People are looking for more thoughtful outdoor spaces. Less about ticking boxes, more about how it feels to live in them. There’s growing appreciation for the role landscape plays in softening architecture and enriching everyday life. And we’re excited to be part of that evolution. 

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