Web Design & Development

Client: Santolina Gardens
My role: Website designer and developer
Redesign project start: April 1, 2025; Launch: July 1, 2025

Challenge:
Santolina Gardens’ website was overdue for a modern refresh. Built on a limited Weebly platform, it no longer supported the brand’s growth or vision. The goal was to re-platform and redesign the site to increase organic visibility, showcase recent native-landscaping work, and clearly communicate Santolina Gardens’ 25 years of expertise, while positioning the brand as an expert boutique gardening and landscaping company with room to scale into future online transactions.

My Process:
I began by analyzing Santolina Gardens’ local competitive landscape and auditing the existing website to identify gaps and opportunities. From there, I immersed myself in their body of work, reviewing project photography and media files to fully understand the craftsmanship, scope, and details that set Santolina Gardens apart.

I paired this insight with keyword research focused on native landscaping, boutique gardening, and location-based search intent. The result was a thoughtfully structured Portfolio and Projects section that showcases the full breadth of Santolina Gardens’ work across Austin neighborhoods, strengthening local SEO while clearly communicating the depth, care, and expertise behind every project.

Design:
The design system was rooted in the Santolina Gardens brand itself. I drew directly from the logo to develop a cohesive color palette and used curated mood boards to guide the visual direction. Every design decision was made to reflect how Santolina Gardens’ landscapes evolve over time, laying a strong foundation that allows native plants, ecology, and spaces to grow and thrive long after installation.

To communicate the scale, complexity, and long-term impact of their work, I created a dedicated Projects section that showcases the full lifecycle of each space. Vibrant photography and videos were used throughout the site to bring texture, movement, and depth to the content, highlighting both the craftsmanship behind each project and the natural growth that follows.

Tools & Tech:
Wix was chosen intentionally to create a website that could be easily managed by multiple contributors in the future. The platform offers the right balance of flexibility and usability, allowing Santolina Gardens to maintain and evolve the site without added technical complexity.

Results & Impact:
* Ranked #1 for “boutique gardening in Austin”
* Ranked #3 for “native landscaping in Austin,” establishing Santolina Gardens as a leader in a highly competitive local market
* Achieved a 72% organic engagement rate, reflecting strong alignment between search intent, content strategy, and user experience
* 23.2% of site traffic now originates from organic search, expanding reach (for the first time) beyond referrals