A garden that makes your brownstone feel like a private retreat.
Brownstone gardens are one of New York City’s most coveted outdoor spaces. Tucked behind historic façades and framed by architecture, they offer rare privacy, ground-level connection to nature, and the opportunity to create a true outdoor sanctuary in the heart of the city.
A thoughtfully designed brownstone garden becomes an extension of the home. Morning coffee surrounded by planting instead of pavement. Evenings spent outdoors without feeling exposed. Entertaining that feels intimate, grounded, and distinctly New York.
Garden Design NYC is led by Todd Haiman, a Brooklyn-born landscape designer known for crafting bespoke outdoor spaces that balance architecture, horticulture, and how New Yorkers actually live. Todd holds a Master of Science in Landscape Design from Columbia University and trained at the New York Botanical Garden. His work has been recognized through design awards and exhibitions and has been featured by Architectural Digest for transforming constrained urban gardens into deeply personal outdoor environments.
Our work has been consistently recognized for its innovation and quality:
These accolades underscore a commitment to design integrity, sustainability, and timeless outdoor spaces.
Designing a brownstone garden in New York is about far more than planting. It’s a careful blend of architecture, landscape, history, and daily use. Working with a dedicated brownstone garden designer ensures the space functions beautifully and feels cohesive with the home.
We visit the residence, listen closely to your goals, aspirations, site challenges, and discuss typical budget ranges.
You receive a clear, fixed-fee proposal outlining scope and how we’ll work together, from concept through final landscape plan.
We share concept options with precedent imagery, sketches, and renderings; together we develop themaster plan; a true blueprint for layout, hardscape, planting, pergolas, furnishings, and site amenities.
We coordinate with engineers, architects, and expediters; we advocate for you so submissions remain compliant and your design intent stays intact.
We ensure the design intent and construction methods offer a clear direction for all to follow beginning with you the client. Detailed drawings, sections, planting plans, lighting specs, and material schedules — offer the technical clarity contractors need to build and install.
We issue coordinated technical sets and assemble line-item cost guides; then we help phase and value-engineer without compromising design quality.
We schedule, manage, and review workmanship, collaborating with best-in-class fabricators and trades. (You are welcome to use your preferred contractors as well.)
A tailored maintenance plan and optional long-term site wardship keeps the garden performing beautifully as it matures.
A penthouse urban oasis
Our client, a couple with teenage sons, sought an exterior series of rooms to become an extension of their indoor space, for family dining/relaxing, a space to entertain large groups. They asked for us to create an artistic pergola as a focal point. We created a rooftop garden design that balances art with functional, modern NYC living:
The result is a tranquil retreat with multiple sweeping views, a rooftop garden that is both aesthetic and deeply meaningful.
You’re not hiring us for plants. You’re hiring us for the result: a garden that feels intentional, restorative, and unmistakably New York.
Q1: Do I need permits to renovate a brownstone garden in NYC?
Ans: Sometimes. Requirements depend on grading changes, drainage work, structures, landmark status, and building regulations. We help clarify what applies and guide you through the process.
Q2: Can you design gardens for landmarked brownstones?
Ans: Yes. We frequently work within landmark guidelines and design gardens that respect historic context while supporting modern living.
Q3: How do you create privacy in a brownstone garden?
Ans: Through layered planting, fencing and screens, pergolas or trellises, and careful control of sightlines and circulation.
Q4: What plants work best in NYC brownstone gardens?
Ans: Plant palettes are tailored to light conditions, soil, maintenance preferences, and seasonal interest. The goal is a garden that looks good year-round and improves with time.
Q5: Can a brownstone garden include outdoor kitchens or seating areas?
Ans: Absolutely. Many brownstone gardens function as outdoor living rooms with dining, lounging, cooking, and entertaining zones.
Q6: How long does a brownstone garden project usually take?
Ans: Timelines vary based on scope, approvals, fabrication, and seasonality. A realistic schedule is outlined after consultation and site review.