ABOUT DIANE BILGORE

Diane discovered her love of natural landscapes growing up in the rural countryside of western New Jersey. Much like her design philosophy, her path to D.A.B. Design was not a linear one.  

With a BFA in metalsmithing from RIT’s School of American Crafts, Diane began her career as an architectural model maker with New York’s South Street Seaport renovation among her first projects. Her interest in 3D visual forms took her to Sotheby’s London, and later to Tiffany & Co, where she immersed herself in high-profile projects including the production of championship trophies for the NBA, NFL, and PGA along with other commissioned works.

Eventually trading Manhattan for northern Westchester, the return to her rural roots combined with her practiced eye for design and dimension inspired Diane to study landscape design and horticulture at New York Botanical Garden. Her formal trajectory into horticulture was solidified when one of her mentors invited her to complete a two-year apprenticeship further refining her expertise.

Her first individually led project was completely transforming a time-worn 1800s barn into her family home. There she cultivated her horticulture and design skills while learning how to gracefully operate with a complex web of variables—contractors, tradesmen, and zoning laws. 

Diane’s diverse experiences—structural modeling, high-end sculpture, horticulture, and landscape design—continue to inform her work today. Her attention to detail and craft is deeply rooted in her design choices. She strives to preserve natural elements while staying true to historical narratives. 

Launched in 1998, D.A.B. Design has scaled entirely through word of mouth. Diane and her dedicated team are entrusted with creating and maintaining exceptional landscapes for discerning clients throughout New York and Connecticut.