Meet Thomas Diehl | Principal and Landscape Designer

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

Hi Thomas, how do you think about risk?
When I look back on my career, I see that risk has been at the center of everything I’ve done. Moving to California to pursue landscape design was a leap — there was no guarantee of security, but I knew plants could be my medium as an artist. I’ve always seen myself as much a visual artist as a designer, and the challenge has been creating opportunities for people to trust me with their spaces so I can express that vision. Over time, each risk has led to growth: the projects have become larger, the budgets more ambitious, and the collaborations more inspiring. Today, many of my clients are high-profile creatives themselves, and working alongside them has made the process not just design, but dialogue and artistry on both sides.

Of course, being an entrepreneur and artist means there’s no safety net of a monthly paycheck. But I’ve found that the uncertainty is what keeps me evolving. Each risk has opened new doors, deepened my purpose, and given me the chance to create a career and a life that feel truly my own.

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.
My career has been an evolution, and what’s guided me most is treating landscape design as an art form. I’ve always considered myself an artist first — my medium just happens to be plants. That perspective sets me apart: I don’t simply think about where to place trees or shrubs, but how to create living, sculptural environments that merge art, architecture, and nature.

Through my company, The Living Canvas, I’ve had the privilege of creating gardens and estates that are not only beautiful but also deeply felt. When I step into a property, I approach it almost with a sixth sense — attuned to its energy, its flow, and the ways symbols of abundance and harmony can be expressed through design. For centuries, gardens have carried meaning beyond their physical form, and I try to bring that into my work. By combining living plant material with objects of history and purpose, I create spaces that allow people to reconnect with nature — and, in turn, with themselves.

What I want the world to know about me and my story is that design can be transformative. A thoughtfully created garden isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a living, breathing space that carries energy, meaning, and beauty. That’s the heart of The Living Canvas: to create environments that resonate deeply and bring people closer to the natural world and to themselves.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d start with mornings along the coast — Malibu or Palisades hikes where you get the ocean air and views that remind you why California is so special. For breakfast, I’d take them to Gjusta in Venice or grab a casual coffee and pastry at Tartine.

Afternoons would be for design and culture: we might wander through the Getty Villa, explore what’s in bloom at the Huntington Gardens — which I consider one of the city’s greatest treasures — or take a Downtown Los Angeles art walk. There are so many major artists’ works tucked into secret courtyards and plazas around the high-rises, created as part of the city’s public art program. It’s one of those underground gems most people don’t know about, and it gives such a fresh, layered view of L.A.’s creative spirit.

Evenings would be all about food and atmosphere. I love Mozza and anything Nancy Silverton touches, a night at Antico Nuovo or République, or Horses for something stylish and fun. For a more sophisticated experience, Damien offers some of the most elevated Mexican cuisine in the city. And if there was a great show happening at the Hollywood Bowl, I’d definitely plan the trip around it — there’s nothing quite like that experience on a warm L.A. night.

To round it out, we might take a day trip up the coast to Santa Barbara — visiting Lotusland, browsing the antique shops, and soaking in the beauty of the California coastline. L.A. is such a layered city: it’s the glamour, the grit, the cultural richness, and the natural beauty. My goal would be for them to leave with the sense that Los Angeles isn’t one thing — it’s a mosaic, and it’s at its best when you experience it that way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been fortunate to have so many people in my life who’ve been pillars of support, encouragement, and inspiration. My first friend in Los Angeles, interior designer David Dalton, really helped me find my footing. He’s exceptionally talented, and his friendship and mentorship opened doors into the design community here. We traveled together, and his knowledge and generosity have been invaluable to me over the years.

Another huge advocate and mentor has been Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Martyn has not only inspired me with his creative energy and zest for life, but he’s also been incredibly generous in opening doors. He’s invited me into his world and included me in projects with clients he’s had long-standing relationships with — A-list celebrities and high-net-worth individuals who trust him implicitly. Being welcomed into those opportunities has truly shifted the course of my life and career. His encouragement, his generosity, and the faith he’s shown in me are things I’ll always be deeply grateful for. Martyn’s mentorship has been both grounding and transformative, and I aspire to reflect even a fraction of his spirit in my own work

Website: https://Thelivingcanvas.org

Instagram: Thomasdiehlthelivingcanvas

Image Credits
Head shots – Sean Hayes
Tiffany Rooftop Palm Beach – Carmel Brantley
Martyns lawrence bullards hollywood hills home – Martyn’s House By Laura Resen
Kathryn Ireland home in Santa Monica – I took
Red O Photographs