Creating elegant gardens that respects nature and looks to the future.
Studio Kernin — Elegant & Sustainable Garden Design in Brittany
We design elegant, sustainable gardens, guided by a thoughtful approach that respects the spirit of the place and its natural environment.
Every project combines precise architectural thinking with meticulous work on plant palettes, highlighting textures, seasonal changes, and atmosphere. We create gardens with a natural, romantic aesthetic—designed to enhance well-being, support biodiversity, and offer a sense of calm in everyday life.
Based in Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan, Studio Kernin works with private clients and businesses on bespoke garden designs, from small urban gardens to large landscaped estates, in Brittany and beyond.
Our approach
Trained in the United Kingdom, we bring a creative approach that is both methodical and rigorous, combining horticultural expertise with full command of the design process—from the initial sketch to technical drawings and tender documentation—ensuring high-quality projects delivered within a controlled budget.
Our values
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The benefits of gardens for both mental and physical health are well established. We seek to highlight their essential role in promoting well-being. Nature restores our minds and awakens our senses. It enhances our environment by reducing noise, pollution, and extreme temperatures.
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We design landscapes that enrich the natural environment while supporting biodiversity. Our projects actively sequester carbon, filter air pollutants, encourage biodiversity, and manage water resources sustainably. By integrating elements such as green roofs, wildlife habitats, and climate-resilient design, we create spaces that protect ecosystems while bringing lasting enjoyment to those who use them.
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Sustainability lies at the heart of our practice. We prioritise low-carbon, long-lasting materials, designing projects that celebrate regional craftsmanship and work closely with local suppliers. This commitment allows us to create landscapes that are both environmentally responsible and deeply rooted in their cultural context.
Our services
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Garden design consultancy
This service is ideally suited to projects seeking our creative direction without the need for a comprehensive design package.
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Full garden design service
Our full garden design service supports you in person from concept through to implementation.
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Planting design
Our botanical and planting design service creates bespoke planting compositions to enrich and structure your garden.
Our Projects
The Studio
At Studio Kernin, we create sustainable gardens that promote well-being and biodiversity. Our style—both naturalistic and romantic—reflects the spirit of each place, combining harmonious planting with local, natural materials to design serene outdoor spaces. Every detail is carefully considered to foster a deep connection with nature and to evoke a sense of timeless beauty.
Based in Brittany, France, we offer comprehensive garden design services as well as online consultations for private, public, and professional projects. Our bilingual team, working in both French and English, is committed to providing a personalised approach and bringing our clients’ visions to life through environmentally responsible design.
Studio Kernin is a landscape architecture practice based in Larmor-Plage, near Lorient, and in Rennes. We work throughout Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, and beyond.
Our Team
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François Kernin
GARDEN DESIGNER
François brings expertise and creative vision to every project. Trained in both English and French garden styles at the Oxford College of Garden Design in the UK and with the renowned landscape architects Wirtz International in Belgium, he combines tradition and innovation to create gardens that balance structured elegance with natural fluidity. His hands-on experience—including working with the gardening team at the Jardins de Kerdalo in Brittany, earning a Royal Horticultural Society qualification, and managing therapeutic garden projects for refugees—shapes a sensitive and thoughtful approach to landscape design.
Before founding Studio Kernin, François spent twelve years working with the United Nations, developing a deep understanding of diverse landscapes—Mediterranean, tropical, and temperate—and the climatic challenges that shape them. Fluent in both French and English, and a graduate of Sciences Po Grenoble and the University of Oxford, François approaches every project with professionalism, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to environmentally responsible design.
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Kataii Sayarath
GARDEN DESIGNER
Kataii Sayarath brings a strong artistic sensitivity, a keen eye for exceptional craftsmanship, and a constant pursuit of excellence to her garden design work. Australian with an international background, she has lived in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, integrating diverse cultural influences and innovative perspectives into her designs.
Tai cultivates an artistic vision that fully embraces craftsmanship within our projects. Within the studio, she collaborates with local artisans to design bespoke furniture, artworks, and other unique landscape elements. These creations, rooted in local vernacular traditions, bring a personal and authentic character to the outdoor spaces we create for our clients.
Her artistic approach is deeply informed by her passion for fine art and craftsmanship, shaped in particular by an apprenticeship with a traditional Japanese master potter and her experience as a painter. A graduate of the University of Oxford, Tai is also a passionate gardener. Her deep connection to nature and her commitment to excellence inform a meticulous approach to designing inspiring, harmonious gardens.
Contact us
We would be delighted to learn more about your garden project and explore together how to bring your vision to life.
