+1 917-300-8284
447 Broadway 2nd Floor #71, New York, NY 10013, United States
About townhouse backyard design New York
Welcome to Birch and Basil Design, where we transform your urban outdoor spaces into personal sanctuaries. Nestled in the heart of Manhattan, we specialize in bringing the restorative power of nature to the concrete jungle, one rooftop, terrace, and backyard at a time.Founded by principal designer Kristin Monji, our firm brings a unique California sensibility to East Coast gardens. Kristin isn't just a designer; she's a horticulturist and certified arborist whose childhood spent among Southern California's orange groves informs every project with a deep, intuitive understanding of plants and living systems.We believe your outdoor space should be a seamless extension of your indoor life—a pla...
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Our Services
Rooftop & Terrace Garden Design
<p>Turn your underutilized rooftop or terrace into a vibrant, functional outdoor living room with our specialized design service. In Manhattan, where square footage is precious, we maximize every inch to create multi-functional spaces for dining, entertaining, relaxing, and even working alfresco.</p><p>This service is perfect for penthouse owners, condo boards looking to enhance building amenities, and commercial properties seeking to provide unique outdoor spaces for employees...
<p>Turn your underutilized rooftop or terrace into a vibrant, functional outdoor living room with our specialized design service. In Manhattan, where square footage is precious, we maximize every inch to create multi-functional spaces for dining, entertaining, relaxing, and even working alfresco.</p><p>This service is perfect for penthouse owners, condo boards looking to enhance building amenities, and commercial properties seeking to provide unique outdoor spaces for employees or clients. We start with a comprehensive site analysis, considering sun exposure, wind patterns, weight loads, and drainage—critical factors often overlooked in urban settings.</p><p>Our process involves collaborative visioning, 3D conceptual designs, and meticulous plant selection focusing on species that thrive in container gardens and exposed conditions. We integrate elements like custom-built cedar planters, irrigation systems, outdoor kitchens with gas grills, ambient lighting, and durable, weather-resistant furnishings. Why choose Birch and Basil? Our principal is a certified arborist and horticulturist, ensuring your garden is designed not just for immediate impact, but for long-term health and sustainability, creating a lush, private escape high above the streets of Manhattan.</p>
Townhouse Backyard & Garden Renovation
<p>Reclaim your private outdoor haven with a complete backyard transformation tailored to the unique architecture and lifestyle of Manhattan townhouse living. We convert cramped, outdated yards into elegant extensions of your home, perfect for family gatherings, intimate dinners, or serene retreats.</p><p>This service is designed for homeowners in Brooklyn Heights, Manhattan, and surrounding boroughs who are ready to invest in their property's value and their quality of li...
<p>Reclaim your private outdoor haven with a complete backyard transformation tailored to the unique architecture and lifestyle of Manhattan townhouse living. We convert cramped, outdated yards into elegant extensions of your home, perfect for family gatherings, intimate dinners, or serene retreats.</p><p>This service is designed for homeowners in Brooklyn Heights, Manhattan, and surrounding boroughs who are ready to invest in their property's value and their quality of life. We handle everything from initial demolition and new patio installation to the final planting of perennial gardens. Our holistic approach often includes designing and building custom cedar seating and planter boxes, installing sophisticated outdoor kitchens with premium materials like soapstone counters, and creating cozy raised deck areas that integrate with mature existing trees.</p><p>We specialize in a layered planting philosophy, preserving valuable mature specimens while introducing a rich tapestry of new perennials, shrubs, and ornamental trees for year-round interest. Choosing Birch and Basil means partnering with a team that respects the historical context of your home while implementing modern, durable landscaping solutions. We manage the entire project, ensuring a seamless process from concept to completion, resulting in a backyard that feels like it was always meant to be.</p>
Commercial & Residential Landscape Design
<p>Elevate your property's aesthetic and functional value with our comprehensive landscape design services for both high-end residential and commercial clients across Manhattan. We create immersive outdoor environments that reflect your brand's identity or your home's personal style.</p><p>For commercial clients like financial firms, restaurants like Casa Cruz, or residential buildings, we design amenity terraces that become key selling points—spaces for employee...
<p>Elevate your property's aesthetic and functional value with our comprehensive landscape design services for both high-end residential and commercial clients across Manhattan. We create immersive outdoor environments that reflect your brand's identity or your home's personal style.</p><p>For commercial clients like financial firms, restaurants like Casa Cruz, or residential buildings, we design amenity terraces that become key selling points—spaces for employee wellness, client entertainment, or tenant enjoyment. For residential clients, we craft deeply personal gardens that tell your story, whether it's a modern minimalist terrace or a lush, ivy-clad Beaux-Arts townhouse garden.</p><p>Our process is deeply consultative. We begin by understanding your goals, usage patterns, and aesthetic preferences. From there, we develop master plans that address hardscaping, lighting, irrigation, furniture, and, most importantly, a cohesive planting scheme. We are experts in sourcing and installing large specimen trees and evergreens to create instant impact and privacy. As a boutique firm, Birch and Basil offers a level of personalized attention and creative detail that larger firms cannot match. Our founder's direct involvement in every project guarantees a design that is innovative, executable, and maintained to the highest standard, making us the preferred choice for discerning clients in Manhattan.</p>
“Kristin was great to work with - she came with awesome ideas on how to revamp our rooftop. She was also incredibly flexible and patient when several factors led to our plans changing and delays on our side. The plants she delivered were top class - our wisteria has doubled in size in three months. We are very pleased with her expertise and service!
Services
Landscape architecture services”
— Hannah Sloane-Arenson
“I cannot say enough good things about Birch and Basil design. Kristin was responsive from the start, professional, friendly, obviously knowledgeable. After reading other reviews, I was attracted by a number of things, including the awesome name of the business. The design and plant choice for my Manhattan terrace was spot on, and Kristin helped me come up with a good budget, a design that is founded on the nearby High Line philosophy, and consistent with my desire to provide a gentle (the tall flowering miscanthus grass is amazing) and thriving view from my apartment and while on the terrace even with my cats. Oh, and the cats. She took that into account, too. And the birds (even the seed heads from the coneflowers now no longer flowering bring the birds) and the bees (the Russian Sage still blooming in November) as well. The staff she brought to plant were friendly, hardworking, and delightful. And now, just four months after planting, I have a beautiful fall garden experience. The photos I took don’t do justice. I couldn’t recommend them more highly.”
— Cynthia Bathurst
“Such a great place!”
— Haviar Williams
“Kristin and her team were wonderful. Our backyard is everything we pictured and more, we are extremely happy with the finished product. They were communicative, efficient, and so easy to work with. Would definitely use them again!
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Responsiveness, Punctuality, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Services
Garden design, Grading & resloping, Landscape architecture services”
— Brittany Feldman
“We couldn’t be happier with the work done by Birch and Basil for our restaurant Casa Cruz. Kristin and her team are a pleasure to work with.”
— Mary Sherrill
“We have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship and many fantastic collaborations between Rooftop Drops and Kristin/team at Birch and Basil Design. Kristin is talented, responsive, communicative and organized! She also does amazing design/build projects. Highly recommend!”
— Craig Patrick
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Welcome to Birch and Basil Design, where we transform your urban outdoor spaces into personal sanctuaries. Nestled in the heart of Manhattan, we specialize in bringing the restorative power of nature to the concrete jungle, one rooftop, terrace, and backyard at a time.Founded by principal designer Kristin Monji, our firm brings a unique California sensibility to East Coast gardens. Kristin isn't just a designer; she's a horticulturist and certified arborist whose childhood spent among Southern California's orange groves informs every project with a deep, intuitive understanding of plants and living systems.We believe your outdoor space should be a seamless extension of your indoor life—a place for alfresco meetings, family dinners under the stars, or quiet morning coffee surrounded by greenery. Whether you have a sprawling penthouse terrace or a cozy townhouse backyard, we see the potential for a life-changing landscape.Our process is collaborative, detailed, and rooted in sustainability. We work with you to understand your vision, then apply our expertise in plant selection, hardscaping, and architectural integration to create a space that is not only breathtakingly beautiful but also thrives in the urban environment. Your oasis in Manhattan awaits.
