HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO
Howard Design Studio is a boutique Atlanta-based landscape architecture firm, founded in 1987, that designs bespoke estate-scale gardens for high-net-worth homeowners across the U.S. Southeast, working through long-term collaborations with elite residential architects on a small, selective portfolio of commissions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO does
Howard Design Studio is a residential landscape architecture firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1987 by John Howard. The firm specializes in bespoke estate-scale landscape design for high-net-worth homeowners, delivering concept design, construction documentation, and project oversight for properties across the Southeast and nationally. Its design philosophy emphasizes harmonious integration of gardens with architecture, with attention to context, refined hardscaping, and lush plantings intended to feel timeless and integrated with the residence rather than newly added.
The studio operates with a small, specialized team — including Founder & Creative Director John Howard, Studio Design Director Collin Bentley, senior designers and project managers, and licensed landscape architects — executing a deliberately limited number of estate commissions at any given time. Work is acquired almost exclusively through long-term collaborative relationships with a small circle of preeminent residential architects (D. Stanley Dixon, Norman D. Askins, William B. Litchfield, Keith Summerour, Pak Heydt & Associates) and through referrals within the HNW estate-owner community. The firm has been recognized with three Philip Trammell Shutze Awards (2013, 2014, 2019) and is regularly featured in publications including Town & Country, Veranda, and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.
Howard Design Studio is a privately held, founder-led professional services firm with no external funding, no subsidiaries, and a single Atlanta office. Revenue is generated through professional design fees on custom commissions; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined by project scope, complexity, and property requirements. The firm does not maintain software products, APIs, or technology platforms — its deliverable is a designed and documented landscape realized through collaborating architects, builders, and garden construction contractors (Galbraith Grounds Management, Michael Jackson Landscape Co., Bloom'n Gardens).
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO
- Legal name
- Howard Design Studio
- Website
- https://howarddesignstudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Howard Design Studio is a boutique Atlanta-based landscape architecture firm, founded in 1987, that designs bespoke estate-scale gardens for high-net-worth homeowners across the U.S. Southeast, working through long-term collaborations with elite residential architects on a small, selective portfolio of commissions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA)
Keywords
Where HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Landscape Architecture & Design Services: Full-service landscape architecture for estate residential properties. Services include concept design, construction documentation, and project oversight through completion. Revenue generated through professional design fees for bespoke residential landscape commissions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Howard Design Studio is a residential landscape architecture firm that designs and oversees the creation of gardens and outdoor environments for high-net-worth estate properties. The studio delivers full-service landscape commissions, including concept design, construction documentation, and project oversight, with a focus on integrating new or restored landscapes harmoniously with refined residential architecture.
Product overview
Howard Design Studio is a full-service residential landscape architecture firm offering landscape design services for estate commissions throughout the country, particularly in the southeast. The company operates as a unified service offering rather than a software platform, providing landscape architecture, garden design, and estate landscape management. Their portfolio includes distinct residential projects (such as Tuxedo Park, Knollwood Garden, Somerset House, Boxwood House, Habersham Estate, Fairfield Estate, Jardin Provençal, Greystone Garden, Buckhead Retreat, English Splendor, Regency Redux, Andrews Estate, Woodland Pavilion, Rossdhu Estate, and French Manor), with services organized under key areas: Landscapes (the core estate commission work), Studio (the design team), Visibility (publications and awards recognition), and Detail (design philosophy). The team collaborates with architects, interior designers, builders, and garden maintenance providers to deliver comprehensive landscape solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments1 record
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- William B. LitchfieldcoreFrequent architectural collaborator on estate projects. Worked together on Woodland Pavilion (renovation of Georgian house), Greystone Garden (ground-up new house), and Jardin Provençal (Provençal farmhouse). Litchfield serves as architect while Howard Design Studio provides landscape architecture, demonstrating deep collaborative relationship on multiple commissions.
- D. Stanley DixoncoreOne of the firm's most frequent collaborators. Partnered on multiple high-profile estates including Regency Redux (renovation and additions), Buckhead Retreat (new house), Knollwood Garden (entry court garden), and English Splendor (house and grounds redesign). Dixon serves as architect with Howard Design Studio delivering integrated landscape design.
- Keith Summerour / Summerour & AssociatescoreRegular architectural partner on estate renovations. Collaborated on Somerset House (historic property improvements, geothermal systems integration) and Andrews Estate (additions to original 1929 house by Sigmund Nesselroth). Strong working relationship combining architectural and landscape expertise on sensitive historic properties.
- Norman D. AskinscoreDistinguished architect with multiple collaborations including Rossdhu Estate (full property transformation), Regency Redux (cabana/guesthouse design), and Fairfield Estate (Virginia Piedmont-inspired family estate). Askins designed original structures and renovations while Howard Design Studio created surrounding landscapes.
- J. Neel ReidminorOriginal architect of historic properties (Somerset House 1919, Regency Redux 1927) whose designs Howard Design Studio's landscapes complement and honor. Work includes respectful renovation and addition projects where landscape must align with original architectural vision.
- Pak Heydt & AssociatescoreArchitectural partner on French-inspired estates. Collaborated on Habersham Estate (French-inspired residence and landscape), French Manor (French manner residence), and Boxwood House (English-style residence renovation). Multiple successful estate projects demonstrating consistent collaborative approach.
- Galbraith Grounds ManagementminorGarden construction and maintenance contractor for multiple projects including Regency Redux, Tuxedo Park, and French Manor. Provides ongoing landscape maintenance services ensuring long-term quality of installed landscapes.
- Michael Jackson Landscape Co.minorGarden construction contractor for English Splendor and Knollwood Garden projects. Provides landscape installation services to implement Howard Design Studio's designs.
- Bloom'n GardensminorGarden construction and maintenance contractor for Buckhead Retreat project. Provides both installation and ongoing maintenance services.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Topiarius: Chicago-based garden design, installation, and maintenance firm serving high-end residential clients in the Midwest. Comparable as a prestige-focused residential landscape firm with strong brand presence, though with a stronger emphasis on container and urban garden work.
- Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design: Miami-based luxury landscape design firm serving UHNW residential clients across South Florida. Comparable as a high-end residential landscape design brand targeting estate-scale properties in a defined luxury market.
Direct peers
- Reed Hilderbrand: Cambridge, MA-based landscape architecture firm known for high-profile residential estates, cultural landscapes, and refined planting design. Comparable as an award-winning practice serving elite residential clients with similar emphasis on context-sensitive, timeless design.
- Oehme van Sweden: Established Washington, D.C.-based landscape architecture firm recognized for high-end residential and institutional work with a strong artistic point of view. Directly comparable as a prestige-focused residential landscape architecture practice with deep editorial and award recognition.
- Hollander Design Landscape Architects: NYC-based residential landscape architecture firm focused on high-end private estates and gardens with an emphasis on classical and contemporary design. Directly comparable as a boutique, founder-led practice serving UHNW estate clients with a refined design philosophy.
- Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects: Chicago- and Dallas-based landscape architecture firm working on upscale residential, civic, and commercial projects. Directly comparable as a multi-office practice serving sophisticated private clients with a strong design pedigree.
Emerging players
- Andrea Filippone Landscape Design: New Jersey-based landscape architecture practice focused on residential estates with a classical European-influenced design vocabulary. Comparable as a small, founder-led firm serving HNW estate clients with refined historic and traditional sensibilities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO social profiles
Digital presenceHOWARD DESIGN STUDIO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO
What does HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO do?
Howard Design Studio is a residential landscape architecture firm that designs and oversees the creation of gardens and outdoor environments for high-net-worth estate properties. The studio delivers full-service landscape commissions, including concept design, construction documentation, and project oversight, with a focus on integrating new or restored landscapes harmoniously with refined residential architecture.
Is HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO a public or private company?
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO founded?
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO based?
HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO make money?
One revenue line is on record: landscape Architecture & Design Services.
Who are HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Topiarius and Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design. Direct peers are Reed Hilderbrand, Oehme van Sweden, Hollander Design Landscape Architects and Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects. Andrea Filippone Landscape Design is listed as an emerging player.
Does HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO have an API?
No public API is recorded for HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO.
What industry is HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 541320.