Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Bowman.
Hi Matt, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always loved the ourtdoors- hiking, biking, paddling, and the more time I spent outdoors the richer and deeper the connections in the natural world got. I worked at organic farms and landscaping companies through my youth and worked my way up in the green industry. I gravitated towards design and construction as the best way to show people the interconnectivity of living landscapes and the magic of an outdoor space through the seasons. I founded Sage Landscapes so homeowner could have a “sage” guide them through a landscape design that custom to them with the experience to bring it to life. We rely on natural materials a lot because that inspires me most in my own life, so in our landscapes you’ll often see stone patios, boulders, timber features and mix of native and ornamental plants. Outdoor spaces and home landscape are incredible places to feel grounded, relaxed, and make memories that can be cherished. Its really inspiring to think I have inspired people to spend more time outdoors through our design and construction work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Small business is definitely not always smooth sailing and without advocates in my community getting the word out and an amazing crew of people, it would feel much harder. I started sage essentially with a pair of pruners and a hand saw pruning Japanese maples and fruit trees on the weekends. Through years we have slowly honed in on our signature style to create patios, walls, water features and planted spaces. I feel very lucky to have such a talented people working with me, some for over 8 years now!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Sage Landscapes designs and builds outdoor spaces. We specialize in stone patios and features, but every yard in unique and we try to create a landscape that will speak to our specific clients so they have an engaging space that encourages them to spend more time outdoors. We are so lucky to have clients who like artistic and natural looking spaces that allow us to lean on the magic of oregon’s natural ecosystems to create a living yard that will change through the season, attract birds and butterflies, and always have something to see and notice. This type of landscaping is a little less sterile but we think makes a more engaging outdoor space with more nuance and interconnection to appreciate over time.
We do a lot of hand cut flagstone patios. I love natural stone and I think its so cool that each one is unique and cut to fit that specific space. In a corporate cookie cutter world, I just love the look of hand cut project that requires a human touch.
Someday when I have my dream home, I think I’ll definitely want some sort of courtyard or indoor/outdoor living space along with a swimming pond, some fruit trees and a small garden. I love to garden, and water is such an important element for all life especially in the summers here in Oregon. I think that would be just swell. For now, I am building those types of features all around town. We have some projects that I am super proud of. Feel free to check them out on our social media pages if you want to follow along
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In 5-10 years I think landscaping will be facing more challenges with the changing climate. We already have a totally different list of plants that thrive in the Portland area than we used even 10 years ago. Planning for fires and droughts will be important aspects of our work. I think if house prices stay high outdoor space will be more and more valuable and I imagine that outdoor living and expanding the living spaces will be a higher priority. With hot summers and a health conscious town, i do foresee natural swimming ponds, cold plunges and saunas being more frequently considered. Lighting to enjoy outdoor space will be important to enjoy Oregon’s cooler summer evenings. I think as far as trends, more naturalistic planting are having a moment as people move away from water hungry lawns. With this trend design will be even more important because lawns are currently people “flex” space where they can throw a few chairs as overflow space. If you replace the grass with more drought tolerant planting, you’ll need to plan enough patio for outdoor furniture and designated paths and gathering spaces
Pricing:
- Traditional Flagstone patios $45-65 per sq ft
- Modern paver patio 29-40 dollars per sq ft
- Landscape Design 1-4K up to 1 acre
- A finished landscape should cost about 10-25 percent of the home’s value
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sagelandscapes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagelandscapes.pdx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortlandSage/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sagelandscapes
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sagelandscapes
