Leadership
Cristin Franklin
Founder, Principal
Cris Franklin has dedicated her career to creating timeless exterior spaces for unique properties. Initially focused on domestic and international hospitality projects, she expanded her expertise to residential design after a client approached her to design their estates. With her diverse background, Cris brings a unique perspective to developing beautiful residential environments.
Now focused on private estates, she possesses a deep understanding of proportion, scale, design aesthetics, environmental considerations, and the experiential and service needs crucial for any successful property. By combining the natural qualities of every site with the unique goals of each client, she continues to create exterior spaces where people thrive, relax, play, and celebrate life's big and small moments for years to come.
Cris began her career in Hawaii as the designer and project manager for various resorts in Hawaii, the South Pacific, and South East Asia. During this time she worked directly with the legendary Hideo Sasaki after being handpicked by him upon seeing her early work. She then returned home to California and cofounded InSite Landscape Architecture and Planning. During more than sixteen years of leadership at InSite, Cris directed the creation of award-winning and financially successful resort and hospitality destinations, alongside the design of many beautiful estate gardens.
After the passing of her partner, Cris founded C&C Studio, shifting her focus to creating beautiful residential estates and winery gardens. Cris has received awards and acclaim for her outstanding work in both residential and resort design from publications and organizations such as Elle Décor, Conde Nast Traveler (multiple Gold List Awards), Punch Magazine, Garden Design Magazine (featured projects and Awards), Travel & Leisure (multiple Worlds Best Hotel Awards), Hospitality Design magazine, Forbes, Town & Country Travel, Contractors Associations, and Mayor Awards, among other prestigious publications and organizations.
Her extensive portfolio includes notable land planning and resort design projects such as The Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort in Calistoga, CA; Silver Oak Cellars, CA; The Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand; Princeville Resort, HI; Mauna Lani Luxury Residences, HI; Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, CA; Royal Hawaiian Country Club, HI; Thai Country Club, Bangkok, Thailand; and a number of residential estate gardens in California and abroad.
Corey Brooks
Senior Associate, Landscape Architect
Corey Brooks first fell in love with beautiful gardens during an impromptu day spent at the BiltmoreEstate in Asheville, North Carolina. A legacy project of Frederick Law Olmstead, the Biltmore gardens showcase the intentional design and attention to detail that would inspire Corey years later to study Landscape Architecture. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the Michigan State University School of Planning, Design and Construction, he joined the Lake Tahoe Office of Design Workshop, an international planning and design firm. There, Corey was instrumental in completing a variety of complex projects including resort and hospitality, urban design/mixed use and estate residential gardens. Corey then launched his own landscape design firm, specializing in residential estate properties on both the California and Nevada shorelines of Lake Tahoe.
Upon relocating to the Bay Area, Corey continued to expand his professional experiences both as a property manager and as an in-house landscape architect for a large landscape construction company. As a property manager, he helped expand/enhance the property’s gardens and further learned the value of considering maintenance in the detailed design of specialty landscape features. During his time with the landscape construction company, he provided in-house landscape design services as well as design development assistance for other landscape architects, allowing their designs to be implemented. Corey’s love of crafting exquisite garden spaces, from expansive estate properties to intimate urban oases continues to grow. He brings an attention to detail to every project while creating legacy garden spaces for outdoor living.
Corey maintains licenses in the states of California (CA#6115), Arizona (AZ#50616) and Nevada (NV#844)