It’s been over a year since I came to work at Kismet Design and I realized that most of you have never met me in person which means you probably don’t know too much about me outside of my bio. So, let’s remedy that!
I currently live in Caldwell, ID (outside of Boise) with my husband Hayden, our 2-year-old daughter Emma, and our rescue pup Ellie. My husband and I both grew up in Coeur d’ Alene, ID, went to elementary through high school together and eventually college together at the University of Idaho (Go Vandals!).
If you’ve ever met me, you’ll know I can be pretty quiet so it may surprise you to know that my major is in Theatre Arts. My emphasis was in Scenic Design so my time was usually spent backstage, in the dark, and barely making a noise. While most people don’t put Theatre and Landscaping together, the artistic design sides of both are what melded them together for me.
While growing up, I spent most of my free time with my dad helping with his side jobs. Most included sprucing up client’s yards with new plants, walls, and other hardscaping. He spent a lot of time quizzing me on what kind of trees and plants were growing nearby and showed me how to prune them. My dad instilled in me a love of nature and helping people love their own outdoor spaces. When I reached a point in college where I had to make a choice about what kind of degree I wanted, I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science so I would be allowed to complete a minor in Landscape Architecture. The minute I started my plant identification classes, I knew I was home and always wanted to be involved in the landscape world. Very much a full circle moment.
Although I love and appreciate a more natural and curvilinear design, I’ve always been drawn to geometric shapes with straight, clean lines that draw your eye towards a focal point. I enjoy that these types of designs can be striking and bold on their own but with plants of all textures and colors can be softened into a space that still feels warm and welcoming. These are the kind of outdoor spaces that always bring a “wow” factor for me time and time again.
One of my favorite things about landscape design is to see a completely unused space turn into a fun, relaxing environment that encourages the whole family to spend more time outside than they ever did before. It’s so rewarding to see what a huge impact landscaping can have on a home.
When I’m not working on a project in cad or chasing around a toddler, I love reading, playing video games, buying houseplants I can barely keep alive, and creating art pieces for my Etsy shop. My main focus for my Etsy shop is pyrography (woodburning) and hand embroidery. I love including florals in my designs and enjoy creating both practical and decorative pieces. If you want to see more of my art you can check it out here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/hanzoncrafts and follow me on Instagram @hanz_oncrafts
