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Plant beds separating the two properties

Heffernan Landscape Design

Established in 1994, Heffernan Landscape Design is a full-service design-build residential landscape company serving Chicago and the suburbs. We offer all phases of landscape design and construction from garden plans to lighting, paths, stone patios and plantings.


While some of our outdoor projects are recognized for the strong, clean geometry of stone hardscapes with lush plantings, our varied style blends your project goals and preferences with our expertise in landscape design.


From the garden design to the construction of outdoor structures and installation of the landscaping plants, everyone at Heffernan Landscape Design is dedicated to creating a unique outdoor living space that will enhance the beauty and character of your home. With careful consideration of your site’s features coupled with your own garden ideas, needs and budget, we will help you create a beautiful, yet functional home landscape.



Carol Heffernan, Founding Principal

Carol Heffernan, founding principal, received a BFA and MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago. She uses her artistic, aesthetic and technical background to apply garden design principles in creating a sense of place, whether it’s a large estate on the North Shore, an historic home in the suburbs, a sleek, modern house on a city lot or the rooftop of a condominium.

Professional Affiliations:

APLD Association of Professional Landscape Designers

ILCA Illinois Landscape Contractors Association

LDA Landscape Design Association

Carol & the HLD team were a pleasure to work with throughout the course of our project. They were timely, responsive, creative, and the quality of their work was top notch. We love our new backyard space (especially the Zen garden) and would not hesitate to work with HLD again.Read More

We've used Heffernan for years. Carol has a great eye for design and works with you to bring your ideas to life. Recently Carol and her crew worked with us to help us choose just the right materials for hardscaping; they patiently worked with us to show how the final product would look and to make sure that the job was done right. The effort (and patience) they put in with everything was above and beyond.Read More

Carol Heffernan designed my backyard and I love it. It was a difficult project with many large trees and roots, and shade. But I love it and am looking forward to this coming spring when all the plants will awaken with leaves and flowers. Also, kudos to her crew. They are wonderful.Read More

Working with this company was a great experience. Carol and her crew were ALWAYS on time, polite, professional, and above all, ever concerned that they were providing exactly what we wanted. We made a few small changes along the way and they were accommodated quickly and graciously. Not only was our plan completed within in the time frame specified, Carol was quick to point out deer damage on an existing plant and advised us on how to prevent further damage. We couldn't be more pleased with the outcome!Read More

Carol and her team recently redid our backyard, designing and installing a new walkway and seating area at the back of the yard with wonderful smart-phone controlled lighting and beautiful decorative panels on our back fence. They rearranged and added new plantings to our garden areas, and even replaced the fence on one side. We loved Carol's aesthetic and her ability to understand what we were looking for. Her team was amazing - friendly, competent and cleaned up every day! The entire installation took just under two weeks. I've only included one photo - will try to remember to update - because the yard will be so much more beautiful in the Spring and with new furniture. My family highly recommends Heffernan Landscape Design!Read More