We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Delane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
A number of years ago, I moved to California and started my Public Relations company, Tigerlily Skye PR, working with luxury lifestyle brands. My sister, Sacha McCrae, also moved to Southern California and started Living Gardens Landscape Design, a full-service award-winning landscape design firm, creating beautiful and functional outdoor rooms. As the client roster grew, there was more focus on design, and less time available to add the finishing touches, such as furniture and decor items, to each project.

I knew the business well since I already handled the PR for the company, so I started to take on the clients that needed help selecting and purchasing furniture and decor. This introduced me to many beautiful furniture brands and I started to build relationships with them in order to offer their products to our clients.

Adding furniture to an outdoor space takes into account the style of the interior of the house, the space available, and the needs of the homeowner. Some clients want an entertainment space, some are looking for a family retreat, and others are just looking for a private place to read and relax. This is why we take detailed notes during the initial design consultation about how the homeowners plan to use their outdoor space, so that we can tailor each project’s needs correctly.

As the furniture procurement side of the business grew, we were approached by other landscape designers to help their clients with their furniture needs as well. This led us to realize that there might be a need for a new source of outdoor furniture.

Thus, Shop Living Gardens was born.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up in London, and after studying communication at college, I decided to spend some time traveling around the world. This gave me an incredible opportunity to learn about places, people, and cultures and an appreciation of communication even when there is a language barrier. This is a period in my life that I cherish, and I am able to use the skills I learned while traveling, each and every day.

After settling in Los Angeles, I needed to restart my career path. I worked in a number of different industries until I stumbled upon a position with a luxury Swiss watch company. Once there, I began building relationships with people in the media in order to achieve press coverage for the brand. I loved it!

When the brand decided to move its U.S. headquarters to Florida, I stayed behind and started my own PR agency, Tigerlily Skye PR. Since then I have worked with a number of watch and jewelry brands, as well as landscape designers.

Now I have added Shop Living Gardens to my roster. I love working with the design aspect of the website and sourcing new manufacturers for luxury furniture and decor.

Has the path been easy? Not really. Is it rewarding? Yes, absolutely! When I see how happy our clients are with how everything has come together, it brings me such joy.

Some days are more challenging than others as there are deadlines that need to be met, and there are many days when they all seem to happen at the same time, so project management and organization are key.

Finding a work/life balance can also get off track, so it is important to remind ourselves to take some time for yourself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much to do in Southern California, and we are always lucky with the weather. I tend to stay with coastal towns, such as Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and San Clemente, which are always wonderful options. Great restaurants like Nick’s, and music/dinner venues like Mozambique, are always top of the list. Cocktails at the Rooftop Lounge or Skyloft are a great way to watch the sunset.

Staying local, I would probably take a guest who is new to the area to the Pageant of the Masters, or for a completely different side of life, to Venice Beach.

Another way to experience much of what Sothern California has to offer is to attend a market. Whether it be a farmers market or a makers’ market, there is always so much to see, taste and enjoy.

Going further afield, Santa Barbara, Ojai, and San Diego are great for a few days away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The credit goes to my sister, Sacha. While handling the PR for her company, Sacha taught me a lot about the landscape design industry in order to be able to promote Living Gardens Landscape Design properly. Sacha was very patient with me while I learned about plants, something she has always been passionate about, and understanding the rules of layout and functionality. I decided to take some design classes at the local community college to broaden my knowledge and Sacha fully supported me with time to learn and expand my knowledge.

Website: https://shoplivinggardens.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoplivinggardens/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoplivinggardens/

Other: Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/living-gardens-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~469829297 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shoplivinggardens/

Image Credits
Brett Hilton Photography

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