Robin Kramer: Designing with Nature
Can you tell us about your journey into garden design? What sparked your passion?
As with so many creative souls, taking part in caring for the plants around my childhood home alongside my parents first sparked my appreciation for the beauty and joy flowers create throughout the seasons.
Was there a moment or project that made you realize this was the right career path for you?
After graduating from Rhode Island School of Design I moved to NYC where I began my career as a children’s book illustrator. My career as a garden designer was launched after my own garden in Connecticut was featured on a garden tour. I had worked with Simon Johnson, a garden designer from England, on that garden and it was through Simon that I really began to understand the critical role a garden designer or landscape architect plays in the success of reimagining one’s landscape.
How did Robin Kramer Garden Design come to life?
Robin Kramer Garden Design came to life slowly, but surely! It all began with one commission, then another, and so on. To this day, we pride ourselves on being the little engine that could. Keeping our firm small is challenging but it forces us to stay connected with all aspects of the process.
How would you describe your design style or philosophy?
I would describe my style as rooted in traditional European garden design. Living in Europe for nearly 12 years as an adult, I was able to learn first-hand the concepts and philosophy behind the development of European gardens. In the gardens we design we work with the same principles and often the same plant material but without the elaborate, more complex planting schemes associated with European gardens. Our objective is to create spaces that both harmonize with the wide variety of architecture in America while still delivering the magic of a garden to our clients but in a more edited manner.
What’s your approach when starting a new project with a client?
When beginning a new project, it is important to understand the lifestyle of the people that will inhabit our designs. Gathering information related to how they envision using their property is critical prior to designing the spaces. From there we spend time getting to know the land itself, studying the light and levels of the land inform the design as well.
Who or what inspires you creatively?
I will forever be inspired by the architecture and gardens of Europe. The craftsmanship is so inspiring. From the masonry details to exterior furniture the attention to detail is thoughtfully curated and executed with precision. I also look at interiors and fashion when designing but I think more often than not those industries are looking to nature for their inspiration!
How do you adapt to working in both small city spaces and larger suburb gardens?
Whether working in small urban spaces or designing larger suburban gardens we apply the same principles of texture, balance and proportion and cohesion. Small city spaces simply become miniature versions of their country cousins.
Do you have a favorite plant or flower to incorporate into your garden designs?
I adore the sweet nature of the non-vining Clematis “Stand By Me” and I love the architectural nature of Eryngium yuccifolium, common name Rattlesnake Master. She is statuesque at 5′ in my garden but, while a beauty, she can be a bit of a beast, self-seeding all over the place. If you don’t mind that, plant away.
Do you feel that sustainability plays an important role in your designs and evolving garden trends?
I do feel that sustainability plays an important role but I find that is easier said than done when one is working with living plants and extremely unpredictable weather trends. We are focusing on more drought tolerant plants and reducing the size of lawns in need of endless irrigation.
What is a garden trend you are currently seeing that you love or hate?
A garden trend I absolutely love is that more people than ever are recognizing the importance of hiring a proper garden designer or landscape architect. Landscape projects are far more complex and involve the coordination of multiple trades to ensure that whatever has been designed is implemented properly and will be flourishing for the pleasure of the client and generations to come.
Where Indoors and Outdoors Connect
Robin’s vision for cultivated, connected landscapes echoes the values of eggersmann USA and our partner, CUBIC Outdoor Living. We share her belief that design should support real life, through craftsmanship, natural beauty, and intention.
Whether you are designing a lush garden retreat or an open-air culinary space, the transition between indoors and outdoors should feel seamless. That’s why eggersmann’s custom cabinetry and CUBIC’s modular outdoor kitchens are built to bring ease, elegance, and high performance to every environment.
About Robin Kramer, Robin Kramer Garden Design
Robin Kramer is a landscape designer with roots in New England and a degree from RISD. After time living in NYC and Europe, she founded Robin Kramer Garden Design, serving clients from Greenwich, CT to New York City. Her studio crafts bespoke outdoor environments that blend historic European garden influences with a modern American sensibility. Robin’s approach marries site-specific analysis with an artful balance of architecture and nature, creating landscapes that feel alive, livable, and timeless.
Discover more at robinkramergardendesign.com & follow @robinkramergardendesign on Instagram.