Growing up in the lush landscapes of Minnesota, Ashley Ingraham, Principal and Owner at Evoke, first learned gardening from her mother. Ingraham says she didn’t just plant flowers—her mother meticulously maintained habitats for butterflies, bees, and countless other creatures.
Ingraham drew inspiration from this upbringing, studying art and art history at CU Boulder. This understanding of color, light, and composition still plays a large role in her designs, as does the ways that form and texture evoke emotion. Both experiences eventually prepared her for the challenge that is designing and cultivating life in Colorado’s front range, which is not known for its hospitable conditions.
“The rugged mountains, sheer cliffs, and expansive high desert have shaped not only the way I see the land but the way I work with it,” says Ashley Ingraham. “The brilliant intensity of high-altitude sunlight, the constraints of an arid climate, and the changing planet all demand a thoughtful response.”
Ingraham is not alone in this pursuit. Now in her 15th year in the business, she runs the team at Evoke, which has grown and changed with the business.
Lukas Coker, who joined Evoke in 2020, is a key part of that vision. Known for his precision and creative eye, Lukas brought advanced digital tools to the studio, like Lumion, which allows clients to step inside hyper-realistic renderings before a shovel hits the ground.
The newest team member, Andrew Castanheira, brings an unexpected background in finance—and a deep passion for design. After a career pivot and a stint at a high-end Atlanta firm, he relocated west, bringing his love of music and travel into the design process.
Together, they craft solutions for each home and each season, along with a team of installers, carpenters, masons, architects, engineers, etc., who are also incredible at their craft. By finding these partners in Denver and Boulder, Ingraham and her team are able to fully focus on the design.
For a recent project in Boulder, Evoke teamed up with Surround Architecture and Buildwell Builders to transform an unusable slope into a series of outdoor rooms, complete with a lower patio with a reflecting pool. Stone pavers help the design to seamlessly blend into the natural beauty of Boulder’s landscape, creating a sophisticated, luxurious outdoor living experience.
“It’s about creating spaces that feel both elevated and deeply rooted in place,” says Ingraham.
When reflecting on these massive installs, Ingraham loves that each season and each year is a bit different. Year three is typically when the smaller plants really start to bloom and flourish. Evoke also has to plan for seasons, especially as they become more unpredictable, using plants that are hearty and can tolerate drought, hail, and warm weather in winter. Some of her tried and trues from ten years ago—like Redbuds—no longer work as well today.
If you’re moving into a new home this summer, Evoke's advice is not to rush it. Ingraham recommends living in your space for a year to see what areas you’re drawn to and how you use them. Go for walks around the neighborhood for inspiration and be open to your vision changing, which seems like good advice for life, as well.
To see more of their recent designs and to get inspired, go to EvokeLifeOutside.com.