What HDS does

Himsben Design Studio (HDS) is a Chicago-based boutique landscape architecture firm founded in 2017 by Benjamin Himschoot, a licensed landscape architect (MLA) with hands-on construction industry experience. The firm delivers integrated design + build services for residential and commercial outdoor spaces, operating on a six-step process from a complimentary discovery call through site visit, design development, refinement and pricing, contracting, and post-completion care. Core capabilities include hardscape construction (paver patios, composite/wood decks, retaining walls, pergolas), planting and garden design with emphasis on native and pollinator-friendly species, synthetic turf, low-voltage LED landscape lighting with zoning/dimming, and irrigation systems. The firm uses CAD software to produce detailed 3D renderings that support client visualization and material/plant selection, but there is no indication of proprietary technology, AI tooling, or a scalable software platform; the design + build methodology and exclusive construction partner (JR Landscaping, co-owned by operations superintendent Antonio Rangel) constitute the operational backbone.

HDS serves a primarily residential client base of affluent Chicago homeowners across neighborhoods such as Logan Square, Lincoln Park, Edgewater, Andersonville, Bucktown, and Wicker Park, with a secondary commercial segment covering hospitality, healthcare, and community projects (e.g., Esperanza Health, Scofflaw cocktail bar). Revenue is generated through professional services design fees combined with one-time construction project revenue, with project budgets tiered from $15,000-$25,000 (basic patio and plantings) up to $75,000-$100,000+ (motorized shade structures, deluxe lighting, irrigation). The firm operates a single design studio in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood (relocated from Rogers Park in September 2020) with a small team of 1-10 employees, including founder/principal Benjamin Himschoot, a landscape designer (Gabriel Harper), a design & marketing coordinator (Isaiah Matthews), and two construction superintendents (Jose and Antonio Rangel) tied to the exclusive JR Landscaping installation crews.

Customer acquisition is referral-driven and organic: word-of-mouth from satisfied clients is the primary channel, supplemented by an active Instagram/Facebook presence, Yelp and Google reviews, a Houzz profile, and a 2024 feature on the television series "Kill Your Lawn." HDS has accumulated a credible industry reputation via repeated Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) Gold and Merit Awards (2020, 2021, 2022, 2026), the Luxe Magazine Gold List (2022), the 2026 Best of Houzz Design Award, and NGLCC Certified LGBT Business Enterprise status (2025). The firm is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped with no external institutional investors, no disclosed revenue, no app, and no API or software product surface.

Name

HDS

Legal name

Himsben Design Studio LLC

Website

https://himsbendesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Himsben Design Studio (HDS) is a Chicago-based boutique landscape architecture and design + build firm founded in 2017, serving affluent Chicago homeowners and select commercial clients with projects ranging from $15,000 to $100,000+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Installation (Plants, Sod & Soil) (HSAIABAB), Landscape Construction & Hardscaping (Patios, Retaining Walls, Outdoor Structures) (IMAIAIAE)

Keywords

• Landscape design
• Landscape construction
• Urban landscaping
• Hardscape installation
• Garden design

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Landscape Design Services: Design fees for creating comprehensive master plans including material selections and plant palettes
2. Landscape Construction Services: Design + build model where HDS works with exclusive construction crews to install landscapes including hardscapes, decks, pergolas, plantings, and outdoor features. Projects typically range from $15,000 to $100,000+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HDS is a boutique licensed landscape architecture firm offering integrated design + build services for residential and commercial outdoor spaces in the Chicago metropolitan area. The firm delivers custom landscape architecture through a six-step process from discovery call and site visit through design development and construction, specializing in urban environments including rooftop gardens, compact backyards, hardscapes, plantings, decks, pergolas, lighting, and irrigation systems.

Product overview

Himsben Design Studio (HDS) is a boutique landscape architecture and design+build firm offering comprehensive outdoor space transformation services in Chicago. The company provides both residential and commercial landscape design and construction, with services organized around core offerings including hardscape construction (patios, decks, pergolas, retaining walls), planting design, synthetic turf, landscape lighting, and irrigation systems. HDS structures its offerings through tiered budget packages ranging from $15,000 to over $100,000, and follows a six-step design+build process from initial consultation through project completion. The firm specializes in urban environments, rooftop gardens, and compact outdoor spaces, with an emphasis on creating functional, low-maintenance landscapes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Landscape Design + Build Custom landscape design and construction services for private residential properties, including rooftop gardens, urban backyards, and multi-level outdoor living spaces in Chicago neighborhoods such as Logan Square, Lincoln Park, Edgewater, Andersonville, Bucktown, and Wicker Park. Delivered through HDS's six-step process from discovery call to project completion.
• Commercial Landscape Design + Build Professional landscape design and installation services for commercial properties, including hospitality venues, healthcare facilities, and public spaces. Projects include permeable clay paver patios, shade trees, circular raised garden walls, decorative lighting, and large-scale community gardens delivered to commercial construction standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Design development takes 4-6 weeks after initial site visit
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JR LandscapingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExclusive construction partner co-owned by Antonio Rangel (Operations Superintendent). Handles all aspects of hardscapes, grading & drainage, lighting, planting, and site development for both residential and commercial projects. HDS works closely alongside them to ensure every aspect of designs are fully realized.
• Soake PoolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium product partner; HDS showcases Soake Pools products and has worked on projects featuring their products.
• PlanthropyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned a custom moss frame from Planthropy to highlight the company logo on the entry wall of HDS's design studio.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Old World Brick Paving: Chicago-area hardscape and landscape contractor specializing in paver patios, retaining walls, and outdoor living installations. Comparable on the construction side of HDS's offering (hardscape execution), but lacks the in-house licensed landscape architecture design capability.

Regional players

• Lifescape Colorado: Mountain West landscape design + build firm serving affluent residential clients with integrated design and construction services. Comparable business model and premium positioning, but operating in a different geography (Colorado) with different climate and seasonality.
• Chalet: Chicago-area landscape design, installation, and nursery firm serving affluent North Shore and city homeowners. Comparable in customer segment and service mix, though with a stronger retail nursery component than HDS.

Broad incumbents

• Mariani Landscape: Large Midwest-based landscape design + build firm with a long history serving high-end residential estates. Comparable in service offering and premium positioning, but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth than HDS.
• BrightView Holdings: Largest U.S. commercial landscape services company with a residential maintenance arm. Comparable industry segment but operates at national scale with a maintenance-led model rather than HDS's boutique design + build focus.

Direct peers

• Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects: Chicago-area landscape architecture firm delivering high-end residential and commercial site design. Directly comparable to HDS in customer segment (affluent urban clients), service offering (licensed landscape architecture), and project scale, though typically focused on design rather than in-house build.
• Scott Byron & Co. Established Chicago-area landscape design and build firm serving affluent residential clients with integrated design + construction services. Closely mirrors HDS's boutique premium positioning, tiered project pricing, and Lake Shore/Chicagoland service area.
• Wolff Landscape Architecture: Boutique landscape architecture practice serving Chicago residential clients with custom urban and suburban design work. Comparable in scale, customer profile, and licensed-architect positioning, though typically design-only rather than design + build.
• Heritage Landscape Design Group: Mid-sized design + build landscape firm delivering high-end residential and commercial projects. Comparable in integrated delivery model and project scale, though typically operating in different metros with broader crew capacity.

Others

• SiteOne Landscape Supply: National wholesale distributor of landscape supplies, hardscape products, irrigation, and nursery goods. Acts as an enabling supplier to firms like HDS rather than a direct competitor, but represents the broader landscape services ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/himsbendesign
• Instagraminstagram.com/hds_chicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/himsben-design-studio-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HDS