Townhouse Garden Design
Collaborating to create your ideal outdoor space
Luxury Townhouse Garden Design in New York
Imagine verdure, fragrant blooms, and tranquility right in the heart of your backyard! At Todd Haiman Landscape Design, our design process is a very personal, collaborative process between our client and team. We meticulously analyze our client's outdoor space from an architectural, horticultural, aesthetic, functional, and sustainable perspective, providing creative, customized solutions to the challenges and opportunities of their property.
We are the leading townhouse garden design firm in NYC with a goal to build a private oasis for our clients that maximizes the potential of their outdoor space.
Our Design Process
STEP 1
Meet with a prospect for an Initial Consultation
Visit the site/residence and listen to prospect requirements, needs, aspirations and key objectives in detail. We verbally review the range of costs for typical projects.
STEP 2
Present a design fee proposal brief for Concept Design through a Final Landscape Plan
This includes a full breakdown and explanation of how the design process will work, along with our fee structure for your project design. A fixed fee is provided for these works before detailed design works commence. The process begins with site visits and collection of data. The property is analyzed from an architectural, environmental, sustainable, horticultural and artistic lens.
STEP 3
Creation of Design Concept Leading To Masterplan
Our design concepts, precedent images,plans,renderings and sketches are delivered and discussed with you at length to ensure you have a clear overview of how your finished garden will look. This is a preliminary plan, a discussion document that will lead to your final agreed landscape plan. The final plan is your blueprint for the spatial arrangement of your garden – showing exactly where areas of hard landscaping, planting, pergolas, furniture, site amenities and other garden features will be.
STEP 4
Approvals and Permitting
Many of our projects require planning or building approvals. We regularly work with engineers, architects and expediters, assisting you in navigating this process. We work as your advocate through the approval process to ensure your design and application is compliant.
STEP 5
Design Development / Details
We will advise you on your final material selections and produce detailed construction drawings, sections, elevations, planting and lighting specifications and schedules for every element of the garden.
STEP 6
Construction Drawings / Estimates
Technical drawings and specifications are produced to ensure that the garden is built to the correct standards as outlined within your design proposal. This is the plan from which all contractors can estimate costs and build the garden. Based on final drawings and any associated details we are able to provide a line item cost guide for your project. We work with you to schedule, cost engineer and phase the project.
STEP 7
Construction Oversight and Installation of Design
We project manage, schedule, monitor and check construction details throughout the process. We collaborate with the very best subcontractors appropriate to your budget and needs. You are of course free to appoint your own contractors to do the work.
STEP 8
On-Going Maintenance and Long Term Care
Having created a landscape for you to enjoy, we ca provide a maintenance plan to assist in helping you to keep the landscape looking its best at all times. Each client has different levels of care and we are happy to provide customized maintenance as per your needs.
What makes us the best townhouse garden designers in NYC?
We manage every aspect of your project, from design and cost planning to administration, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
We design highly customized townhouse gardens tailored to each client's space and vision—no more of those cookie-cutter designs when you deserve personalization!
We work with multiple typologies of townhouse gardens in New York and collaborate with specialized artisans.
Our team has advanced degrees and certifications in architecture, environmental studies, horticulture, gardening, and landscape design.
Our excellence has been recognized with numerous awards, including 12 awards from Houzz between 2015 and 2024.
Customer Testimonials
Todd and his team created a roof garden for me that I didn't even dream possible. He took inspiration for the garden from a framed print he noticed hanging in my hall with the words of a Yeats poem, given to me as a child by my Irish grandmother. Todd researched the look and feel of Irish meadows to create the most stunning naturalistic green roof while utilizing native plants that would thrive in this environment and provide a happy space for pollinators and birds. I was particularly impressed at the thoughtfulness he and his team gave to selecting and interspersing plants that would flower throughout the seasons. I am so grateful to Todd and his team!
I wanted to design my own garden and I specifically wanted to use a roof top designer because my backyard is so small and narrow. In surfing the web, I found Todd's designs to standout and when I contacted him, he was willing to walk my property as a consultant for what I designed. He was extremely helpful getting me to consider more plantings natural to my environment. He gave me his time and even got there earlier so he could walk the property first. I am so grateful to have found Todd. My garden will have more birds and I will have less work because of him. He is outstanding on multiple levels. A true find!
We have a second home in the Catskills and had just renovated our interior and were anxious to conquer the outdoor space. Through a recommendation we found our way to Todd’s firm THLD. We requested a design that evoked a sense of place, endemic to the Catskills. We entertain frequently, wanted a firepit, native landscape, privacy, seasonal interest, multiple areas to congregate, an inviting entrance to our property and functional paths. Todd’s firm created a low maintenance, fun landscape that complemented the design or our home. We are ecstatic with what THLD accomplished for us. Highly recommend them! 5 stars!!!
Meet the best townhouse garden designer in NYC
Todd Haiman is a renowned landscape and garden designer across the US. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Crain’s Business, Better Homes and Gardens, Forbes, Business Insider, and LivingETC. Todd has also contributed to public space improvements through grants focused on enhancing areas in Chinatown and Upper Manhattan.
Todd believes that every landscape and garden design is unique, with each site offering its own distinctive characteristics. His design process is deeply personal and collaborative, ensuring that the client’s vision is fully realized in every project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a townhouse garden?
A townhouse garden is a private outdoor space associated with a townhouse residence. Through thoughtful design, these gardens can become beautiful extensions of the home for relaxation, entertaining, dining, and everyday enjoyment.
Can you design gardens for small or narrow townhouse backyards?
Yes. Many New York townhouse gardens have limited space, and we specialize in creating layouts that maximize functionality, beauty, privacy, and a sense of openness.
How do you make a townhouse garden feel larger?
Through strategic spatial planning, layered planting, focal points, pathways, and carefully selected materials, we create gardens that feel more expansive and inviting than their dimensions suggest.
Can you create private outdoor spaces in densely populated neighborhoods?
Absolutely. Privacy is often a key design objective, and we use planting, screens, pergolas, fencing, and other landscape elements to create secluded outdoor retreats.
What features can be included in a townhouse garden design?
Townhouse gardens can incorporate patios, dining areas, custom seating, water features, lighting, outdoor kitchens, fire elements, pergolas, and lush planting schemes tailored to your lifestyle.
Can a townhouse garden be designed for entertaining?
Yes. We frequently create outdoor living spaces that accommodate dining, gatherings, and entertaining while maintaining a comfortable and intimate atmosphere.
What types of plants work best in townhouse gardens?
Plant selections are based on site conditions, sunlight, maintenance preferences, and aesthetic goals. We often incorporate seasonal interest, native species, and pollinator-friendly plantings.
Do you design low-maintenance townhouse gardens?
Yes. We can create gardens that balance beauty and practicality through thoughtful plant selection, durable materials, and efficient irrigation solutions.
Can you incorporate sustainable design principles into a townhouse garden?
Sustainability is an important part of our design philosophy. We often utilize native plantings, environmentally responsible materials, water-conscious strategies, and pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Do townhouse garden projects require permits or approvals?
Some projects may require permits or coordination with local authorities, architects, or contractors. Our team can help guide clients through the process when necessary.
How long does a townhouse garden project typically take?
Timelines vary based on the size and complexity of the project, permitting requirements, and construction scope. We provide clear guidance throughout each phase of the process.
Can you help renovate an existing townhouse garden?
Yes. Whether a garden requires a complete transformation or selective improvements, we can reimagine the space to better suit your needs, lifestyle, and aesthetic preferences.
Do you provide construction oversight and installation management?
Yes. We can oversee construction, coordinate with contractors, and monitor installation to ensure the finished garden reflects the approved design vision.
Will a professionally designed townhouse garden add value to my property?
A well-designed outdoor space can enhance a property's appeal, functionality, and overall enjoyment, making it a valuable long-term investment.
What makes Todd Haiman Landscape Design different?
Our work is rooted in collaboration, creativity, and a deep understanding of landscape design. Every garden is thoughtfully tailored to the client, the architecture, and the unique character of the site.
