Commendations

Reviews: What our clients are saying about The Artist Garden

Hi James, hope you are great.  WE LOVE OUR BACKYARD!!!

-Lucy, Cobble Hill- Brooklyn

Thank you!! looks amazing so very happy!!! till next time stay well

-Susan, Midwood

The fence, posts,  and gate are fantastic.  Thank you so much for taking on the project.  I appreciate the quality of the workmanship.

-Kathryn, Windsor Place

Garden looks really fantastic, I am so happy with the way it turned out!! 

-Martin, Bedstuy

I am so in love with my backyard!!  Again, thank you for all you hard work and support!!  

– Joanna, Bedstuy

Hi James,
Thank you so much for the beautiful paving work in our garden!
I really appreciated the time, care and attention that you and your team gave to the small details that made it so perfect and what I was hoping for. This final touch brought the garden together so nicely and was definitely worth the wait!  
I am now looking forward to enjoying the garden and planting in the Spring!

Thanks again,
-Gillian

Thanks, James! We’re so excited to enjoy the backyard!

– Sophie Mann, Park Slope

Wow!!

– KK and Alex,  Fort Greene

Dude it’s so beautiful. Really seriously wonderful job. My kids couldn’t believe what it looks like. Love how you raised the lawn. Really smart. Many thanks 

Thank you James! 

We LOVE what you did and we will be in touch in the future 🙂 

Loving looking outside all the time now. So beautiful. 

Mahalo for all of your inspiration and support and effort. 

JoAnna, Bedstuy Brooklyn 

Our garden is in full bloom, and we absolutely love it! Wanted to send a photo over and thank you so much for everything. Also, I gave your email to a few friends in the neighborhood who may get in touch about some garden work in the future.

Hope all is well with you, and looking forward to having you over for a bbq soon

Thanks so much James! It really looks sumptuous, so beautiful.

– Thom & Risa

We have had a lot of people working in our house through the renovation but you and your guys have done the best job, all materials on time, work was quick and clean, and everything looks so fantastic!! Thank you so much!! We will recommend you to all our friends.

– Will & Laura, President St – Cobble Hill

Thank you so much. The garden is better than I ever imagined.

– Cleo, Cobble Hill

You did a great job, thank you!!

– Nick & Diane, Bedstuy

It’s been a real pleasure working with you and your crew.

– Drew and Baron, 8th Ave, Park Slope

Have a happy thanksgiving and rest of the holiday season! We love the backyard.

-Michael and Jenny, Union Street

Just writing to tell you how much we all love the garden. Chloe woke up this AM, looked at the back and said – Grandma, I love your new garden. The new (to me) plants I love are Muhlengbergia and Amsonia butterscotch. That butterscotch color is amazing.

– Barbara, Warren street, Cobble Hill

I hope you are well and business is booming. You worked on our backyard in 2017 and planted this beautiful tree. We have gotten so much joy out of our backyard. I can’t tell you how grateful we are for the beautiful work and how well it has all held up. I especially love this tree.
– Jessica Merril

Dude it’s so beautiful. Really seriously wonderful job. My kids couldn’t believe what it looks like. Love how you raised the lawn. Really smart. Many thanks.

We are super happy!! Thank you!!
– Joshua Keay, Lincoln Place

Just wanted to let you know how delighted we are with our backyard transformation! We were a little unsure of how it would all work out but it’s been amazing. Water drainage is so fast and effortless and it’s so fun to be out there now. Let me know if there’s a place you’d like me to post a review!
– Ariana, 9th street 

The garden is amazing!! Kids played in the back yard the entire weekend btw. We have an entire new room !! Love it!
– Aaron, 6th Ave Park slope

We LOVE the garden. The kids love the garden. Our guests love the garden. It has changed our lives. 💚🌻
– Blythe and Dan, Bushwick

Loving the patio!!
– Dan, 11th Street

We have been enjoying watching the flowers bloom – such beautiful work!  It all looks fabulous!
– Sheila, Congress Street

We love the garden!!  We are very happy with how it looks! Truly transformative and made the yard a really livable space! We’re very excited to get out there and start using it!
– Marshall and Matthew Greenwood Heights

Hi James, The garden all looks fabulous! Really beautiful work.
– Sheila Peluso, Cobble Hill

Thank you so much for the garden – it looks awesome. We will definitely be getting the front done next year. You are so diligent and do great work. Thank you so much.
– Edward, Park Slope

James thanks so much. I would recommend you without hesitation. The garden looks great and you are so easy to work with.
– Josh, Carroll Gardens

Hi James, A note of thanks for transforming our backyard from a bamboo infested jungle to a sleek urban sanctuary. We are amazed at how you were able to magically increase the sense of space from small and enclosed to wide and expansive. Your team was terrific at what they did and very conscientious about cleaning up. Even our neighbors commented on how well they did. We now look forward to many years of enjoying our garden which thanks to you and your terrific team has been turned into a beautiful peaceful haven.
– David Man, Upper Eastside

Thanks James- you guys really did, as always, a phenomenal job and I truly appreciate your good work and even temperament- it’s really great to work with you.
– Cary, designer

Thanks so much James. Was great working with you! Really appreciate all the care you took with the garden.
– Vivienne Pham, Lefferts Gardens

I just wanted to thank you again for the beautiful work done in the backyard! It really looks great! Thanks again especially for coming and doing some more planting. I really appreciated it!
– Allysen Manz, Windsor Terrace

OMG! We are so happy with the final product! It’s beautiful!!
– Karen Hughes, Fort Greene

You did a phenomenal job!!
– Vicki, Park Slope

Happy Spring! It’s hard in writing to adequately communicate how much we love our backyard. We’re *obsessed* with it. It’s like our favorite space in the whole house. Everyone who sees it is blown away, not just us. Thank you so much for your incredible work!
– Fort Greene

I keep getting compliments on the cedar slat fence and ipe deck you built for us in early summer of 2019– not only on their looks, but also on how well the work was done.

James!! We are in love with are back yard thank you so much. The back yard is “next level” amazing. It truly is superb!!
– Danielle and Aamir

Thanks so much, everything is beautiful now!
– Anne Wald

We are really enjoying our garden – it is so lovely. I get so much pleasure from looking at it every day from our patio and hanging out in the back sitting area. The perennials are all so gorgeous! My favorite is the deep red hibiscus.
– Jill Shanahan Design

Yes the backyard has been amazing especially during this time. Everyone loves it, and I can’t wait to be able to spend more time in it when I move in. I look forward to seeing it with all the lights in!
– Ben, Douglas Place

The garden is AMAZING. Absolutely loving it.
– Chad, Fort Greene

Thank you so much for the garden, we are all so appreciative.
– Whitney, Cobble Hill

We are home today and I can’t believe how awesome it looks. What are the awesome big purple flowers on the right of the deck? They look like a mix btw hydrangea and lilac. I love them and have never seen them before!
– Cristina F.

I just got home and saw the garden, it’s perfect, love the shrubs, colors,
everything. Thank you so much. It’s truly amazing!!
– Sherine Tadros

We’re really thrilled with the yard!
– Stuart Popejoy

Thank you again for the fence and deck. They look great, and you were a pleasure to work with.
– Harriet Whiting

We loved our garden so much, we are referring you to some friends who recently bought a place in Queens.
– Alexis Seeley

You did a garden for us 10 years ago and last year we moved into another house which you also designed and installed. It’s genius and we love it…
– Thanks, Leila

Thanks so much for everything, James. And to your great team. Have a terrific summer and we will absolutely put friends in touch should they need to make their outdoor spaces beautiful.

Thought you might like to see the garden in action! We are enjoying it every day, and there is enough light now to grow flowers. Bob propagated lilacs and hydrangeas in our Sea Cliff yard and transplanted them here and they are already in bloom! Thank you for this splendid slice of paradise in Brooklyn!
– Terryl and Bob, Brooklyn

Thanks for all your great work. We appreciate how efficiently The Artist Garden handled everything.
– Anni and James Robertson, Prospect Heights

We will give you a glowing recommendation, we are so happy!!
– Terryl Donovan, Park Slope

We love our new garden!!!
– Dan and Jessica Sheff

The garden is beyond our expectations. We are so happy!!!
– The Suskins, Strong Place

Thank you so very much!! We are looking forward to enjoying our beautiful new Space.
– Katti and Ramon

We love the Garden!! it is amazing. The kids Love it.
– Avani and Arjan, St Marks

Thank you James! We couldn’t be happier.
– Roderick Hood, Carroll Gardens

James, Having now had you do two patio gardens, I just wanted to thank you for doing such a beautiful and impeccable garden for me again.
– Nancy, Park Slope

We are very Happy!!!! Excellent job!!!
– Oliver Freundlich

James did an amazing job converting our backyard into the perfect urban oasis. James was very flexible in working through the design with my wife and offered creative solutions to make sure the new and the old blended seamlessly.

He was extremely hard working and respectful of our home, a brownstone, where all materials and tools need to be carried through the house each day.

Overall we couldn’t be more pleased with the way the project came out. The artist garden delivered on time and on budget, which is a rare thing these days.
– Jay Moore

The yard looks amazing – we couldn’t be happier. Thank you so much for your help and expertise!
– China Hoffman

We had the pleasure of working with James for a complete overhaul of our backyard garden. James is very professional, prompt and is full of creative and fantastic ideas. We are so beyond happy with our yard and can’t recommend working with him enough. The whole family loves the garden James, thank you so much!!!!
– Shelley and Marcel Dzama, Artist

The garden still looks fantastic– we couldn’t be more pleased with the work you did last Spring!
– Shelley, East Village

Thank you for the beautiful backyard!!! We loved working with you. Thank you so much!!!
– Peg and Vaughn

Everything turned out beautifully. Always get compliments on the flowers. You did a great job. Look forward to seeing you before too long.
– Brooklyn, NY

It is so beautiful James thank you so much you are truly an artists!!
– Yona Love

The backyard looks AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! The kids are thrilled, Gary is super happy and I am over the moon!!
– Chantal Kordula

James has been my neighbor for a few years, only I did not know it until recently when he kindly introduced himself. I was looking across my torn up mud-pit yard after recently renovating my 1842 carriage house thinking it was going to be a long difficult process to re-landscape. I was lucky to have found a person, such as James, to work with as he is a brilliant landscaper, designer, stone mason, artist et al. He is also a very sensitive, personable and knowledgeable person who has traveled the world. I believe these experiences have also informed his unique landscaping vision, his use and knowledge of materials and the designs he individually creates for each client. He is a pleasure to work with and knows how to respect budgets, individual aesthetics and the character of each home he works in. Within just two weeks James transformed my yard into the most beautiful magical place in all of Brooklyn… and I am not kidding! I could not be more pleased.
– Nancy

My wife and I recently hired James and the The Artist Garden team to redo our roof-deck, side patio and planters in the front of our house. This was a fairly large job that also required lighting and a full irrigation system. From day one James and his team were professional and great to work with. In the past one of the biggest problems we’ve had when renovating is the ability of the crew not to impact other areas of the home with damage or messes (i.e. walls and floors). Not once did we notice even a slight scratch on the walls or floors and everyday our townhouse was left immaculate. My wife is a designer by trade and she very much wanted us to be part of the creative process in choosing the plants and placements. Not only was James great in incorporating our vision but he enhanced our ideas by adding plants and flowers that were in-line with our personal taste. The finished product is amazing on once summer is in full swing we hope James will come back to take pictures of the work for his website. We really could not be happier with the end result and would recommend James and his team for any job big or small.
– Sincerely, Phill O’Leary and Nicola Glass

James, everything looks great. We are very pleased how everything came out.
– William Goodrich

My experience with The Artist Garden was nothing short of completely positive. James did everything he said he would- to perfection- and The end result was a beautiful well thought out rooftop. Additionally the professional, courteous and reliable crew made the process itself a pleasant one.
– Kate Engelbrecht

It looks sooooo great back there. Have gotten quite a few compliments. My neighbor to the left loves what you did and I sent around a glowing recommendation of you.
– Best, Jenice

Our townhouse is at least 150 years old and still charms us. However, the rear drains failed during heavy rains and water collected in the basement. To fix the problem, the cement patio at the rear of the townhouse had to be removed, and “while we were at it,” we decided to enlarge the patio with a reinforced concrete base and bluestone. Our plumbing contractor, Robert Ian Construction, did an excellent job replacing the collapsed drains. Our contractor for the cement and bluestone was The Artist Garden. James Stevenson of The Artist Garden and his skillful stonemason, Chris, did a wonderful job. The concrete and bluestone work were excellent and the finished product well worth the price. We used a multi color random pattern bluestone and Chris took his time to make the design look spectacular. James spent time listening to our questions, suggestions and comments and also accommodated our requests to alter plans for the height of the small retaining wall at the rear of the new patio, installing a small wall on one side and a higher wall with a seat on the other. Also, since the interior of the house is the only passage for tools, materials and waste, it was very important to us that furnishings and floors were not damaged. The crew was the most careful one we’ve had in our numerous renovations. They put down fresh paper covering floors each morning and carefully took this up each evening, sweeping any resulting residue as well. We are very pleased with the results and would recommend The Artist Garden to others who are interested in this type of project.
– Frank Masters

Thanks James. We enjoy our new garden every day!!! So happy!
– Susann Epperlein

We hired James Stephenson of the Artist Garden, to transform our backyard from a weed-covered wasteland into a modern oasis. We interviewed numerous landscapers for our project, but James stood out with his knowledge of materials. Other landscapers weren’t sure how they would get the materials to the yard or how to properly build the deck. James had a certain confidence and we knew he could get the job done. He built a deck off of our porch with storage space below, privacy wall, bluestone patio, modern horizontal fence, planted sod, and created planting beds. The project was completed on time and he updated me often on the project schedule. Even though the only access to the yard was through one flight of stairs and the front door, his crew got creative and was able to overcome the obstacle. They were friendly, clean and always started on time.

We absolutely love our backyard, it’s exactly what we imagined and have spent almost every night outside. We would recommend James to anyone looking for a landscape contractor.
– Lee & Tracy, Prospect Heights Brooklyn

Dear James. Thanks so much for the beautiful project. It looks so amazing. I am very happy.
– Susan

AWESOME WORK!!!
– Tom Nolte, North First

I just wanted to say thanks for a perfect garden. Randall and I couldn’t be happier with it and really appreciate the hard work you and your crew of very nice guys put into it. We’ll be sure to recommend you all over the place (and have a few times already) and hope to bump into you down the road. It was a pleasure.
All the best,
– Peter de Seve

The Artist Garden turned our overgrown, makeshift garden into an amazing, open outdoor space. James Stephenson and crew were creative, collaborative, and yes, punctual. They completed the job on time and found ways to work within our budget to maximize the use of space, materials, and flora. Who could ask for anything more!!
– Joe

I Love it! Great Work!
– NJ Masters, 11th Street

All I can say is WOW!! The garden looks amazing. Thank you again for a lovely and professional job. We are more than pleased with your service.
– Mica Vanterpool

James and his crew are not only extremely talented craftsmen, but were a pleasure to work with. We couldn’t be happier with the design and finished space, not to mention they finished on time and exactly within the quoted budget. I would recommend his work to anyone looking for the highest quality landscape designer.
– Zach & Zoe Pritchett, Fort Greene

James and his crew are not only extremely talented craftsmen, but were a pleasure to work with. We couldn’t be happier with the design and finished space, not to mention they finished on time and exactly within the quoted budget. I would recommend his work to anyone looking for the highest quality landscape designer

James built us a backyard garden and Bluestone patio that surpassed our expectations. He was on site every day, and was patient and encouraging as we evolved our plan. Because of his experience and resources, he was able to give us more for our budget, while also sticking to our very tight time line of 3 weeks before our baby was due, without sacrificing quality or craftsmanship. We now have an incredible garden to enjoy with our growing family. We would recommend James and his team wholeheartedly.

James built us a backyard garden and bluestone patio that surpassed our expectations. He was on site every day, and was patient and encouraging as we evolved our plan. Because of his experience and resources, he was able to give us more for our budget, while also sticking to our very tight timeline of 3 weeks before our baby was due, without sacrificing quality or craftmanship. We now have an incredible garden to enjoy with our growing family. We would recommend James and his team wholeheartedly.
– Molly and Brandt, Fort Greene

James was extremely communicative and the plan was achieved efficiently and on budget. Everything from fencing, irrigation, hardscaping, lighting, painting and planting was done by his team and now we have the beautiful outside space we always wanted.
– Allison, Prospect Lefferts Garden

I’m absolutely delighted at the beautiful, peaceful yet vibrant garden that James has so thoughtfully designed and built for me. I had spent years imagining this terrace garden, yet what he produced far surpassed what I had envisioned. The most exciting part is that the garden will grow and change over time, and James has put a lot of thought and creativity in how the garden will continue to evolve and become even more beautiful over time. Last but certainly not least, James is always a pleasure to work with. He has a unique ability to intuitively understand what the client is trying to accomplish and, by getting a feel for the client’s personality and psyche, his designs resonate even more deeply with the client and a very harmonious working relationship is formed. He is also very hard-working and a very warm person to work with. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone interested in having a garden designed.
– Aditi Banerjee, NYC

James Stephenson did an excellent job of completing the plans I designed for a large Brooklyn Heights residential garden, including completing brick and stone terraces and walls, fencing the perimeter, finding plant material including a large pear tree, installing a drip irrigation system as well as outdoor lighting, receiving and installing 4 large custom pots set on piers with built in irrigation, and of course planting these containers with a blend of colors and textures. This space is framed by a dark green 25’ x 30’ rectangular cedar fence, made up of different heights with various sizes of trellis on its surface, and all built by James and his men. A major visual axis runs through the formal rooms of this residence through a pair of new French doors to the new rear garden and outdoors across 3 stepping stones set in low ground cover, then over a sandstone walkway, across a large herringbone brick terrace to an oval shaped convex retaining wall and finally stopping in a plant bed set with hydrangea trees under planted with pink roses. Every brick was set as drawn in the plan. James found a brick that mediated between several colors present at the site. The larger sandstone terrace material had to be specially ordered from Rhode Island and cut to fit specific shapes from semi circles to large and small squares, and all fit together as drawn in plan.

James was easy to work with. He always took the time to fully understand the intent of the plan and made sure to follow the basic design concepts through all the particulars. The plan was demanding, and even though we worked long distance, James called consistently to confirm any area of the plan that needed clarification. The results are very satisfying.
– Elizabeth

Thank you James for the great job you did renovating our sad, worn-out garden into a garden space that is beautiful and the envy of all my neighbors. Everything from the materials used to the craftsmanship is top-notch!

My wife and I wanted a complete gut re-model of our backyard… from demolition of the existing garden to design and construction of a new space. To make matters more challenging the only way to access the garden was through our apartment. We interviewed several landscaping companies and it was clear from the start that James was the right choice. He had great ideas for the design of the garden that addressed our needs and he managed to incorporate everything we wanted within our budget. He and his crew worked very hard through a very hot summer… hand carrying everything with great care back and forth through our apartment. I’m pleased to say the completed garden is everything we wanted and we couldn’t be happier. On a side note, we replaced a wooden deck with blue stone and the drainage was immediately put to the test with Hurricane Irene… it came through with flying colors.

If you are looking for a great designer and landscaper, look no further than James Stephenson.

Many Thanks,
– Brad and Sharon Buckwalter

The Artist Garden transformed our garden into our favorite room in the house. The design and craftsmanship were all great. Terrific attention to detail. The project was done quickly and efficiently. We highly recommend James and his team.
– Gabe and Jolie Schwartz, Brooklyn Heights

James and team were fast, efficient and artful. They built a beautiful fence, planters, and bluestone floor. And, very important for us, they had ultimate respect for our home, through which they had to drag tons of dirt and rocks. I recommend them highly.
– Joel Kades

Hello James,
We love our garden and everybody is amazed by the work you did. We could finally enjoy it a bit yesterday before it started raining again.
– Franck G. Poisson Accenture, New York

Dear James,
We want to thank you for the stellar job you did, transforming our backyard from garbage dump into a little oasis. We saw you and your crew working a couple of houses over, and we were impressed by the care and precision of the work. When we started working with you, we were immediately impressed by your creativity and flexibility. You did a fantastic job on our bluestone patio, landscaping, and fence. You also went above and beyond: After a rain, you noticed where water was pooling, and you installed three dry wells. We had no idea that the dry wells were necessary, and we were grateful to you for putting them in. We were also thrilled that you did it because it was the right thing to do – and did not raise it as an ’extra.’ We recommend you to anyone considering landscaping work in Brooklyn. Thank you, James!
Best, Leslie and Ari

James,
Fred and I wanted to thank you so much for work in our backyard! You’ve transformed it into something so beautiful and functional! You really did an outstanding job. Thanks so much and we’ll be contacting you for the front garden and blue stone for sure.

Thanks again for all your hard work and efforts into building an amazing garden. We will be enjoying it for many years to come!
Regards, Isamu & Susan

Just wanted to make sure you know that my garden is perfect! Even the nasty insects are ok. I love the garden and your stone work really comes across as the frame, the structure, that makes it all work so well together.
– Best, Betsy

James did a fabulous job designing our backyard this spring. He worked within our budget while using first-class materials and taking all the time necessary to get the job done right. You can’t make a better choice.
– Jonathan Perkel

I have had the pleasure of working with James on several landscaping projects in my garden over the past few years. As an artist, he is wonderful at helping you to envision exactly what a space needs and, as an experienced landscaper, his work is excellent.
– Carol Costello

Dear James,
I wanted to express how thrilled I am with my beautiful little oasis. I love walking out on my deck & looking down at the garden. It has made such a difference! Our backyard was a total shambles & the work you put into it was nothing short of fabulous.
Thank you for not only a beautiful final project but additionally, I am very grateful that you have helped me keep it going as it has. Your follow through with the garden only says to me how much you really care about your work & want to see that it remains as you envisioned it (as well as me).
Thank you again & I look forward to our next project together!

Dear James,
I am writing to let you know how pleased we are with the work you did in our garden. We are pleased with the result, which is lovely. We are even more pleased with the quality of the service you provided. You did your work quickly, efficiently, thoughtfully and neatly. You answered our questions on what to plant and how to care for the plants. You went the extra mile to respond to our request to take away some items that we needed to discard. And best of all, you did all of the above in very friendly manner that made working with you what it should be, a gardening experience, rather than a monetary transaction.
Thanks again.
Sincerely yours, Shelly and Mei

Thanks so much for everything. We are very happy with our gardens, look forward to seeing you in the spring time.
– Jane

We love the garden and the mulch is wonderful. We eat out every night and it has really changed our space. Its amazing to see the kids in the space and KW often takes a flower from the garden to put in a vase in her room.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for such a BEAUTIFUL garden.
– Lara Temple and Alan Winchester

Hi James,
I just want to let you know that we are really happy with how things came out in the garden. It’s just such a different space now and I am so excited to see how things bloom in the spring. The trees in the back make all the difference and there is now so much more variety. But again – it looks GREAT!! I wish we had done this years ago. THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!
– Judith and Michael Feldman