Association of Professional Landscape Designers Award
Elise Design Group is a three time award winner from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).
Our third recognition was for our innovative design for four acre New Canaan estate, which transformed a steep slope behind the home into a gracious outdoor living area. The plan also included enlarging the existing patio space, which had been too cramped for a growing family.
Multiple terraces cut into the hill at different levels, creating an inviting new level for a custom fireplace. This area has an elegant yet cozy feel and extends the outdoor enjoyment well beyond summer. The main patio area was expanded for dining and entertainment, with an outdoor kitchen off to the side.
The homeowners were so pleased with the beautiful new scene that they had interior architectural alterations done to fully enjoy the view.
A small vegetable garden was replaced with a larger one, with fencing atop a wall of same stone used throughout the design. The new garden was located on the sunnier side of the house, near the kitchen.
Landscape lighting, drainage and drip irrigation were integrated into the design and construction.
A septic field at the top of the slope presented another challenge. Limited access called for avoiding lawn, opting instead for lush perennials and grasses planted there with paths meandering through. Evergreens were added at the top of the slope to screen a neighboring driveway.
All aspects of the design, construction and planting were done by Elise Landscapes and Nursery.
Congratulations to designers Chris Elkow and Mark Hicks of Elise for turning a problem space into an award-winning entertainment and relaxation oasis!
Testimonials & Comments From Our Clients:
“Beth and I wanted to send a quick note to tell you how awesome our yard looks this summer. The hydrangea are stunning, and overall, the entire property has come together so well. SItting by the pool and looking at the backyard from late spring through today is so enjoyable. Your vision with the hornbeams, moving the red maple and getting all of the other smaller details right has been awesome to see mature into what we have today. Richard and his team work tirelessly to keep it looking great. Please give them all our sincere thanks and we look forward to enjoying what you have created for years to come. Thank you.” ********
Billy & Beth – New Canaan, CT – 2024
“We are officially moving out of Darien. First, we want to thank you for almost two decades of kindness and terrific work. You have been terrific to work with and wonderful people to get to know. To this day, we sit in the yard and tell each other how beautiful it is – so thank you.” ********
-Kevin & Allison – Darien, CT – 2024
“Thank you for the beauty you brought to our yard. We appreciate your hard work and professionalism.” *
-Vicki & Bob – Darien, CT – 2024
“… we made the difficult decision to put our house on the market. After 28 years in this wonderful town… We received many letters and they really tugged at our heart strings as we think about leaving this wonderful home. We would be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to share a few excerpts with you since they’re in recognition of the thought, care and attention put into designing our property’s landscape and hardscape:
‘ …from the moment we stepped through the front door, we felt a connection to the space with garden views from every window…the welcoming deck and patio and the lovingly landscaped gardens speak volumes of the care invested in this home.’
‘…in addition to the home, my clients loved the yard and gorgeous gardens.’
‘ …the home’s street presence with its carefully landscaped gardens immediately caught our eyes. The deck and patio are absolute lifestyle bonuses. Our Bernadoodle…will also enjoy exploring the yard!’
‘ …your property has been meticulously maintained and the lawn and gardens are exquisite. As an avid gardener, that was an automatic draw. If we’re lucky enough to call this our home, we promise to be good stewards and maintain the garden’s beauty.’
‘…we can imagine a life of family and friend BBQ’s on the patio taking in the beautiful landscape.’
‘…this is our dream home, with it’s amazing landscaping and entertainment areas.’
Finally, a huge thanks to you and the entire Elise Landscape team for all the projects we worked on over the years. We so enjoyed the collaboration and visits to your charming store and hope to stop by in the future when we visit…” *
– Joe & Maureen – New Canaan, CT
“We were attracted by the flair and creativity of the original design and how it established a sense of balance around the property, accentuated the natural landscape and built on existing views… In every respect the end result exceeded our expectations…We were very impressed by the skillful direction and tight oversight provided to the project… and the close eye to detail in the construction.” ******
-Philip & Debbie – New Canaan, CT
“The plan Elise created, beautifully enhanced our property. Their staff listened to our needs and incorporated our ideas. They are friendly and extremely attentive. I smile every time I see their truck in my driveway.” **
-Laura – New Canaan, CT
“We love the work you have done for us.” *******
-Brian – Pound Ridge, NY
“Thank you for creating a welcoming and sophisticated entry to our home. We are so happy with how everything turned out but were especially pleased with how smoothly and timely the process was. You met and exceeded our expectations. Many thanks for a job well done!” ***
-Alex & Elizabeth – Darien, CT
“Our landscape was a blank canvas as we had torn down the existing house on the property and built from the ground up. Elise came in and designed a plan that including everything from driveways, sidewalks, patios, outdoor lighting, and of course all of the plantings. They did a beautiful job of incorporating the architectural features of the house into the landscaping. At the completion of the project, the house and landscaping looked like it had been there for many years and rather than a stark new build. They were easy to work with and we highly recommend them for both large and small projects.” *******
-Kevin & Allison – Darien, CT
“The design and approach that Elise developed was far superior to that of any other company… the work that you did on construction was equally exceptional in quality, thoroughness and timeliness. Your team was responsive, easy to work with, willing to fine tune changes and manage the entire project.” ****
-Alfred – New Canaan, CT
“The time you invested with us in the design process resulted in ideas and possibilities we never would have thought of. Your own commitment to high standards clearly shows in the quality of the design and installation, overall and in the details, is the difference between a good job and a great one.” **
-Joseph – New Canaan, CT
“Everything has turned out so nicely!” ******
-Kelly & Mike – New Canaan, CT
“Elise provided a comprehensive landscape design and executed that design flawlessly with both hardscape and soft for our 4.6-acre property in New Canaan. They totally reimagined the front of the property, repositioning the driveway, creating a knot garden and creating a magnificent approach that showcased the house. They created a parklike environment in the back with terraced gardens, a granite pool deck and perennial beds surrounding an extensive patio.” ******
-Jay & Connie – New Canaan, CT
*Denotes project size: These are actual comments related to projects with varied levels of design and construction.
