Most people have no idea just what goes into landscape design, mistakenly believing that the job ends with plant placement. In reality, you should be thinking of hiring the right designer for the job outside just as seriously as you handle the one for inside the home—especially if you want your luxury residence to look like your celebrity neighbor's. After all, the outdoor living space is always what makes the first impression so you better make it a good one.

Keith Williams—the Lead Designer, Partner and Vice President at Nievera Williams—is one of the most sought-after landscape designers in the business, with offices in Palm Beach and New York. He goes to great lengths to make sure his million-dollar clients get exactly what they want, even if that means a 12-foot high aquarium (full of sharks!) with stairs up the sides leading into a guest house. Williams was kind enough to take some time to chat with us about his work, from his most extravagant projects to the most difficult.