---
title: "Hilarie Holdsworth Design — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/hilarie-holdsworth-design-pfvwus-pf~218388737
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~218388737.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Hilarie Holdsworth Design"
category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d183483901195428_0872-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "19 R. Walker St., Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930, United States"
latitude: 42.6208
longitude: -70.6721
phone: "(978) 281-2009"
website: http://www.hilarieholdsworthdesign.com
rating: 5
review_count: 19
best_of_houzz_awards: 9
followers: 110
last_updated: 2026-09-08
---

# Hilarie Holdsworth Design

Original Houzz profile: [Hilarie Holdsworth Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/hilarie-holdsworth-design-pfvwus-pf~218388737)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers
- **Location:** Gloucester, MA
- **Serves:** Beverly Cove, Lexington, Gloucester, Wellesley, Marblehead, Concord, Newburyport, Ipswich, Weston, Rockport, Essex, Manchester, Prides Crossing, South Hamilton
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (19 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 9 awards (2016–2025), for Service, Design.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Star Houzzer
- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 25,000 Ideabook Saves

Hilarie Holdsworth Design LLC (formerly known as Walker Creek Garden Design) has served the North Shore, Cape Cod, and western suburbs of Boston for 17 years. Hilarie Holdsworth draws on her background in art and illustration and is uniquely qualified in creating custom residential and select commercial and public landscapes. She works closely with her clients in creating a program which focuses on their desires, expectations, and practical considerations. Her creative process is informed by a site's opportunities and regional New England vernacular, with an emphasis in selecting appropriate materials, plants, and artful elements. She endeavors to link outdoor spaces for living with built elements, integrating home and landscape for those who use and enjoy them. Plant selections are carefully made to reflect sensitivity to the natural landscape, while displaying long seasons of interest and attributes. She always considers the ecological sustainability of her designs and the level of maintenance required to keep them beautiful and vibrant. Projects range from small urban spaces to much larger rural properties, and from new construction to the rejuvenation of existing properties. All share a design philosophy intended to create beautiful, functional, and inspiring spaces.

Hilarie closely manages all aspects of a landscape's installation, and carefully guides each project with a client's wishes and budget firmly in mind. This insures a highly efficient, creative, and robust process.

### Services Provided

- Landscape Design
- Garden Design
- Hardscaping
- Landscape Plans
- Patio Design
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Site Planning
- Custom Fire Pits
- Pool Landscaping
- Custom Water Features
- Swimming Pool Design
- Gazebo Design & Construction
- Outdoor Lighting Design
- Deck Design
- 3D Rendering
- Project Management
- Drafting
- Organic Gardens
- Edible Gardens
- Natural Swimming Pools
- Rooftop Deck Installation
- Landscape Design and Installation

### Areas Served

- Beverly Cove
- Lexington
- Gloucester
- Wellesley
- Marblehead
- Concord
- Newburyport
- Ipswich
- Weston
- Rockport
- Essex
- Manchester
- Prides Crossing
- South Hamilton

### Typical Job Cost

$25,000.00 - 1,000,000.00

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Hilarie Holdsworth Design |
| Address | 19 R. Walker St., Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930, United States |
| Phone | (978) 281-2009 |
| Website | http://www.hilarieholdsworthdesign.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 110 |

**Social profiles:**
- Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/WalkerCreekDesign
- Blog — www.walkercreekdesign.com

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Hilarie Holdsworth Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/hilarie-holdsworth-design-pfvwus-pf~218388737)
- **Website:** http://www.hilarieholdsworthdesign.com
- **Phone:** (978) 281-2009

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- Certified Landscape Designer
- 2016 APLD Silver Award

- **Best of Houzz:** 9 awards (2016–2025), for Service, Design.

**Affiliations**
- [Association of Professional Landscape Designers](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/association-of-professional-landscape-designers-pfvwus-pf~92795973)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 19 reviews**

*Aspect averages:*
- Work Quality: 50.0
- Communication: 50.0
- Value: 50.0

### Reviews

**★★★★★ — HU-465494676, Oct. 2024**

> Hilarie Holdsworth and her team designed and implemented the most beautiful landscape project with pool at our house on the North Shore. The results are spectacular and fulfilled everything we were looking for and more. Hilarie was exceptionally responsive and made sure we stayed in budget and on time. She was especially intent and successful at getting the whole project completed in time for a family wedding.

**★★★★★ — Debbie, Nov. 2023**

> Hilaire did a fabulous job with the designing and installation of the outdoor space at my home on the Northshore. I have nothing but glowing things to say about her. She is creative, knowledgeable, a great communicator and absolute delight to work with.
>
> Prior to working with Hilarie, my yard was just open space, with barely anything growing and a non-existent driveway. Hilarie worked closely with me in creating a landscape plan for the entire outdoor space, taking into consideration what I was looking for and my budget. This included designing a new driveway and walkway, redesigning the front, back and side yards, expanding the existing terrace, and selecting the plantings and materials to be used. As well, she came up with a plan for fencing that framed the outdoor space and created privacy from the street where needed. Hilaire was terrific at seeing the big picture, coming up with creative ideas and solutions, and flexible in making changes.
>
> Hilaire has a wonderful team of sub-contractors that she works with for masonry, gardening, fencing and irrigation. They were all highly professional and did great quality work. Hilarie provided the oversight and management of the subcontractors.
>
> What once was a neglected yard is now a well-defined, intimate outdoor space. It is in keeping with the architecture of the house and my tastes. I love walking through the front yard or relaxing in the backyard and seeing the plants thrive. I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.

**★★★★★ — Joe Mueller, Sept. 2020**

> We have worked with Hilarie on multiple projects, including a major year-long project that we recently finished, and we can’t say enough great things about her.  She has a wonderful sense of the big picture, and how to develop a vision for how a project will impact the overall property—and how it will increase the pleasure and enjoyment of living there.  Hilarie has broad-ranging expertise—she not only develops beautiful planting designs, but also creates architectural and masonry designs, has CAD skills, and knows and navigates the practical challenges associated with large-scale construction projects.  She uses that full skillset to great effect, finding highly creative solutions to her clients’ objectives.  She has helped us both at our old home and our current home, and they presented very different design challenges.  For both, Hilarie developed wonderful plans and then executed them.  And for both, the results were beautiful and livable spaces that we love.  In our current home, our outdoor space has been completely transformed, with new gardens, lovely stonework, and a patio with a fireplace and grill area.  We could not love it more, and look forward to many years enjoying it.  We give Hilarie our highest recommendation—she’s fantastic!

**★★★★★ — Louis Waldman, Oct. 2019**

> Hilarie did a fantastic job coordinating the design of our outdoor space. Her design carefully considered proper integration with our home's victorian architecture.  Her team (masonry, carpentry, fencing, gardening, irrigation) was professional, clean, timely, and highly skilled. Masonry & carpentry were particularly superb.  She worked with us closely to keep the project within our budget. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone!

**★★★★★ — Louis Waldman, Oct. 2019**

> Hilarie did a fantastic job coordinating the design of our outdoor space. Her design carefully considered proper integration with our home's victorian architecture.  Her team (masonry, carpentry, fencing, gardening, irrigation) was professional, clean, timely, and highly skilled. Masonry & carpentry were particularly superb.  She worked with us closely to keep the project within our budget. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone!

**★★★★★ — john brooke, Nov. 2018**

> Just could not have been any better. From start to finish Hilarie and her entire team did an amazing job, entirely transforming the landscape at my house on the Northshore. What started as a downtrodden, but homey yard is now a sharp and well thought out landscape including seawall, terraced granite gardens and walkways, fences, plantings, irrigation and new driveway. Amazing. Hilarie is the consummate professional and a great person. I thoroughly recommend her!!!!

**★★★★★ — Lulu Davis, Dec. 2017**

> Hilarie just finished designing, contracting for hardscape and planting our whole yard.  She made a yard that had a number of awkward components including an unconventional presentation to the street, small seemingly unusable area behind house and grade differentials all make sense.  She has fantastic ideas, listens to what you want, follows through with top notch professionals and is overall fun to work with.  In addition, her proposals are very thorough and easily give you a sense of the spaces she has designed.

**★★★★★ — Abigail Cahill O'Brien, Dec. 2016**

> Hilarie is a visionary. She translates my desired feel for outdoor spaces into realities that work for our property, budget and family. She has a wealth of knowledge at her fingertips, and manages her installation teams seamlessly. The people she brings in are considerate, efficient and always able to answer my questions about ongoing care.
>
> This is the second landscaping project we've done with Walker Creek Garden Design, and I cannot wait to see how it matures. The first project gets lovelier every year. Both projects were completed on time and within budget. We have 2 more projects to complete the property, and we'll call Hilarie for both of them.

**★★★★★ — Jolinda Taylor, Nov. 2016**

> We hired Walker Creek Garden Design to design our garden facing the ocean and our garden facing the street.  Hilarie Holdsworth designed a plan that we worked on for several seasons.  She was very professional, knew what plants and trees would work, followed up with us regularly.  The plants were delivered when she said they would arrive and the cost was as expected.  She wanted us to be happy with the design, the plants and the installation and we were!  We look forward to working with her again.

**★★★★★ — Leslee Shlopak, Aug. 2016**

> Hilarie and her crew from Walker Creek were wonderful in every way.  From the design expertise that Hilarie gave last fall, to the detailed plans we conferred on in the spring, to the selection of quality plants, to them being so expertly planted and cared for, I could not be happier with my landscaping project.  It is now a pleasure to arrive home and see the gardens growing and thriving.  I would recommend Hilarie and Walker Creek Design to anyone who wishes to transform, enhance and then enjoy a beautiful landscape.

**★★★★★ — seacoastbound, Aug. 2016**

> We are very happy to recommend the services of Walker Creek Garden Design, led by Hilarie Holdsworth. After moving to Cape Ann in 2012 and living in our home for three years, we were ready to refine our outdoor living space and to have someone help us maximize some of the natural features of our property. We contacted Hilarie early in 2015 after learning about her work at the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library.
>
> From our very first contact, Hilarie listened carefully, offered wonderful suggestions, and demonstrated a deep knowledge of landscape design, materials, and plants. A spirit of true collaboration emerged over the next several months. After a few iterations, Hilarie presented us with a detailed proposal including a beautiful master plan, photographic overlays, renderings of the masonry, plant descriptions, and cost projections.
>
> Once the design was finalized and agreed upon, Hilarie brought in her partners with expertise in earthmoving, masonry, and plant installation. Throughout the installation phase, Hilarie effectively managed the project and budget, always keeping us informed and listening to new ideas as the work took shape. The finished product is amazing! Everything from the quality of the masonry to the wonderful selection of plants is perfect. We are thrilled that we chose Walker Creek Garden Design and Hilarie Holdsworth to help us create a spectacular outdoor space!

**★★★★★ — oceanmama, Dec. 2015**

> We first saw Hilarie's garden on a garden tour and were extremely impressed; so after rebuilding our home we hired her for major landscape redesign and installation.
>
> She presented plans with her vision but she was also very flexible in changing them in response to our desires and our budget. She was very thoughtful about plant selection using mostly natives and considering traffic flow, grade changes, drainage, watering, maintenance and functional use of spaces.
>
> We have nothing but the highest praise for Hilarie and the team of people she works with.  She has extensive knowledge of plants including those that, through her experience, perform best in our local environment.  But most of all, Hilarie is a pleasure to work with and a master at the artistic use of texture, color, form, and especially foliage. She gave us a yard that is pleasing through every season. It soothes our soul!  We highly recommend working with Hilarie.

## Selected projects

- [Victorian Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/victorian-home-pj-vj~6332093)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 14
- [Eastern Point](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/eastern-point-pj-vj~2843806)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 28
- [Recent Work](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/recent-work-pj-vj~5407994)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 28
- [Gloucester Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/gloucester-farmhouse-pj-vj~955595)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 77
- [Beverly Farms Courtyard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/beverly-farms-courtyard-pj-vj~956794)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 11
- [Rockport Lane Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rockport-lane-garden-pj-vj~5407937)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 8
- [Oceanfront Courtyard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/oceanfront-courtyard-pj-vj~957055)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 18
- [Magnolia Oceanfront](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/magnolia-oceanfront-pj-vj~2172844)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5
- [Lanesville Outdoor Living](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lanesville-outdoor-living-pj-vj~2173019)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 13
- [Rockport Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rockport-cottage-pj-vj~955824)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 18
- [Annisquam Village Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/annisquam-village-residence-pj-vj~955878)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 10
- [Hamilton](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hamilton-pj-vj~2705477)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 10
- [Ledge Landscape](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ledge-landscape-pj-vj~2480450)
  - Location: Gloucester, MA
  - Photos: 5
- [New England Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-england-cottage-pj-vj~5458788)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5
- [Magnolia](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/magnolia-pj-vj~5507506)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 16

[See all 15 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/hilarie-holdsworth-design-pfvwus-pf~218388737)

## Ideabooks

- [recent work](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/111626602/list/recent-work) — 15 ideas
- [vegetable gardens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/21205282/list/vegetable-gardens) — 1 idea

[See all 2 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/hilarieholds)

## Community Q&A

**Q: Epimedium type** *(in Photo Questions)*

What type of epimedium is this?

A: It is Epimedium grandiflorum var. higoense ‘Bandit’.  My fave!

**Q: The size of the space** *(in Photo Questions)*

Hi I wanted to know the size of the garden

A: Greetings!  The entire property is about 3.5 acres, but this particular garden is approximately 3,600 S.F.

**Q: Was this garden grown from seedlings or were mature plants brought in?** *(in Photo Questions)*

How long from first seed sowed to finish did this garden take to mature?

A: Greetings!  I buy plants in 2 quart or gallon size, generally.  The Dogwood tree just off to the right was planted at about 8' tall, ball and burlap.

**Q: Plant** *(in Photo Questions)*

What on earth is this beautiful plant?

A: Spring Greetings!  That is an Arisaema sikokianum, or Jack in the Pulpit.  Here's a great link to learn more about these astonishing plants:    https://www.plantdelights.com/blogs/articles/arisaema-arisaema-arisaema

**Q: flowers on the ground** *(in Photo Questions)*

What kind of flowers are these?

A: Hi Audrey; those are the small, bell flowers of Enkianthus campanulatus, or Redvein Enkianthus.  It’s a fairly large shrub and blooming right now.

**Q: Info please on these ferns?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: These are Matteuchia struthiopteris, or Ostrich Fern.  they mature at about 48" and spread quite a bit, the older 'parent' plants dying after a couple of years.  Tolerate transplanting beautifully, and like a bit of moist soil.  Fiddleheads are the best!

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-08.*