Garden Living Design
The Grass Under Our Feet
Fueled by Flowers. Inspired by Nature.
Our inspiration begins with the earth itself: the quiet poetry of texture, color, and form found in every landscape. The grass under our feet is a reminder of where all beauty originates. From the tactile warmth of stone to the fleeting grace of seasonal blooms, our work honors the connection between nature and design.
We're Leslie and Rick, the duo behind Garden Living Design. In our studio, nestled within our lush garden in North Kohala, we create work that reflects a shared passion for nature and craftsmanship. Each of us brings something distinct: Rick through his skill with vintage tools to shape forms, copper, and wood; and Leslie's eye for composition, color, and the quiet presence each piece is meant to convey.
Every work is a collaboration with nature — its textures, imperfections, and rhythms guiding the outcome. What emerges is not only art, but a reflection of our dialogue with the natural world.
Inspiration
Surrounding our studio is a thriving garden alive with color, texture, and tranquil energy. Filled with tropical flowers, fruit trees, and winding paths, it's a living canvas that continually informs our work. At its center, our pond reflects the sky and nurtures the water lilies that often become the foundation for our sculptural forms.
The garden offers endless inspiration—its resilience, rhythm, and abundance of pattern and graceful detail. Every branch, pod, and leaf holds a story, a sense of character that guides our art. These natural elements often find their way into our cast-stone pieces, each one shaped by the details of nature, so effortlessly, yet meticulously created.
In floral design, inspiration comes from a subtle place: the simplicity of a stem, the curve of a petal, the natural beauty found in restraint. Every composition is tailored to reflect our client's personal style while honoring the elegance of the seasons and the purity of form found in nature itself.
Process
Each piece begins with the careful selection of natural elements: leaves, blooms, and branches chosen for their character, beauty, and imperfections. Cast in a wet blend of cement, sand, and fiber, these forms transform into hand-cast stone, preserving the texture and essence of what once resided in the garden.
As the composition cures, nature reveals its imprint. We refine the surface, shaping edges, highlighting folds, and uncovering the delicacy within each impression. The layering of paint, patina, and glaze then follows, a labor of patience and love that brings depth and luminosity to the finished work.
Every piece is signed "J. Jardin" — a name that translates to "Johnson Garden" in French, honoring both our shared name and the place that inspires it all. The signature is not a claim of authorship, but a gesture of reverence for the land, the flora, and the organic forms that truly lead the process.
STUDIO
In the studio nestled at the heart of our beloved garden, creativity feels as natural as the air that flows through open windows and doors. Surrounded by light and the serene rhythm of the outdoors, it's both a sanctuary and a workshop - a space where nature's presence guides every detail.
Rick's side hums with the precision of vintage tools for copper and woodworking, while Leslie's gathers color, texture and form — sketches, paint palettes, and garden cuttings that shape new ideas. Together, our workspaces tell the story of collaboration: two perspectives joined by a shared devotion to beauty, material, and craft.
The studio is a private workspace, occasionally opened by appointment for clients and collaborators to experience the environment that shapes our work.