Living in Western North Carolina, it is easy to take the surrounding beauty for granted. The mountains, forests, and changing seasons become part of everyday life. Yet sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective to reveal the possibilities that have been there all along.
Nicole Summers is bringing exactly that perspective to Franklin’s landscape design scene.
A landscape designer originally from the South Carolina coast, Summers represents a fresh creative force in a region where nature itself provides endless inspiration.
From the coast to the mountains
For more than two decades, Summers designed gardens along the Charleston coast — one of the most discerning regions in the American South, where the culture of landscape design has been cultivated for centuries.
“Over that time, I was able to really grow and enhance my talents in a thriving area, which increased my knowledge of planting materials and solid design,” Summers said.
Her passion for the profession began in childhood, learning from some of South Carolina’s leading coastal landscape designers. Entrepreneurship came just as naturally.
“I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. It’s in my blood. It’s where I feel most comfortable,” Summers said.
Now captivated by the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and inspired by the timeless gardens of Italy, Summers blends European elegance, American practicality and natural beauty and Franklin’s charm into a distinctive design philosophy.
Building expertise through experience and education
Building a successful career in landscape design requires far more than a love of flowers and trees. “Hard work and determination is a must,” Summers said.
The profession demands big-picture thinking, the ability to adapt to new environments and the vision to create landscapes that become more beautiful with time. That commitment to excellence led Summers to continue her education after more than two decades of professional practice, recently earning a degree in Landscape Architecture from Clemson University.
“In order to be the best, you have to be able to put the education and the knowledge behind you,” she said.
In the landscape industry, becoming a landscape architect represents the highest level of professional achievement.
“I wanted to further my knowledge and be able to become licensed when I am able. That is an ultimate goal for the future,” Summers said.
Creating landscapes that reflect each home
Her work is distinguished by the absence of formulas or repetition. Every project is shaped by the people who will live there and the rhythm of their daily lives.
“I find inspiration everywhere, but more or less I can look at a site and easily create a theme for the space. My mind is always thinking about what can go where and how to arrange things. Everything can have a place,” she said.
That philosophy allows her landscapes to feel like a natural extension of the home’s architecture rather than something added afterward.
Turning designs into living spaces
Summers personally oversees every stage of the process, from the first sketches to the installation of the final plant and placement of the last piece of outdoor furniture.
“Sometimes things in the field are not always as they are on paper, and there have to be executive decisions made in the field that I am most qualified to make,” Summers said. “That is the only true way to see your visions come to life.”
Climate, soil conditions, light exposure and topography — dozens of details that often go unnoticed by homeowners become the foundation of every design.
Finding inspiration in Italy’s historic gardens
For Summers, one of the greatest sources of inspiration comes from the legendary landscapes of Italy.
Villa Carlotta, Villa Monastero, Villa del Balbianello — each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come not for the buildings themselves, but for the extraordinary gardens surrounding them. These landscapes have become more than carefully designed grounds — they are living works of art, constantly evolving with the seasons.
Wisteria, cypress, cedars, hydrangeas, and ivy, arranged in harmony with classical statues, flourish to the melodic murmur of Baroque and eclectic fountains, creating a space that is the very embodiment of the word “inspiration.”
Bringing new possibilities to Western North Carolina
The good news is that today, you don’t have to travel overseas to experience that feeling.
Truly exceptional landscape design isn’t tied to geography. It begins with someone who can recognize the hidden potential of a place.
Last fall, Western North Carolina welcomed exactly that kind of designer. Moving to this area opened an entirely new creative space for Summers.
“I feel very blessed to be able to call WNC home now. I truly love the mountains and the different design opportunities we are able to take advantage of here… It’s fun being able to morph and grow into a broader design palette. For any designer who loves what they do, that would be an aspiration — to be multifaceted,” Summers said.
The future of landscape design
According to Summers, landscape design is experiencing one of the most exciting periods in its history. Advances in technology, along with access to virtually any plant a client can imagine, give homeowners greater confidence and a clear understanding of what to expect from the finished project.
Clients no longer have to take a leap of faith. Instead, they become coauthors in the creative process, refining the design and contributing ideas — no matter how bold they may be.
A partnership built around creativity
Love ultimately brought Summers to the mountains. She moved here to be with her fiancé and business partner, Jonathan.
“I have been blessed to find someone who enjoys helping me and working in this industry with me,” Summers said. “We love working together on our projects. It’s a fun and rewarding experience. We put our heads and brawn together and get our projects completed in the most timely manner.”
They plan to marry in September.
Creating landscapes that last for generations
For a creator like Summers, the celebration comes when drawings become reality. It’s her favorite part of every project.
“The moment I see my clients’ satisfaction and fascination with the beauty we’ve created is the ultimate joy for me. I’d take on a million projects if it meant seeing the smiles on my homeowners’ faces at the final reveal,” she said.
A beautiful garden adds value to a property. An extraordinary garden adds value to life.
Summers hopes that years from now, the landscapes she creates will “reflect [her] passion and remain highly sustainable and usable spaces for many generations to come.”
The world’s greatest landscapes never begin with plants. They begin with a vision.