Get to know us

About Landline

Landline Design is a small Portland-based studio that specializes in sustainable, modern landscape architecture: We are known for our clean-lined hardscapes, vibrant planting design, and thoughtful details. We tackle a wide variety of landscape projects from small gardens to restoration and master planning.

We are committed to working collaboratively with every client to achieve successful landscapes that stand the test of time. We believe that outdoor experiences are vital to daily life, and that every project is an opportunity to create memorable spaces that connect us to ourselves, our friends and family, and the outdoors.

We have over 20 years of project experience in:

  • Single family residential

  • Multi-family residential

  • Commercial landscapes

  • Restoration and mitigation plans

  • Playgrounds and nature play

  • Park and large property master plans

  • Schools including elementary, high school, and higher education campuses

Landline Design is a WBE Certified (Women Business Enterprise) in Oregon & Washington

About Us

We are practicing landscape architects who have a passion for modern design, nature, and sustainability. Twenty-five plus years into our respective careers we still get thrilled about everything from big heady design concepts to an adorable little plant we just spotted at the nursery.

In addition to landscape architecture, we have backgrounds in architecture, art, and horticulture. When we’re not creating modern landscapes, we can be found in the pottery studio, puttering in our gardens, hiking, camping, birding, fern-feeling, and road-tripping around the Pacific Northwest. We love calling Oregon home, and we strive to create compelling outdoor spaces that bring people closer to the natural world.

Integral to our shared partnership is an ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability in our practice, as well as an ongoing collaboration with trade partners that have demonstrated fair and ethical practices regarding their employees, living wage, and working conditions.  

  • Oregon registered Landscape Architect License number 1140

    Melissa brings over 35 years of design experience in the fields of architecture, landscape design, art-making, and construction, with over 20 years focused specifically in landscape architecture. She founded Landline Design in 2008, offering modern residential landscape design to the Portland area. Her goal with each project is to create a final design that seems to have appeared naturally and effortlessly, yet reflects a careful observation of client needs, project constraints, the unique properties of each site, and her extensive experience with Pacific Northwest plants, materials, and construction practices.

  • Oregon registered Landscape Architect License number 1139

    Washington Registered Landscape Architect License number 24010519 

    With over twenty years of experience in landscape design, Erin is especially interested in the endless possibilities of planting design, the creative use of hardscape materials, native landscapes, habitat creation, and natural playgrounds. She is committed to sustainability in our practice and enjoys working collaboratively with clients on a variety of project scales, from small residential gardens to regional parks and master plans.

  • EDUCATIONAL
    Moses Lake Elementary: landscape & playground design. Moses Lake, WA*
    Orion Highschool: landscape design. Pasco, WA*
    Umatilla Middle School: landscape design. Umatilla, OR*
    Umatilla CTE Highschool: landscape and athletics facility design (soccer, softball). Umatilla, OR*  
    Stringer Child Development: nature play. Beaverton, OR***
    PCC SE Child Development Center: nature play. Portland, OR***

    CIVIC PROJECTS
    Spring Park: master plan and landscape design. Milwaukie, OR
    Tualatin Valley Water District Demonstration Garden: landscape design. Beaverton, OR
    Portland Fire and Rescue Fire Station 6: landscape design and stormwater management. Portland, OR
    Zenger Farms rainwater harvesting and master plan.  Portland, OR
    Fort Vancouver Landbridge: rainwater harvesting and irrigation design. Portland, OR
    Paradise Pointe Park Master Plan: master plan for park trails, playground, and wetlands. Ridgefield, WA*
    Curtin Creek Community Park: landscape design, playground design. Clark County, WA
    Walla Walla City Hall: landscape design, entry plaza design. Walla Walla, WA
    Vancouver Main Street Promise:  landscape and planting design. Vancouver, WA*
    Wild Goose Landing Recreation Improvements: landscape design. Thompson Falls, MT*
    Avista North Shore Day Use Area: landscape design, trails planning, boat launch. Stevenson, MT*
    Carmen Reservoir Recreation Improvements: trails, campsite planning. Lane County, OR*
    Ice Cap Campground Recreation Improvements: trails, campsite planning. Lane County, OR*

    MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
    Kerby Green: landscape design.Portland, OR
    The Vanguard 45th Street Townhomes: landscape design. Portland, OR
    Daybreak Cohousing Community: landscape and plaza design. Portland, OR
    Peninsula Park Commons Cohousing Community: landscape and plaza design. Portland, OR
    Sabin Green Cohousing Community: landscape and plaza design. Portland, OR
    Ruth’s Village Commons Cohousing Community: landscape and plaza design. Portland, OR
    Cully Grove Cohousing Community: master plan. Portland, OR
    Miraflores Apartments: landscape and plaza design. Portland, OR
    Village Quarter Apartments: landscape and plaza design. McMinnville, OR
    Walnut Park Apartments: landscape and plaza design. Portland, OR
    The Knoll at Tigard: landscape and plaza design. Tigard, OR
    Bethea Park Apartments: landscape and plaza design. Vancouver, WA
    Bridge Meadows Community: landscape and plaza design. Portland, OR
    Swenson Condominiums: landscape design. Portland, OR
    Mabel and Galusha Condominiums: landscape design. Portland, OR
    SE 79th Ave. Townhomes: landscape design & site planning. Portland, OR
    5000 SE Lincoln Townhomes: landscape design. Portland, OR
    Alberta St. Lofts: landscape design. Portland, OR
    Tabor Commons: landscape design. Portland, OR
    Waverly Commons: landscape design for various homeowners. Portland, OR
    Habitat for Humanity King City: landscape design, irrigation. King City, OR
    Roberts Ave. Apartments: landscape and plaza design for mixed use/multifamily. Gresham, OR
    College Ave Cottage Cluster: landscape and courtyard design. Cottage Grove, OR
    Dekum Apartments: landscape design. Portland, OR**
    Going Street Commons: landscape design. Portland, OR**
    Shortstack Housing: landscape design. Portland, OR**
    Timber Ridge Apartments: landscape design. La Grande, OR**
    Foster Road Housing: landscape design. Portland, OR**

    URBAN DESIGN AND COMMERCIAL
    Film Exchange Building: Streetscape and alley courtyard design. Portland OR
    Chateau Mississippi: plaza design and stormwater management. Portland, OR
    Hawthorne Youth Hostel: rainwater harvesting and living wall system. Portland, OR
    Seattle Public Library South Park: plaza and landscape design. Portland, OR
    Mei Medical Complex: landscape design. Tualatin, OR
    Charleston Avenue Development: landscape design. Portland, OR
    CAPACES Farmworker Union Hall: landscape and greenroof design. Woodburn, OR
    The Mill commercial plaza: landscape, tree plan Vancouver, WA

    *While working with MacKaySposito 

    **While working with Studio Wild Landscape Architecture Studio

    ***While working with Shapiro Didway Landscape Architects

Praise

"LANDline Design was incredibly fun and exciting to collaborate with. The team has a great, unique vision and they are plant wizards who also have amazing hardscape ideas. They understand that green spaces are ultimately for living in, not just staring at, and I am so grateful I connected with them."

"LANDline designers have a terrific eye, are fun to work with, and have a great talent for creating spaces where people love to hang out."

"Melissa and her team were extremely easy and fun to work with. I looked forward to each time they visited to update the plans or oversee progress. They are personable and creative and were able to pull together what I was looking for while being mindful of my budget and timeline."

"They listened carefully to our project team's design ideas and expectations and provided conceptual and budgetary options that met our needs. It was a effective and collaborative process at every stage and the result certainly speaks for itself -- we love the design."

"LANDline's communication skills are excellent and their process worked really well for us. Melissa even came out to our project a few weeks after having her baby in order to show the landscapers exactly where the plants needed to go!"

"LANDline Design planned a service package that met my needs, stayed within their original budget estimate, and produced a great design that transformed both my front and back yards."

"Melissa and her team listened to us and understood our desired results and design direction. Their solutions took all of our requests into account and have been great -- and were a great value too."