EXTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO

This has been the worst experience. We clearly should have heeded the warnings of others that Mark was arrogant, pompous, non-responsive and the plants/trees/shrubs failed. We too had plans of doing an entire yard renovation starting with new landscaping in the back. Mark was clearly put out that we wanted to do the project in phases. We now realize we were a small project to him though it was a big expense to us. Like others, we were happy with the initial project. When plants/shrubs/trees failed, we called about replacements covered under warranty…and called..and called…and stopped in the office. When they finally sent someone- only limited items were replaced. We were not sure what things were called as the design plan has no names on it! We are in year 3 and continue to watch things die even though we have a sprinkler system so watering is not this issue. Beyond disappointed and would not recommend! As our voicemails have said, we would still welcome a return phone call.

All went well. They were easy to work with and got back to us promptly at first. They were slower to respond after many months passed. Plants had a 1 year warranty; they replaced them almost a year after they were first planted. We were worried because we didn't hear from them until the 11th hour, but everything worked out. The one thing they did not do was to take into account the flow of water coming off the house in their designs. We don't have gutters, so the following spring we got water coming into the basement around the electrical junction box. We also had water flowing under the 3 season porch and into our dryer. Recently we had water in a lower level bedroom as it ran off their high island. Admittedly the hose was left running too long. The landscaping should have been built up near the house to help water flow away from the home. We discussed having gutters and they thought it would help with the water problem, but didn't take that into account in their designs. Before their work we had a small amount of water come in behind the junction box. Afterward, it became a bigger problem. Another landscaper agreed we need gutters and the landscaping should be modified. They are altering Exterior Design Studio's work so water will flow away from the foundation and their high islands. The additional cost will be about $1,800 - $1,900 for this. We also plan to get gutters. Our yard still looks fresh and inviting. EDS had the most innovative designs and greenery. They did a good job. Our trees & scrubs survived because of my meticulous care for them. We were on a budget - we put our money into higher quality trees and scrubs in front, and spent far less on small plants and back yard greenery. A few of his Sunkist arborvitaes and one evergreen looked sick, but I nursed them back to health. His ornamentals, miniature trees and hostas were very healthy. Some of his smaller plants were healthy; others not. We took excellent care of the plants from the day they were planted and until they ground froze. That made all the difference.

We had our front yard done by them and initially were happy with them until things started to die. We had a very cool tree that died almost immediately that they said they would replace. After calling many times we kept getting put off and then it was winter. Spring came and we started calling again and again were constantly put off and they never replaced. Many bushes died the second year as well. Even though we were told they knew what works in our climate...wrong. They also put several pine trees inches away from our house and said they are slow growing. One is almost 20 feet tall now so clearly not slow growing. The funny thing is that we were going to have our backyard done the next year that they did an estimate and plans for. If they had treated us right and replaced the dead plants we would have had them do the backyard, clearly not very smart business people either.

We thought he was arrogant. The garden we wanted an estimate for is meant to be a memorial garden and is special to us. When he was giving us the estimate he only spent 10 seconds talking about the garden and told us he could finish it in half a day. The garden is special to us; we want more than a half-day's work to finish it. He wasn't willing to work with our ideas. We had a list of flowers we wanted to use for the garden, but he basically said he has more experience than us and knows what works in our climate. When we told him which company we decided to work with, he claimed he didn't like bashing his competitors, but he proceeded to do just that. He took three weeks to get back to us with the estimate, while the company we decided to use only took a week and a half. We didn't get a good vibe from him. We don't suggest others to use him. We felt like he didn't care about what we wanted. He was busy trying to look at other areas of our yard. He was trying to sell us on other projects instead of trying to work with what we wanted to do with our budget. He wasn't professional. He bragged about his work.

Beautifully. The design and stone choice are stunning. The limestone ties perfectly to the limestone accents on our house. Installation was completed within a week of approval of the estimate. Workers were friendly, conscientious and polite. Mark was very responsive to all our calls, and performed a final inspection. Several neighbors remarked how much the work enhanced the appearance of the front of our house.

This initial work was done in early June 07. By September 07, a few of the expensive evergreens had died. They only had one to replace (more would be available in Spring), and they carelessly planted it making a mess of the area, and left it without even watering. In April 08, we called to remind them of the evergreens needing replacement when the weather permitted, and we were told they don't come out until May, but that we would be one of the first taken care of when the weather was conducive. Finally, after many calls someone came out the last Friday of May. A pleasant visit where Miles recorded the various evergreens and perennials that would need replacements, but no one called or came back to do the work during the time frame we were given. Phone calls were not returned by anyone in the office. When we did actually catch Melissa in mid June, she was evasive and very rude. She stated no one would come until their Bonsai trimming, and new business was completed. She wouldn't commit to any time frame. We called 2-3 times before we left for a week of vacation to ask them to please not come during that one week as we would be out of town and not able to water. They came anyway. When we called Melissa, she told us we were lying and that they had completed the work 2 days before we left! Ironic since one of us was home working outside in the yard those days!!! Upon our return some plants were dead from being trampled on, and 13 of the perennials were not even replaced! Mark and Miles came over to discuss the problems, but Mark (who we met before signing the contract because of the mixed reviews we'd seen on Angie's) who was friendly and professional then, now was pompous and aloof. He did promise that the rest of the perennials would be replaced, and that he would extend the warranty for 2 of the unusual evergreens for another year due to the way they were planted. After many more phone messages, the last perennials were replaced (half dead w/ yellow spotted leaves)in mid-August, and once again not even watered. More pine mulch was to be placed under the new evergreens, but we saw them just taking handfuls away from other areas of the garden. Another month has passed and we have not received the warranty we were promised by the owner. I can honestly and sincerely state that we were polite and accommodating as possible throughout this process. We repeatedly requested they just live up to their end of the deal and just replace any that died after 1 year. They consistently ignored us or were extremely rude. The woman we originally worked with has left as well. A horrid experience. Run the other way!

The initial work and job was completed exceeded our expectations! Was expensive, but worth the money. Overall follow-up on issues however were and continue to be very problematic. First off, our fire pit lost a few bricks, and after repeated calls over a two year period, we still have not had resolution. We lost a number of key pine tree's, only to have these either not replaced or in some cases, replaced by smaller pine shrubs. All of this was within our warranty period. We would call to inform them of dying plants and trees promptly and were told to wait and see. Would call again at the end of the waiting period, leave several messages, and no response. The biggest concern is the lack of follow-up, and non-responsiveness to calls. All things considered, what we had first been very pleasing experience, has become a clear example of service after the sale.

The initial work and job was completed exceeded our expectations! Was expensive, but worth the money. Overall follow-up on issues however were and continue to be very problematic. First off, our fire pit lost a few bricks, and after repeated calls over a two year period, we still have not had resolution. We lost a number of key pine tree's, only to have these either not replaced or in some cases, replaced by smaller pine shrubs. All of this was within our warranty period. We would call to inform them of dying plants and trees promptly and were told to wait and see. Would call again at the end of the waiting period, leave several messages, and no response. The biggest concern is the lack of follow-up, and non-responsiveness to calls. All things considered, what we had first been very pleasing experience, has become a clear example of service after the sale.

Design was vague (color but no specifics on plantings). When pushed, designer said evergreens and perennials, but not specifics. I specified no sedum, but sedum was installed. Designer placed plants, but installer did not plant as placed and I had to reposition all plants correctly (designer told me later that this was a problem for them); Evergreens were exceptionally small, spring care (trim and mulch) was 3 times what was quoted; refused to replace half dead plants, saying they had to be completely dead for replacement. Concept was adequate, but lacked creativity to be dramatic. I looked at other installations and realize that they use the same plants and concepts in each job.

Problematic. The result looked great initially but getting here was tough. Lack of communication from the project manager as well as changes we didn't approve and had to wrestle with. The patio paver work was first rate and the landscaping does look very nice but we have had ongoing problems with several plants including a $500 tree that were not situated properly, too much shade in some cases, poor locations/hardiness for others.

Problematic. The result looked great initially but getting here was tough. Lack of communication from the project manager as well as changes we didn't approve and had to wrestle with. The patio paver work was first rate and the landscaping does look very nice but we have had ongoing problems with several plants including a $500 tree that were not situated properly, too much shade in some cases, poor locations/hardiness for others.

I WAS APPREHENSIVE AT FIRST BECAUSE HE WAS THE HIGHEST PRICED. I CAN TELL YOU HE DEFINITELY DID THE SOME OF THE NICEST , BEST WORK I'VE ENCOUNTERED YET. ALWAYS ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS AND TELEPHONE CALLS PROMPTLY. HE IS EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT. HE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. I CHECKED REFERENCES AND EVERYONE WAS HAPPY. THE TOOK THE BALL AND RAN WITH IT. I DID NOT HAVE TO SUPERVISE ANYTHING. THEY TOOK CARE OF THE DETAILS. I WISH THE REST OF ALL MY CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCES WERE THIS EASY. HE IS A MASTER AND A GENIUS AT DESIGN. I AM SURE IF I HAVE A WARRANTY ISSUE WITH ANY PLANTS HE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. MARK IS FIRST CLASS ALL THE WAY. HE WILL BE DOING MY NEXT PROJECT.

Mark was not visible when the work was being done, we had to supervise and instruct the workers as to what needed to be done. Only after repeated calls (Mark will not take your call when it is convenient for you the customer-he will only call you back), and of course it is not when it is convenient) did he come out to see what was being done. After many phone messages and "in person" requests for him to replace plants and trees that died he has not done any of the work he promised to do. We have had over $20,000 in landscaping done by others since and they have performed as they promised. While mark comes across as a good landscaper designer, he did not perform "follow up warranty replacements" as promised!

I ended up paying $500.00 for the design only, which was a drawing and had no information on plants or products. I would have had to hire the company to do the landscaping to recover this cost, but the minimum job cost was $5,000.00. If I was just paying for the design, which I essentially did, I believe I should have gotten more help with plant information or SOMETHING to justify the $500.00 expense.

They were very professional. They are not your typical landscaping company. They are very creative and artistic, and were willing to listen and help us with coming up with a very imaginative design.

They were very professional. They are not your typical landscaping company. They are very creative and artistic, and were willing to listen and help us with coming up with a very imaginative design.

The owner had his own agenda and didn't listen to what you wanted. He came across arrogant and wasn't "tuned in". Some of the planting was not good. He knew we had deer and he put in plants that the deer ate. This work was done late in the year and he probably should have waited till the spring to plant. He was not very hands on.

The owner had his own agenda and didn't listen to what you wanted. He came across arrogant and wasn't "tuned in". Some of the planting was not good. He knew we had deer and he put in plants that the deer ate. This work was done late in the year and he probably should have waited till the spring to plant. He was not very hands on.

WE WERE PLEASED WITH THE END RESULT. WE HAD HOPED THEY WOULD BE DONE SOONER THAN THEY WERE BUT THE WEATHER DIDN'T COOPERATE! THE PATIO AND SIDEWALK LOOK GREAT. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE GARDENS THEY PLANTED AND THAT THEY WERE VERY CAREFUL WITH MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S ROSE BUSH THAT I WANTED SAVED. THEIR DESIGN INCORPORATED IT VERY NICELY INTO THE OVERALL EFFECT.

WE WERE PLEASED WITH THE END RESULT. WE HAD HOPED THEY WOULD BE DONE SOONER THAN THEY WERE BUT THE WEATHER DIDN'T COOPERATE! THE PATIO AND SIDEWALK LOOK GREAT. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE GARDENS THEY PLANTED AND THAT THEY WERE VERY CAREFUL WITH MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S ROSE BUSH THAT I WANTED SAVED. THEIR DESIGN INCORPORATED IT VERY NICELY INTO THE OVERALL EFFECT.

VERY PLEASED WITH RESULT. CASEY DID A GOOD JOB OF DESIGNING AN ATTRACTIVE ENTRY FOR OUR SIMPLE HOME AND EXPLAINED THE PROCESS VERY WELL. THE CREWS (SUB-CONTRACTORS) WERE PROMPT, CLEAN AND VERY SKILLED. NEIGHBORS ARE WOWED. MOST EXPENSIVE OF 4 BIDS.

THE COMPANY IS EXTREMELY EASY TO WORK WITH, ESPECIALLY MARK RITTER. HE IS VERY TALENTED. HE COMES OUT TO CHECK ON THE WORK. I CAN NOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF THIS COMPANY. ALL SUBS WERE VERY GOOD TOO!!

THE COMPANY IS EXTREMELY EASY TO WORK WITH, ESPECIALLY MARK RITTER. HE IS VERY TALENTED. HE COMES OUT TO CHECK ON THE WORK. I CAN NOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF THIS COMPANY. ALL SUBS WERE VERY GOOD TOO!!

THEY REFUSED TO COME BACK OUT AND FIX SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE WORK THEY DID FOR US. SOME TREES WERE DROOPING, PLANTS DIED AND PART OF THEIR WORK WAS ERODING AWAY.

THIS AGENCY ACTS AS A MIDDLE PERSON BETWEEN CLIENTS AND SUB-CONTRACTORS THAT THEY WORK WITH TO GET THE LANDSCAPING DONE. EVEN THOUGH THE LANDSCAPING COMPANY THAT THEY HAD PERFORM THE WORK FOR US WAS EXCELLENT, I AM NOT SURE THAT WE NEEDED THIS