JOB DESCRIPTION: Owner of By the Blade, a lawn and landscape company, 816-505-0444, ByTheBladeKC.com

Q. How did you get into landscaping?

A. I had always done work on my parents’ yard growing up in Parkville. I started my business when I was 16 with about 10 lawns when I was in high school at Park Hill. Then it grew to 60, now it’s more than 200 in the metro area.

Q. What landscaping did you do at this year’s showhouse?

A. I went for a European look. The house is square shaped and the landscaping had been, too. We created curved natural stone edging, which draws your attention to the house. I like the shape of the edging and the material because I like landscaping to look natural and imperfect.

Q. What plants did you add?

A. We chose a lot of old-style plants: hostas and astilbe and added some new ones like knockout roses. I like to recycle existing plants and move them somewhere else. We did that here and moved the existing stone edging to the sidewalk. We added butterfly bush and new trees. The house is stone and we aimed to soften it.

Q. How much do you charge to create landscape master plans for a house?

A. Anywhere from $200 to $1,500 for a house that includes a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen and pergolas.

Q. Tell us about your own house.

A. It’s 75 years old in Parkville. It has three bedrooms and one bathroom. My wife, Lindsay, and I have a 16-month-old daughter, Ruby. I love that there’s good scenery all around. It’s near a horse ranch and Weatherby Lake. It’s unscripted beauty.

Q. What’s the landscaping like at your house?

A. We have a large deck made from ipe wood and stone edging. We have landscape lighting, which makes a big difference.

Q. What’s your next home project?

A. We hope to add on to the house. We need more bathrooms and bedrooms.

Q. Our cover story this week is on living walls. What do you think of them?

A. They have a lot of benefits. They add privacy from neighbors. They provide cooling. Besides being environmentally friendly, they’re creative and beautiful. I hope to design and plant a lot more of them.

43rd Symphony Designers’ Showhouse

What: Tour of house near Loose Park with rooms by area interior designers. Shopping at boutique and cafe. Benefits programs of the Kansas City Symphony.

Where: 47 W. 53rd St., Kansas City

When: Now through May 20

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Tickets: $13 advance online and at grocery stores and area shops; $15 at door.

Details:Showhouse.org