Landscape Design & Installation — Complete Outdoor Environments | North Shore Illinois
A hardscape installation without thoughtful landscape design is an unfinished project. The stone, brick, and concrete we install at National Brick Paver & Stone looks its best — and performs its best — when it is surrounded by a landscape that was designed and installed with the same level of care and intention. That is why we offer complete landscape design and installation services alongside every hardscape project we build, and why many of our clients trust us to handle both sides of their outdoor environment as one unified scope of work.
Whether you are searching for landscape design and installation near me, full property landscape contractor North Shore IL, landscape design Chicagoland, sod installation Illinois, grading and drainage contractor near me, or a complete outdoor environment design and build — National Brick Paver & Stone delivers the design expertise and installation quality your property deserves.
We are not a lawn maintenance company. We do not cut grass. What we do is design and build outdoor environments — from grading plans and drainage systems to sod installation, planting design, and full property landscape transformations that integrate seamlessly with the hardscape we install.
Landscape Design & Planning:
Every significant outdoor project we complete begins with a design and planning phase. For full property transformations, we work from complete landscape and hardscape plans that establish grading, drainage, hardscape layout, planting areas, and lighting zones before a single shovel enters the ground. This level of planning is what allows us to deliver projects where every element works together — where the patio drains correctly, the plantings frame the hardscape naturally, the lighting highlights the right features, and the grade of the entire property manages water correctly from day one.
Grading & Drainage:
Proper grading is the most important and most under-appreciated element of any landscape installation. Every outdoor space we design establishes correct slope and drainage across the full property — directing water away from the foundation, away from planting beds, and out of the yard efficiently. We correct existing grading problems, establish new grades for new construction, and integrate underground drainage systems where surface grading alone is not sufficient. A beautifully planted yard on a poorly graded property will struggle perpetually. We get the grade right first.
Sod Installation:
Fresh sod installation is part of nearly every full property project we complete. We prepare the soil correctly, grade the lawn areas for drainage, and install sod that establishes quickly and delivers a finished, polished lawn from day one. Sod selection, soil preparation, and installation timing are all factors we manage to ensure the best possible establishment and long-term performance.
Plantings:
We design and install planting plans across the full property — trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, and ground covers selected for the specific conditions of each site. Plant selection for North Shore properties considers soil type, sun and shade exposure, drainage conditions, and the architectural character of the home and surrounding landscape. We plant for year-round interest — selecting species that provide structure and color through every season of the Illinois year.
Steel Edging & Landscape Details:
Clean edges between hardscape, planting beds, and lawn areas are what give a finished landscape its professional quality. We install steel edging throughout our landscape installations — creating permanent, clean boundaries between bluestone chip beds, planting areas, and lawn that hold their definition season after season without shifting or collapsing.
Bluestone Chips & Decorative Stone:
Bluestone chips are one of our most popular landscape detail materials — used in planting beds, between steppers, and as ground cover in areas where low maintenance and natural beauty are both priorities. Contained by steel edging, bluestone chip beds stay clean, drain well, and add a refined natural texture to the landscape that complements every hardscape material we install.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you design landscape plans or just install?
We do both. For full property projects we develop complete landscape and hardscape plans that integrate every element of the outdoor environment before installation begins. For smaller projects we work from client direction and our own design recommendations.
Do you handle both the hardscape and landscape on the same project?
Yes — and this is one of our most significant advantages over contractors who specialize in only one discipline. When hardscape and landscape are designed and installed by the same team, the result is a unified, cohesive outdoor environment rather than two separate projects that were never designed to work together.
Do you install irrigation systems?
Irrigation installation is coordinated with trusted trade partners as part of our full property project scope. We integrate irrigation planning into the landscape design from the start so it does not conflict with hardscape, lighting, or drainage systems.
Areas we serve:
Highland Park, Lake Forest, Glencoe, Deerfield, Northbrook, Winnetka, Wilmette, Glenview, Lincolnwood, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Evanston, Skokie, Arlington Heights, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Bannockburn, Lake Bluff, Kenilworth, Northfield, Riverwoods, and all surrounding Chicagoland communities.
Contact us today for a free consultation on your landscape design and installation project. We will walk your property, discuss your vision, and design an outdoor environment that works as beautifully as it looks.