This week on Here’s What We Know, we’re joined by Steve Griggs, founder of Steve Griggs Design, who has earned a reputation as one of New York’s most respected landscape designers, known not just for his designs but for how he shows up for the people he serves.
We’ll explore where he came from, how he found his calling, and why the work he does is more art than architecture. We also get into college football rivalries, pricing creative work, learning the hard way, and what it really means to be “the guy” people trust when things get complicated.
This episode is relaxed, funny, honest, and full of those little moments that remind you why experience still matters and why good work always starts with caring. Tune in now
This episode is sponsored by:
(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)
In this episode:
- Why creating outdoor spaces is really about people, not projects
- The difference between talent and experience
- The truth about pricing creative work and saying, “it costs what it costs”
- How to think about money when the work is personal
- Why execution matters more than the idea
- What decades of doing the hard jobs teach you
- Becoming the person people trust when things get hard
Quotations:
“My canvas just happens to be your backyard. That’s pretty much the best way to put it.” ~ Steve Griggs
“There’s a difference between an architect, designer, and artist. I like to put myself in the artist category.” ~ Steve Griggs
“The richer they get, the more frugal they are. They want value. They don’t mind spending the money, but they want to know they’re getting a deal. They want to know its value.” ~ Steve Griggs
“I always say, do it once and do it right.” ~ Steve Griggs
“I’m not one of those guys who says, ‘I’ll give you a 12-month warranty. I give you a lifetime.” ~ Steve Griggs
Bio:
Steve Griggs is not your typical landscape designer. He has been getting dirt on his hands since he was 16, cutting grass to earn extra money and learning the value of hard work early on. That work ethic carried him through advanced landscaping studies at Mississippi State University and SUNY Cobleskill College of Environmental Design and Horticulture.
At 25, Steve founded Steve Griggs Design after working alongside his father in the industry, where he absorbed core values that still guide his work today: make no excuses, keep your promises, respect the deadline, and always deliver for the client. When he saw those principles missing in much of the industry, he chose to do things differently.
That commitment to a customer-first approach has earned Steve a reputation as one of New York’s most respected landscape designers, known not just for his designs but for how he shows up for the people he serves.
Guest Contact Info:
Website: https://stevegriggsdesign.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevegriggsdesign/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3rPHh3yC3FgzQ_nw9xenw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/in/stevegriggsdesign/