HURSTHOUSE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

I started my search by going to the American Landscape Architects website and looked for companies familar with sustainable practices, native habitat installations and after finding several in the Chicago area, starting looking at each website. I thought that the portfolio on the Hursthouse website was extensive and beautiful. I sent an inquiry e-mail and immediately received a phone call from Bob Hursthouse. We met on site and went over our needs and preferences as well as the LEED elements. Bob explained his experience, expertise and examples of working on "green" projects. He provided a very rough quote and agreed upon acceptance of his proposal to attend the LEED meetings. He also met with us to go over the landscape design and concepts and Greg Schaumburg, the landscape architect assigned to our project, gave us detailed specifics regarding how the plans would incorporate numerous LEED requirements and followed up with the city on the proposal. Once the site was ready for the landscape crew, Charlie Eastman, the project manager, met us on site to go over each element of the plans and they proceeded immediately. We had an issue with the installation of bluestone completed by the mason contracted by our builder.
It was shimmed, had sub-par quality grouting and was uneven and just shoddy. Hursthouse was exceptionally responsive with coming out and completely remediating the installation. They painstakingly removed all of the installed bluestone, cleaned it up, torched detailed the edging and reinstalled the bluestone. It looks beautiful and exquisitely installed. Thrilled with how it looks and especially with how helpful Hursthouse was in making sure that we were happy with our front porch. At this point, the weather has halted the project as the concrete driveway has to be poured before the landscaping installation can proceed. They have discussed the project with the concrete subcontractor, the company dealing with the site clean-up and rough grade, the gutter/downspout subcontractor as well as the builder. They are quite cooperative, friendly and easy to work with. We look forward to the spring when our project can be completed.

When I moved into my home in 2006 we found we had a significant grading issue that was causing water to leak into the basement.  We needed a pro to regrade the entire property and redesign the landscaping around the entire house.  Bob and the Hursthouse team were a pleasure to work with.  The grading was shot professionally and the water drains perfectly.  The landscape design is beautiful.  They installed hardscaping and it was done beautifully -- so much so that other contractors have commented on the quality.  When the turf grew in "lumpy"  they ripped out all the sod and replaced it free of charge -- at there own suggestion.  When a shrub died two years later, Bob replaced it without charge.  And the team was punctual and responsive.  The experience was so good that when I needed additional landscape design and hardscaping in 2011 I went directly to Hursthouse.  They cost a fortune (but are comparable to other high-end landscapers in the area) but when you really need a professional design and execution of an important project, Hursthouse is worth it.