Patio Design & Hardscape in the South End

The South End is brick and brownstone, and a lot of its magic is hidden out back — tucked garden patios behind the Victorian rowhouses you'd never guess at from the street. Building those private retreats is some of our favorite work in the city.

It's the largest intact Victorian rowhouse district in the country and a designated Boston Landmark District — so building here means matching that character, not fighting it. After 37 years in Boston, that's second nature to us.

Where we work in the South End

We build throughout the neighborhood — the rowhouse gardens around Union Park, Rutland Square, Worcester Square, and Concord Square, the blocks along Tremont Street and Shawmut Avenue, and the lofts and studios near the SoWa Art & Design District on Harrison Ave. The South End's English-style garden squares are part of what makes it special, and a well-built back garden carries that same feeling onto your own lot.

Building in the South End Landmark District

The South End is a designated Boston Landmark District, which means visible exterior work often needs approval from the South End Landmark District Commission before it begins. We've navigated that process many times — we'll tell you whether your project needs review, prepare what's required, and design something that fits the neighborhood's historic character from the very first sketch.

What we build in the South End

• Brick and bluestone garden patios behind brownstones and rowhouses
• Private courtyards, paths, and granite steps with period character
• Privacy plantings and built-in seating for narrow city gardens
• Low-voltage lighting that makes the space work after dark

On a recent project off Tremont Street, we transformed a slim, shaded brownstone backyard into a brick garden patio with layered plantings and soft lighting — a little oasis in the middle of the city, exactly the kind the South End is famous for.

From a customer

“We had our backyard completely overhauled by Allan & his team. Easy to communicate with, and the finished result totally transformed the space into a little oasis in the middle of the city.” — Shayna F.

Common questions

Do I need Landmark approval for a patio in the South End?

The South End is a designated Boston Landmark District, so visible exterior changes often require review by the South End Landmark District Commission. A private back garden that isn't visible from the street may not. We'll tell you which applies to your project and prepare the submission if it's needed.

What's the best material for a South End garden patio?

Brick and bluestone are the classics — they match the brownstones and the neighborhood's historic streetscape, and they last through our winters when they're set on a proper base.

Can you make a narrow South End backyard feel bigger?

That's the whole craft. Smart layout, the right scale of materials, privacy plantings, and good lighting can turn a slim, shaded lot into a garden room that lives much larger than its footprint.