When it comes to designing outdoor spaces that are both emotionally resonant and enduringly beautiful, Oliver John brings a rare blend of artistry, technical expertise, and heartfelt intention. Founded by two licensed landscape architects who first crossed paths in a design firm years ago, the company was born from a shared desire to reconnect people with the natural world—through thoughtful, livable landscapes that are anything but ordinary.
In this spotlight, we talk with the founders of Oliver John about their unique approach to outdoor living, their commitment to timeless materials and sustainable design, and why creating spaces that feel good is just as important as how they look. From incorporating Terra Outdoor furnishings into residential gardens to crafting hospitality spaces that blur the line between inside and out, their philosophy is rooted in scale, emotion, and a deep respect for place.
Background & Design Philosophy
pictured above: Jerry & Bliss Gonsalves, founders of Oliver John.
Can you share the story behind Oliver John and how your journey in design began?
We both have degrees in Landscape Architecture (UC Davis and Cal Poly, SLO). Consequently, we love to create opportunities that connect humans to the natural environment.
How we experience a space, whether it’s a master planned community or a private residential garden (we don’t call them front & back yards), is predicated on key design elements of scale and emotion. These are never lost on us with every project we are a part of.
We met at a Landscape Architecture firm many years ago and after working for different firms and public agencies. Then in 2011, we decided to form our own company.
We knew our years of experience, passion, and combined expertise as licensed Landscape Architects could serve a niche that we saw was missing. Oliver and John are the middle names of our sons and we wanted them to be a part of our journey too!
How would you describe your overall design philosophy, particularly when it comes to creating welcoming, livable spaces?
If you don’t feel good in a space, you won’t stay in it. The complexity as a Landscape Architect comes in identifying your audience, their needs and tastes, and what makes them feel safe and happy in their environment.
Sometimes this can be through intentional locations of gathering spaces that feel just right with the sun exposure. Alternatively that satisfaction may come from paths of travel that take you on an efficient but sensory journey. Or even certain colors or sounds may evoke a lovely emotion for a client.
Approach to Outdoor Living
pictured above: Belvedere lounge seating in white aluminum on poolside patio
In your work, what role do outdoor spaces play in shaping the overall experience of a home or hospitality environment?
There is a rhythm to the outdoors that we naturally connect to when we are in it. It is grounding. We all experienced this during the pandemic…we had to get outside!
Being able to enjoy outdoor spaces that are scale appropriate, aesthetically beautiful, and connect us to the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind is essential for our wellbeing. When these spaces are thoughtfully designed as an extension of the indoor environment, they draw you into them. It’s always our goal to pull our clients outdoors as often as possible and create spaces and experiences that allow them to comfortably stay outside.
What’s your starting point when designing an outdoor space—do you think in terms of architecture, mood, or intended use first?
We listen to our clients, observe the site’s characteristics and attributes, and assess the overall desired function of the space(s).
- How many users are we designing for?
- How does the client want to use the space?
- Is this an active space or a quiet, restful space
From there we look to the architecture / period / style of the home or building to see if we can pull any visual lines (angles, curves, etc.) down into the Landscape Architecture. The architecture and age of the home/building often dictates the period appropriate materials and site furnishings we use, since having these marry up creates a timeless, authentic design. The icing on the cake is the overall feeling of the space and that is where our clients’ personalities come in.
Partnerships & Product Selection
pictured above: Cavallo lounge chairs, Olema dining chairs, a Treasure Garden cantilever umbrella, a Bodega dining table, and Olema bar chairs furnish a multi-use outdoor patio area.
You’ve incorporated Terra Outdoor pieces into your projects—what initially drew you to the brand?
When we design a space, we design it with the vision of a few generations using it. We want to come back to visit 30 years from now to see the design still holding its own and the materials aging in a beautiful way.
In selecting site furnishings for a project, we use the same mentality of timelessness. Teak and powder-coated aluminum are work horses in outdoor environments, including the snow in Lake Tahoe for a few of our projects. These are our go-to materials for outdoor spaces.
Terra uses premium plantation grown teak with mortise & tenon joinery for durability and tough Sunbrella fabrics to weather any outdoor challenge. We personally own an outdoor teak dining set that we have had for 25+ years and the memories that have been made around that table are priceless. This is what we want for our client – and Terra’s exceptional quality and materials deliver this.
Are there any Terra collections or pieces that have become go-tos for you and your team?
We love all the extendable dining tables for their flexibility in hosting an intimate gathering or a large party and looking right at home for both. For example, the Merced extension table is one of our favorites, with its Parsons design that seamlessly incorporates into either a 1930’s or modern architectural style.
And again, teak and powder-coated metal to withstand all the outdoor elements. Also, the 20” Ventura side tables are the perfect size for any lounge area.
Merced Dining Table in Charcoal
Merced Dining Table in White
Ventura Coffee & Side Tables
How do you strike the right balance between durability and design when sourcing for outdoor environments?
We really lean into manufacturers like Terra who put design, durability, and quality at the forefront of the creation process. Outdoor furniture is different from indoor furniture in that not only does it need to hold up to daily use, but also needs to be able to withstand wind, rain, snow, sun, salty air, etc.
Most of the collections at Terra would look just as good indoors as they do outdoors. As a result, this helps us to keep that flow throughout all the spaces looking cohesive. When we source furnishings for our clients, it’s essential that we feel good about the investment we are suggesting they make. This is easy to do with Terra.
Design Challenges & Inspiration
pictured above: Native plants and landscaping elements in a residential garden space
What are some of the most common challenges you encounter in outdoor design, and how do you approach solving them?
We love a good design challenge! No two sites or clients are the same, so our job never gets mundane.
Living and working in sunny California, summertime shade is a common desire for outdoor spaces and providing that effectively and beautifully is always a high priority. Whether its large cantilever umbrellas, custom pergolas, or planting 48” box specimen shade trees, every project of ours requires a thoughtful approach to shade to make the spaces useful.
We also live in an amazing climate where we can use our outdoor spaces most months of the year. Inadequate or harsh lighting for evening use is a common challenge on most project sites. We create lighting plans that not only enable a warm glow throughout a space to draw you out on a summer night but also give the perception of depth looking out from the interiors during the winter months.
How do you ensure your outdoor spaces feel cohesive with the interiors they connect to?
There are so many options for materials that can be used both indoors and outdoors and we love it when we can work with the interior architects of a project to really make that seamless connection. When we approach a project with existing interiors, we look for materials, textiles, metals (hardware finishes, fixtures, etc.) that we can emulate in the outdoor materials.
It’s also important to capture key views from within the interiors and accentuate them with a specimen tree, sculpture, fire element, etc., almost as if they are nodding to each other in cohesion.
pictured above: A fire table surrounded by Belvedere lounging furniture, creating an intimate outdoor space for gathering.
Where do you find creative inspiration—whether for a residential backyard or a boutique hotel courtyard?
Travel! And honestly, it doesn’t have to be far or exotic. We’ve found inspiration in everything from the timeless glass inlaid tiles of Hearst Castle to the lupines and California poppies at Mount Tamalpais State Park. The important part is physically experiencing different spaces and places and reconnecting with the creative spark that they light within. And it’s our hope that the spaces we design do the same for all who experience them over time.
Bonus Tips
What advice would you give to someone investing in their first real outdoor furniture setup?
Measure twice and have a plan! Nothing is worse than furniture not fitting properly in a space.
Keep in mind that you need room to pull out a dining chair from a table, etc. Stick with textiles in neutral hues, unless you have an accent chair or two you want to go bold with. Pillows and throws are more economical to change out with the trends. Also, white textiles look great in the showroom and 1 week in the outdoor environment!
Whether they’re designing a quiet courtyard retreat or a large-scale hospitality environment, Oliver John approaches each project with the same care, creativity, and commitment to lasting quality. Their deep understanding of scale, materials, and emotion continues to shape some of Northern California’s most inviting outdoor spaces.
As longtime collaborators with Terra Outdoor Living, they frequently visit our Rocklin showroom to explore new collections, source pieces for upcoming projects, and ensure every detail aligns with their clients’ vision. We’re proud to be part of their design process—and to help bring their thoughtfully crafted spaces to life.