Ocotillo Design Group, Inc.

I don’t recommend working with Ocotillo Design Group and I don’t believe any of the five star reviews on Houzz are real. From my personal experience, this team is unethical and incompetent. It took Dan almost three months to come up with the initial drawing of my backyard and the new pool that had major errors including violating property line limits, Dan was not even aware of that. I had to remeasure my yard and review the drawing measurements to point that out. Dan didn’t even remember where was the west versus the east side of my lot! His best suggestion was to just go ahead and submit to the city these faulty drawings and see how the city takes it and what comments come back! That was plain unprofessional. When I asked to return my deposit, they refused. We are filing a lawsuit and if there is anyone else out there, taken advantage of by this company, email me at olgaborisova@yahoo.com.

Ocotillo Design Group did an excellent job creating the landscape design for our backyard. They listened to our wants and needs and came up with a beautiful, functional design that compliments our beautiful view and neighborhood. Dan Lewis and his team are great to work with. They have inspiring concepts and renderings, making it easy to visualize the final product. I'm so glad we went with Ocotillo Design Group, they are truly outstanding and I recommend them highly!

I bought a new home as a new construction in 2020 and the Ocotillo team designed a dream backyard/indoor-outdoor design which exceeded our expectations. The The team was helpful in helping us identify quality contractors and procurement of materials from start to finish. I Highly recommend them.

Great team overall. They helped us with our front and back yard for a new construction home. Process was fairly smooth. They were responsive and worked to meet our demands. Pleased with the overall design and they hooked us up with an amazing contractor (David) to get the job done.

They were incredible!!! Extremely talented! They listened to what we wanted and then customized an amazing space for us to enjoy, year after year. We feel very lucky to have had the opportunity work with them! Best wishes to all future customers.

Top notch company to deal with! Communication is fantastic and their work is amazing!!! We love how our yard design came out and now we are enjoying our new outdoor living space!

We decided to make a big move away from the bay area. Wanting more for our kids, big yard and less crowds. We were fortunate enough to find the perfect home that could fit our dream pool. I of course got several estimates and design consultations. Dan at Ocotillo was only one that came close to the vision in my head. It was literally like he took the dream backyard I envisioned and made it reality. He thinks of every detail, on time and creative. Also great at answering the 100 questions I would throw at him. We were blessed to have him complete our dream home.

Very few times can something that I have created inside my head gets put out in the real world. This is exactly what Ocotillo did for us. They were able to draw our back yard in the exact way I was thinking. Our meetings went great and they delivered on time. What else can you want!

These guys are the best at what they do! My wife and I have a vast backyard outdoor living space we needed final designs for; we brought the space in its rough form to the completion point, minus the placement of fixtures, furniture, and overall look and feel. This is an ample three-level tiered space with extensive retaining walls and stairs. We did not know how to finish the space and give it the final design; we researched designers and found Ocotillo, and boy, are we so happy we found them. The entire team at Ocotillo is excellent to work with; we had a couple of meetings at their office with Dan and the rest of the team. Everyone was friendly and informative; they provided us with a well-made, comprehensive plan that any landscape contractor could follow. We completed our project, and in the end, it looks exactly like the images in the plan! We are so pleased with the services Ocotillo provided and the results, we could not be happier! We highly recommend Ocotillo for your design needs. John and MJ Gregg

Mark Leone and his group went out of their way to insure that their landscape design fit our needs. When we had issues, Mark would come to the house and solve our problems...he was more than accommodating and even met with our HOA to learn their requirements for our project. Whenever we called with changes, they were done within the week. Ocotillo Design was very professional yet open to any new ideas that we had for our project. They were easy to contact (by phone or email) and quick to respond. I would highly recommend Mark Leone and his design group for any landscape project.

Dan and Cheryle were absolutely amazing from start to finish on our project. Dan did the initial walkthrough of our two acre dirt lot, asked a few questions, and was taking in all of our thoughts and dreams during out walkthrough. A week or so later, we received a stunning design from Ocotillo design group which incorporated EVERYTHING we mentioned to Dan. We were shocked that he listened to everything and brought every aspect into the design so cohesively. We highly recommend Ocotillo and will surely use them for future projects. Attentive, responsive, and great business people!

Dan, Cheryl and the Team at Ocotillo are second to none when it comes to both service, expedience and most of all quality. We had them design out our complicated backyard landscape design for or home in La Jolla, CA. What they came back with blew away our expectations. They use 3D modeling software that almost makes their design look real and really take the time to make sure that everything flows! The Ocotillo team really takes the time to listen to you and then puts their industry smarts and talent to turn those dreams into reality. We enjoyed the quality of product and working with them so much I hired them to redesign my 16,500 sq. ft. office landscape... highly recommended.

My wife and I were overwhelmed planning a backyard remodel that included a new pool, outdoor room, and seating area with a fire pit. We were referred to Mark and the Ocotillo team and signed up for a complete design package. The process was well run and the Ocotillo design team helped us create our dream backyard. We had a few iterations on the final design, and the designers were quick to support every tweak. Once the design was completed, the Ocotillo team even helped us to find the best contractor by referring us to a few that it thought were a good fit for the project. We ultimately selected one of their referrals, De Maria Landtech, Inc, and we were blown away by the work it did as well. We highly recommend Ocotillo Design Group!

Fully understood and embraced the vision for the project. Execution was outstanding and creative, with quick iteration on feedback. Plans were sophisticated and comprehensive. So pleased with this experience!

We ran into Mark at the Del Mar home & garden show and decided to go through Ocotillo to redesign our front yard. We had an idea of how we wanted the front yard and sidewalk to flow and look but thought that having a good architect and design team would be the best route to go so that we can use their contacts and plans to be able to show a contractor and have the desired outcome. Mark and his team created several different plans and ideas that fed off of what we had initially in mind and provided us with other options and ideas. The final blueprint was even better than we initially planned. Mark then used his contacts and relationships to bring us in contact with Scott at STP Masonry that was able to work off of the blueprints and put the drawings to life. Top reasons to use Mark and Ocotillo design: 1) professional and upfront regarding pricing and costs and expectations 2) He has his preferred contractors that have done great work for him in the past and will set them up with you 3) No upsell or desire to have a larger costlier project than you're expecting. There's nothing in it for them except customer satisfaction. A happy customer :)

FIVE STARS and more! We used Mark Leone to design our bare dirt lot into a dream front and back yard. Mark clearly translated our visions onto the plans for the submittal process with a difficult HOA approval process. Although the HOA was unwilling to approve our visions, Mark persevered and made our dream landscape a reality with an approval. His professionalism and knowledge made our experience manageable and fun. His quick, clear communication and "can do" attitude, even amidst challenges he found resolutions to facilitate an approval. Thank you Mark and Team, we are grateful for your help!

I believe the designers are talented and personable when you are able to get a hold of them, but I cannot recommend them for several reasons: 1. Incredibly unresponsive and unprofessional with meeting deadlines. It took 11 months from signing a contract to getting construction documents so that we could begin to get bids (not because we were indecisive). It took an average of two or more weeks to get a response to a question starting from the very beginning. Furthermore, our project got lost with personnel changes and bounced around several times. We were never sure who we were supposed to communicate with. 2. The designers assigned never set foot on our property and I constantly had to remind them of details that would be obvious if they had spent time on site. 3. We were told they work with any budget, but our project bids were over double our budget. 4. When it came time to construction, many large details were never discussed or specified in the documents thus delaying construction. In the end, we worked with a construction company to make the design realistic (an example is the walkways near our pool needed to be wider than the planned 18 inches) and within budget. We are content with the final product, but it was a stressful and drawn out process to get there.

Mark did an amazing job translating our wish list for our new construction dirt backyard and delivering a beautiful, clean design while being mindful of our budget. My husband and I are always in awe when we go out there that that this amazing yard belongs to us. When time comes for our front yard design, we would not hesitate to contact Ocotillo again.

Mark and team did an awesome job working on our backyard design. They helped us visualize how the yard would look and what the best way to compartmentalize it would be. They also patiently helped us through multiple revisions to get to the perfect design! The final specs were solid, allowing us to get quick HOA approval and the contractor to bring the backyard to life exactly as we imagine it might look.

Mark and Joel were incredible in putting our ideas to design and getting through a very involved HOA. They captured our voice and were patient to help guide us on a lengthy approval process. The design that evolved was amazing and they made our dreams a reality. Mark and Joel made themselves available and always followed up keeping us on track. They have an incredible staff and partner in Dan who we also had a chance to meet. We give the Ocotillo group our highest recommendation and will use them for future endeavors. Thank you

Dan at Ocotillo Design Group was fantastic from beginning to end. We did not have the eye to envision the transformation of our backyard as it consists of several elevation changes and needed a complete makeover. Dan and his team came in and brought the space to life in a way we could have never imagined. From the initial consultation to drawing up construction docs Dan was accessible, responsive and followed through on everything agreed upon. We would absolutely recommend Ocotillo Design Group to anyone looking to revamp their outdoor space. 5 STARS! ⭐️

Ocotillo did a great job for us, we would highly recommend! They navigated our HOA submittals and numerous hurdles to get the job done, top notch service and knowledge.

5 stars for sure!!! Mark is incredibly talented but equally important, he is a great human! He listens to his clients, is open to feedback and is able to translate your broad vision into the amazing yard of your dreams. Mark is honest, on time and respects your budget. We had such a great experience working with Mark and his team that I have already recommended him to several friends and colleagues. Our backyard was a small project but he managed to pack all our hopes and dreams into the tiny space. I still can't believe it is ours...looks like it should be in a magazine.

Mark is an outstanding landscape architect with a vision for excellence and phased approach to get there with his team. He has a collaborative approach, listened to our needs, budget and miraculously translated our concept of outdoor space into an exceptional design. Mark is dedicated to his project, available to discuss details as necessary, brings in new ideas and options and executes on time. It has been a pleasure to work with Mark and his team. Thank you for great teamwork!

We had a pretty small backyard project that we needed some design help with. One of our neighbors recommended Ocotillo Design Group and I’m glad they did. Mark came out to our house, measured the property, asked us what we had in mind, then came back with a great design that didn’t break the bank. He also provided assistance with two contractor recommendations, both of whom we met with and one of which we used. We’re so happy with the service we got that we’re going to call them again soon to advise us on some changes to our front yard.

I would like to thank Mark and his team at Ocotillo Design Group for picking up the pieces from a previous designer and finishing it to our complete satisfaction. Mark and his team did a wonderful job on the 3d rendering so we could get a good look and feel of our future backyard. I would highly recommend Ocotillo Design Group for anyone looking for professional guidance and execution of a design project. I can't wait for the finished project!

My wife and I had an excellent experience from start to finish with Ocotillo. Every interaction with Ocotillo was insightful, reliable, and partnership driven. We felt it was an incredible value for the investment of time and resources. We are ecstatic at how our design turned out and they made the experience easy for first timers like my wife and I. We recommended Ocotillo to our neighbors and some of the largest homes in the community subsequently hired Ocotillo. Highly recommended!

A couple of years ago, my husband and I went through an extensive home interior renovation and we found it necessary to renovate our front and back yards with the same type of expert workmanship that we experienced inside the house We were referred to Mark Leone, an excellent landscape architect, who redesigned our yards to give them a more functional updated look and to increase the water efficiency of our yard irrigation systems. Mark met with us at the house and his team took pictures of the general layout. We did not exactly know what we wanted and we had trouble expressing our specific thoughts to him. Mark listened to us and within a few weeks he and his team were ready to present the initial design to us. Their 3-D visual computer program made it so much easier to conceptualize the design elements. We had fun adding to or subtracting from the design to come up with something we were happy with including the different materials selected for use in the project. We met one more time to finalize the plans and the final design was sent off to the HOA. Mark’s professionalism, his ability to listen to what we wanted, his attention to detail and his positive attitude made the project design process a delight to work with him and his associates. He responds immediately to emails or phone calls and offers his assistance throughout the entire process. And yes, he does so with respect and with good humor. We are anxious to begin the project and can’t wait to see it finished. We also have a home in Julian that needs the attention of a landscape architect. We will definitely be hiring Mark and his team to help us refresh the exterior areas around that home as well.

Mark's design is amazing and our project is being featured in a building trade publication. This is a world class job and it started with Mark. That you so much.

We had a small job but Mark Leone helped us with the professionalism and creativity of a much larger project. He was easy to work with and created a thoughtful design (including coming up with a bocce ball Court as something to fill a strange shaped space that our family could enjoy). Most importantly, his design sailed through the HOA Architectural committee which allowed us to get started on the project that we really wanted to complete. Thanks Mark and your team! Fantastic job!

We were referred to the Ocotillo Design Group and found Mark and the team to be just what we needed to design our backyard. The professional team was able to offer multiple solutions to drainage problems, design beautiful hardscape and provide knowledgeable advice regarding plant/tree selections. Their creative 3D designs helped us see the incredible potential within our 40 year old yard. Their attention to detail, timely responses to our inquiries and overall professionalism throughout the design process are reasons why we can highly recommend the Ocotillo Design Group. Jim and Pauline Benson

Mark and his team did a great job of designing our backyard! We were already building a pool when we got Mark involved to design the hardscape. We wanted to add a BBQ, outdoor living space and a putting green. They came up with a visually pleasing design that incorporated the elements we wanted, was true to our style (modern) and the materials we wanted to use. It was very helpful to be able to see the design in 3D as well.

Mark and his team are all AMAZING! They completed a renovation design for both our front yard and back yard. They are all excellent in designing, picking materials, choosing the right colors and selecting just the right plants and flowers. They do this 3-D rendering so you can actually see exactly how it will look. If you are looking for a fantastic Landscape Architect company we highly recommend you contact Ocotillo Design Group. You will be very happy you did! :)

I asked Dan at Ocotillo to help me with my backyard that was in need of some design interest. I told him my only requirements were to have some sort of water feature like a pool or spa, a swing, and privacy. The rest was up to his artistry. He and his designers presented this awesome 3-D video presentation of my designed backyard. I could see exactly how everything would fit, the plants they suggested, the stone, pool, swing...I was in awe of the transformation. I couldn’t believe what they designed was possible. My backyard will now be a serene, beautiful, outdoor living area for my family. Dan and the Ocotilli team are very professional, work timely and are open to ideas and changes. Thank you!

We purchased a new construction house and were referred to Mark to help with our backyard project. It has been an absolute pleasure working with Mark and Ryan to bring these ideas to life. They have great vision and were determined to make our project the best it can be. We first started with a meeting to discuss general concepts and they were quickly able to design 3D concepts. From there we worked on further refining the project that we love.

Ocotillo design group stepped in and helped us with our home remodel when we found out that we had to do implement an unplanned bioremediation plan for our whole site. Mark was helpful, response, and professional during the entire process. The outcome is great!

Hiring Mark was one of the best decisions we made during our remodel. Not only is Mark a wonderful architect, but he is also professional, honest, timely and most importantly a great guy. He not only created something my family and I loved but worked with us to make sure the finished project was perfect. We would recommend Mark a million times.

Mark was hired as our landscape architect. Our new house came with a planted front yard (industrial shrubs) and an empty backyard. We interviewed Mark and several other landscape architects. We chose Mark because he walked us through the process, understood our needs and was very respectful in incorporating the design elements; that was only the first meeting. He was competitive with his design fees and felt he was generous with his time to project. Others were very rigid with their proposals. Mark came by again to give us some rough sketches and asked for our input. Walked the yard to get a feel, flow and location of the major elements (pergola locations, BBQ area, shape of pool, fire pit, veggie bed, etc.). Afterwards, he sent us a 3D rendering by email for review. Mark was extremely patient with us as we iterated several more times through the design before we went to final drawing. We were on the phone quite a few times with Mark in nailing down final location of design elements. Never did he rushed or pushed us through the process, kept intact the end goal we had in mind. Mark even walked through the plan with the landscaper to ensure he understood the plan and sought opportunity to reduce costs or suggest alternative materials to stay under budget. Mark visited our house several times during the construction phase, had some minor element changes, he was quick to respond and provided necessary input to allow for the adjustments. He provided finals for the HOA Submittal; it went through with flying colors. HOA did not reject any element of the plan. We highly recommend Mark as a landscape architect. We are very happy with the outcome, our front and backyard is very functional and meets our lifestyle.

Ocotillo Design Group did an outstanding job with the design of my front yard. Mark was professional, organized and very easy to work with. He listened to what I wanted and offered ideas and input throughout the design process. The design was complete in a timely manner and Mark and Ryan did a great job quickly incorporating any comments I made at the design review. What I appreciated most is that Mark continued to support the project throughout the installation process. There were questions as with any project and Mark was very responsive. In fact he responded to one of my emails while on vacation.

Dan was referred to us by our pool contractor for a full backyard redesign. Dan's design, professionalism and overall enthusiasm for the project was top notch, and I would recommend Ocotillo Design Group to anyone who asks!

Mark has been a life-saver! We have an extremely strict HOA and Mark worked with us relentlessly to meet the HOA’s demands on our landscape design. I’m very visual, so having our landscape plans presented in 3D made all the difference in the world!! I would definitely use them again!

Dan Lewis of Ocatillo design group was referred to us by our pool contractor. Our project will encompass several acres and be performed in phases. Our concern was to ensure that there was a rhythm and flow to the landscape. Dan visited the project several times listening to our concerns and ideas before he began interpreting our vision. The result was a comprehensive design which included every aspect of what we had requested and more. His creative ability is excellent and the 3D rendering brought the whole design to life. Importantly, Dan communicated with us and was available always. He was open to accommodate any changes and worked with the installation team. We are happy to have him on the next phases of the project and highly recommend him. Mark and Vickie Hendren Temecula Wine Country

After years of not being able to agree on what to do with our backyard, my husband and I decided we needed to hire a landscape architect who could try and meld our two opinions together. Mark came recommended from a friend and we were not disappointed! From our very first meeting to our last, Mark was amazing! He's not only talented, but he's friendly, easy going, and easy to work with . He worked within our budget and in a timely manner. He did an AMAZING job!!! My husband and I were completely at opposite ends of the spectrum and Mark was able to come up with a design that we both LOVED right off the bat! No changes at all! I highly recommend Mark.

We worked with Mark on a design for our front and backyards. Mark was very professional and listened to our needs/requests for a design. He was quick to give us an amazing design, and we are very excited to start our landscaping project! I highly recommend Mark for landscaping design.

Mark has strong creativity to address the needs of the customer. He also has resilience to deal with the tough HOA process by our community. I would recommend him to my friend for landscaping design.

I do not leave online reviews. But after working with Mark Leone first hand, I felt compelled to let others know that (if they decide to engage Mark) they will be in great hands. When it came to the re-landscaping our entire back yard, we believed that the design was more critical than execution/construction. For this reason, we placed a high priority on finding the right fit with a licensed landscape architect before going forward with a large construction expenditure. Our initial impression with Mark after the first meeting and phone calls was that he was genuine and courteous. While others may describe him as laid back (which is true), at the same time he is extremely responsive (returning calls and emails promptly), dependable, and professional by delivering high quality work product (3D CAD color renderings or blueprints) on time or ahead of schedule. From a creative standpoint, Mark has his fingers on the pulse on current styles and trends (modern, mid-century), yet is still able to move back and forth between traditional or transitional landscaping styles (coastal, cape cod, colonial, farmhouse, modern, Mediterranean, etc.). However, we never felt like Mark was steering us to particular style that he always gravitated toward. Instead, he was great at listening to our goals, and he wrote lots of notes during our meetings so that he could ultimately incorporate them into the plan. Perhaps the best compliment I can make is that Mark was usually (always) right – when I thought that I desired to go with a different hardscape material or plant, I always came to the realization a couple of days later that Mark was right. It was through this back and forth, and his demeanor, that he earned our trust. We already sensed that he was genuinely a good soul that would never let us down from a personal standpoint, but we now knew that he also exercised great professional/design judgment that we should never have second-guessed. My wife and I can unequivocally say that we would recommend Mark Leone to anyone seeking great value, judgment and creativity.

If I could give Mark 10 stars, I would. He is extremely easy going, but prompt, thorough, and knows his stuff. We hired him to work on our big mountain backyard, and after showing him some ideas -- it was as if he could read my mind. He came up with a beautiful plan, maximizing the space and making each inch of land useful and beautiful. I had pulled up a photo of a backyard I loved that I found on Pinterest -- and turns out, Mark had drawn out those plans! Even after his portion of the work was completed, he stayed in touch with us, helping us work through some sticky situations with another contractor and recommending reliable people to work with. An all out professional, great work, reliable, great communicator, and a total craftsman at what he does.

The owner of the company has strong and rich professional experience with very pleasant personality. He is very detailed, and his design is thoughtful, practical and has good taste. He is willing to work with client's schedule and did work with me over weekend. I really enjoyed working with him and we finished our project in a timely manner.

Mark helped us with our backyard design. Mark is very easy to work with and very kind. I normally don't leave reviews, but I had a good experience, so I highly recommend him for landscape design.

Mark was fantastic to work with. He listened to our needs and provided us with very detailed plans including hardscape, drainage, irrigation, planting and lighting. Marc was always professional and above all personable with excellent communication skills.

Mark was extremely helpful, affordable and always responsive. I would absolutely recommend working with him! He knew exactly how to get the city to approve my project and was quick to make any and all necessary changes. I don't have one bad thing to say - he was great to work with!

We hired Mark to redesign our huge lawn with drought tolerant landscaping that would fit in our tight budget, while keeping the look high-end in appearance. Mark listened to each of our requests and delivered on all counts. He met with us as many times as we needed in order to perfect the final design as we wished. Mark was also not shy to tell us truthfully, yet tactfully, what would be needed in order for the design to be tasteful including the big changes that were needed. Generally speaking, Mark was very reasonable and helpful. We would gladly hire him again.

I wish I had a picture of the old wood steps to our front door, because the difference is AMAZING. Mark designed a new brick entry to coordinate with existing brickwork around other areas of the house. What a challenge - the house is multi-level, with garage on the lower level, a steep rise to the existing entry and front door on the level above - and the hill slopes in two directions. He did a fantastic job - provided easy access from both the lower driveway and the street AND an elegant landing large enough for some seating. Mark is easy to work with, creative, kind, and ON TIME and BUDGET. He provides renderings so you can see what the project will look like, both on paper and as a computer file. Highly recommend! Here are a few of my own pictures.

It was a pleasure to work with Mark on our backyard landscaping design. He is very knowledgeable, professional and courteous. Mark was very patient to accommodate all of my requests and always provided excellent input regarding design ideas, materials needed and available on the market and how to combine them, and plants to add to our project. He was there at every step of the way until the final project design was completed. We highly recommend to work with Mark for your future landscaping design projects. We will definitely work with him again in the future for subsequent steps of our project. Ivan C.

Mark A. Leone does an amazing job. On time on budget. Mark worked with me on several residential design projects.