The Ins and Outs of Mercury Designs
Mercury Designs is established in 2002 by the award-winning landscaper, David Viljoen.
Our professional horticultural consultants and landscape designers are qualified to assist you in beautifying your living space. Our creative team will endeavor to turn your gardening dreams into a reality and to create a space for you that you can enjoy.
Meet David Viljoen, owner and creator of Mercury Designs
Where it all started for David
David Viljoen has been passionate about gardening and creativity since a very young age. As a child, his family won several gardening competitions.
He furthered his passion through a career in Horticulture at Tshwane University of Technology where he specialised in Landscape design. He was awarded a top student in all his academic and practical years and passed his degree with distinction (B.Tech. Landscape Technology, cum laude).
Mercury Designs was estashblished in 2002 by the award-winning Landscaper and Horticulturist, David Viljoen.
David’s landscape journey
After completing his studies, David started working in one of South Africa’s leading nurseries for a period of 10 years. David’s management duties included staff training, merchandising and display work, product sourcing and general customer service. He gained a great deal of experience with his international travels to Horticultural fairs and through visiting a wide range of international garden centres.
David has been an external examiner for Tshwane University of Technology students, judged several gardens and also expo stands at exhibitions. David Viljoen enjoys seeing people’s creativity being expressed in various ways and offers helpful feedback and input into making any presentation or exhibition more effective.
David presents gardening and landscaping courses throughout South Africa and neighbouring countries and loves sharing his knowledge and experience with others. He has been a gardening presenter on Kyknet for a period of 15 years and often makes his appearance on different media platforms.
David believes creativity and uniqueness are essential elements in setting one apart from the rest. Mercury Designs focuses on affordable, creative designs, not only in the garden but also in the interior of a home. David Viljoen does floral art and event management and is well known for extraordinary functions and attention to detail.
Mercury Designs is all about you and your garden
Our professional horticultural consultants and landscape designers are qualified to assist you in beautifying your living space. Our creative team will endeavor to turn your gardening dreams into a reality and to create a space for you that you can enjoy.
Our expertise along with years of experience have made us leaders in garden design. Your garden will be our pride as well. David Viljoen is well known within the gardening industry for his creative approach to design and lectures throughout the country.
Mercury Designs offers courses in garden landscape design and can be seen on DSTV. Our qualified team take pride in our work and we are creative, passionate and effective in innovative garden landscape design.
The procedure of a landscape design and implementation
The garden consultation
The client’s needs, requirements, likes and dislikes will be determined. Existing features will be plotted and a site analysis will be completed.
Existing house plans with boundary indications have to be submitted to Mercury Designs’ representatives on the day of the consultation. In the absence of house plans, site surveying will be done and measurements will be taken at an additional fee.
The budget
A budget for the garden is required in order for us to offer you our best possible service. Our creative design team needs boundaries to work within to design a concept that will satisfy your specific needs.
Please note that a garden plan can assist you in phasing your garden over a period of time while still working towards the final concept. The budget will greatly influence the choices of products and finishes.
A budget for the garden is required in order for us to offer you our best possible service. Our creative design team needs boundaries to work within to design a concept that will satisfy your specific needs.
The concept plan
The redrawing of all the above-mentioned details will be done to scale in preparation for budgeted design work. A brainstorming session to determine how best the budget can be applied to the outdoor area.
Details and finishes will be absent in the concept designs and will be added at a later stage. The purpose of the concept plan, a 50% design deposit will be required for the commencement of any further design work and the finalising of the design as well as the cost estimate.
Finalizing the design
The final design will be presented to you in a top-view format and will be drawn to a scale of 1:100 or 1:50. Details and finishes will be added in at this stage of the design process in preparation for the final landscape plan.
Products will be quantified and costed to meet the client’s requested budget. A coded structure will be used for easy identification of products on the final plan and the detailed cost estimate.
Final design work
The presentation of the plan will be held at Mercury Designs in Boksburg. Products can be viewed within Hecker Nursery, books, brochures, the internet etc. within the office of Mercury Designs.
The plan and cost estimate will be handed over on acceptance of the final payment. Additional plans or scale models will be charged for additionally on request of the client/contractor.
Implementation
If clients wish to construct the garden, or supervise all the contractors on their own, the detailed plan and cost estimate can be used as a guide line.
As an alternative and totally up to the client’s choice, Mercury Designs can implement the garden with their own team and specialized contractors ensuring the client a hassle-free project.
Mercury Designs can implement the garden with our own team and specialized contractors ensuring the client a hassle-free project.
Services offered by Mercury Designs
Garden Designs
The client’s needs, requirements, likes and dislikes will be determined. Existing features will be plotted and a site analysis will be completed.
Existing house plans with boundary indications have to be submitted to Mercury Designs’ representatives on the day of the consultation. In the absence of house plans, site surveying will be done and measurements will be taken at an additional fee.
Our design team is well experienced to assist you in creating a beautiful picture and environment to live in. Tuscan/ French/ Balinese/ modern/ indigenous/ oriental/ Mexican/ minimalistic/ country style /feng shui/ contemporary/ tropical are a few styles that we specialize in. All designs are customed designed for your specific needs and requirements.
Garden Consultations
The Mercury Designs creative team of expert designers, horticulturists and landscapers are fully equipped to identify problem areas in the garden and to professionally suggest successful solutions.
We advice you on the following:
- Garden layout: site surveying, garden revamps, focal features, garden design, plant choices, adding lasting colour and creating outdoor spaces.
- Basic plant growth: soil improvements, organics, plant health & well-being, fertilizers, irrigation, mulching and garden pests and diseases.
- Problematic areas: quick & long term fixes, clay soils, drainage control, alien invasive species control and installation recommendations
- Maintenance: cost saving solutions, pruning advice, lower maintenance advice and lawn care
- Environmental: water saving tactics, attracting wildlife, sustainable gardens and ecological solutions
Garden Installations
We design and install beautiful gardens and outdoor structures. We can also manufacture custom-made features to suit your specific needs: if you can dream it, we can install it.
- Garden floor: paving, pavers, pathways, steps, garden edging, tiling, gravel & pebbles, stone work, lawns, drainage control, wooden decks and cladding
- Garden features: sculptures, benches, containers, statues, garden features, arches, metal features, screening solutions, wall features, pillars, trellising, pergolas & other roof structures
- Construction: brick & mortar construction, bomas, retaining walls, raised boxes, entertainment areas, pnds & water features
- Miscellaneous: garden illumination, special features, irrigation systems (manual & automated)
Garden Maintenance:
Our expertise makes us unique leaders in the successful care and maintenance of beautiful outdoor spaces. Our specialized services:
- Plant care: plant growth, tree surgery & training, garden pest control, lawn care and fertilizing
- Seasonal care: winter care & protection, pruning
- Seasonal colour: spring treatments
- Garden care: garden revamps, soil improvements, composting, mulching, irrigation maintenance
- Miscellaneous: painting & varnishing, garden cleaning
Courses and lectures:
David Viljoen presents Gardening Courses, Lectures and Demonstrations throughout the year, all across South Africa.
- Courses: landscaping/garden design, horticulture, basic gardening, maintenance practices, feng shui
- Lectures: various gardening topics, garden design, colour therapy, irrigation, garden maintenance, merchandising & displays, staff training
- Demonstrations: floral art, garden features, table settings, design 101
MERCURY DESIGNS:
Hecker Nursery, Shop 01 | 01 Kirschner Road, Westwood AH, Boksburg | 011 894 2430 | forkandrake@gmail.com