--- title: "Carolyn Choi — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/carolyn-choi-pfvwus-pf~755163561 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~755163561.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Carolyn Choi" category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/2b9310d6009154d5_5793-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Address available upon appointment, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516, United States" latitude: 35.9162 longitude: -79.0999 phone: "(919) 407-0694" website: https://www.houzz.com/pro/carolyngail/__public rating: 5 review_count: 5 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 164 last_updated: 2026-09-03 --- # Carolyn Choi Original Houzz profile: [Carolyn Choi](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/carolyn-choi-pfvwus-pf~755163561) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** Chapel Hill, NC - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (5 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2020), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 100 Ideabook Saves An artist and garden designer with over 40 years experience . ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Carolyn Choi | | Address | Address available upon appointment, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516, United States | | Phone | (919) 407-0694 | | Website | https://www.houzz.com/pro/carolyngail/\_\_public | | License Number | n/a | | Followers on Houzz | 164 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — http://www.sweethomeandgardencarolina.blogspot.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Carolyn Choi](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/carolyn-choi-pfvwus-pf~755163561) - **Website:** https://www.houzz.com/pro/carolyngail/__public - **Phone:** (919) 407-0694 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Most Creative Garden Design, Chicago Tribune, 1999. - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2020), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 5 reviews** ### All 5 reviews **★★★★★ — DANA YOBST, Nov. 2019** > So, this is the first home and yard we've ever owned and...well...let's say 20 years in an apartment have hindered us. Carolyn Choi to the rescue! I knew i wanted a pollinator garden and we had an old bed in the front so i thought we'd plant some plants and be done with it. her vision and decisiveness was incredible, fast and eased all my anxiety. she changed the shape of the bed so it would get more light, told us to remove a few pesky shrubs that the deer loved and a crepe myrtle that we would have never considered removing and are so glad we did! > > She worked with my schedule, labor, and budget constraints and its already attracting bees and butterflies. I cant wait for the spring! **Comment from Carolyn Choi:** > Thanks, Dana. A pleasure to work for you and I, too, can't wait until Spring and the first full season of growth for your pollinator garden. **★★★★★ — rodgers27, June 2013** > I was fortunate to have Carolyn Choi as a neighbor when she lived in Chicago. Carolyn has a great eye and pretty much transformed both my front and back yards. She knows her stuff and respects clients' tastes and budgets. She follows up with help and advice to ensure beautiful long-term results. She made me a life-long convert to gardening -- I just wish she were here to continue her good works locally! **Comment from Carolyn Choi:** > Thanks so much, Ceci. Appreciate your kind remarks. Sure do miss our gardening time together. **★★★★★ — mjpier7133, April 2013** > I am a former client of Caroyn Choi, owner of May Day Garden Design when she lived in Chicago, and am pleased to provide this letter of recommendation on behalf of her and her Sweet Caroline Garden Design services. > > I own a two-flat on the north side of Chicago with front and rear yards and a parkway (area between the sidewalk and street). I met Mrs. Choi when she was voluntarily conducting a garden walk in my neighborhood, identifying the annuals and perennials and provding dos and don'ts in the care of gadens and other aspects of home landscaping. > > I contracted May Day Garden Design in September 2003 and Mrs. Choi subsequently turned a barren, drab property into Elysian fields, including a now incredibly lovely ivy bed on the front parkway abutting my property. > > Handicapped by not having a green thumb, I had to rely on Mrs. Choi's recommendations and was never disappointed. She is an artist and her works of art at my property constantly elicited appreciative comments from neighbors and passers-by. Equally important and mindful that I was on a fixed income, she never exceeded estimated costs which ranged from $2,000 to $4.000 annually in our eight-year professional relationship. > > Mrs. Choi and her husband relocated to North Carolina in 2011 and I have contracted others since their departure. While they are professional and expert in what they do, they simply are not Carolyn Choi. > > Marilyn (Lynn) Pierce, 5951 North Lakewood, Chicago IL 60660 **★★★★★ — anitatorgus, March 2013** > I've been using Carolyn for my garden the past 8 years. I love my garden so much. She did a wonderful job. She has also taught me so much about gardening. I'm sad she moved from Chicago. she really knows her stuff. I would highly recommend her. **★★★★★ — Nick Harkin, March 2013** > Carolyn completely helped me to redesign my garden. When I started to work with her, I really had no idea what was a weed and what was worth keeping, and though loving consultation and guidance, she transformed my garden into something I am very proud of. In fact, the Mayor of Chicago's Landscape Awards program awarded my garden as one of the top three gardens to see on the north side of the city. > > I recommend Carolyn wholeheartedly. She is smart, creative, respectful of budget and tireless. She is also one of the nicest people you ever will have the opportunity to work with. ## Selected projects - [A Carolina Woodland Garden in the Piedmont](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/a-carolina-woodland-garden-in-the-piedmont-pj-vj~658463) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 30 - [My Garden Designs](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/my-garden-designs-pj-vj~195483) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 9 - Description: A few examples of my garden designs . I specialized in small urban gardens . [See all 2 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/carolyn-choi-pfvwus-pf~755163561) ## Ideabooks - [exterior home design](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6831568/list/exterior-home-design) — 100 ideas - [garden design](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5166045/list/garden-design) — 238 ideas - [CAROLINA GARDENER MAGAZINE, MARCH 2013](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7320457/list/carolina-gardener-magazine-march-2013) — 4 ideas - [SWEET HOME CAROLINA](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/24402163/list/sweet-home-carolina) — 92 ideas - [My Art](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6755778/list/my-art) — 49 ideas - [SWEET HOME CHICAGO](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6755480/list/sweet-home-chicago) — 12 ideas - [Interior design](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7437215/list/interior-design) — 45 ideas - [Gardening](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/8487376/list/gardening) — 8 ideas - [HORTICULTURE MAGAZINE](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/10644214/list/horticulture-magazine) — 2 ideas [See all 9 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/carolyngail) ## Community Q&A **Q: Please help landscape the front of my house....see pictures** *(in Landscape Design)* I want to rip "everything" up and start over. I just don't know what to plant. I'm clueless about what goes where and what goes with what. For regional purposes, I live in CT and it's a north-facing house. The sun hits it from sun up till about 2 pm at this time of the year. I'd like to have some flowering shrubs at different times of the year if possible. I will also be painting the posts white and replacing the brown storm door with a white one. Thanks so much for your input. A: If you are planning to just improve the landscape alone with no changes to widen the foundation planting area and the walkway, etc. you could add a flagstone path going across the left side of your house to balance the space.Carving out some curved beds will provide a more interesting landscape and minimize the undersized walkway. The two small ornamental trees on each side of the house balances out the design and adds height. Below is a sketch for such a plan. If you have a local garden center you can take your plan and have them advise you on plant selection for your zone. **Q: need exterior curb appeal help!** *(in Landscape Design)* we are replacing the red brick with stone (in pic) & redoing siding (white steel). Will probably do navy, grey, or sage color door. In general, feeling sort of blah... any ideas (color combo, stone work, landscaping, etc.) without a huge impact to the work already planned? A: A much better view and a good looking house. I couldn't see your entry in the other photo and now I see that you have two . Would visitors use the second entry or the same one that you do ? You may have a path leading there from the garage that I can't see in the photo. Here's the same house that I posted above in lighter colors . It has a bottom brick apron painted in a little darker color than the body. I'm not loving the landscaping however-too mishmash and fussy. I could make suggestions if I knew how much area you have in front and whether you want to keep a lawn or not, keep that tree, etc. In my opinion its best to keep the landscaping simple so that the contemporary staight lines of your home are not hidden . **Q: Transformation Needed** *(in Landscape Design)* In dire need of an update. I would like to remove the awnings. Also considering bay windows for the front set of windows but not sure. I'm also thinking of a retaining wall and some plants for the front. Last but not least, the white clapboard needs to be gone. I want to replace with vinyl. Need help figuring out new color for the siding. Looking forward to everyone's suggestions. Thanks...lol A: Photos are so deceiving because they compress space. It's hard to tell how much space you have in your frontyard . Enough to add a small porch ? Can one of your windows be turned into a door for a front entrance ? I love these ideas from Houzz below. If these won't work you might consider adding a pergola ( like the white one in the first photo below ) over a ground-level deck ( or poured concrete slab ) to at least give your home more dimension. It would appear to be a porch and could be attached to your house . The brick could be painted to match your new siding as well. **Q: Curb appeal for 1970 split level** *(in Design Dilemma)* We are interested in increasing the curb appeal for this 1970 split level, and were hoping that the community would have some good ideas. we would like to remove the boxwoods, but also wanted to change the external appearance of the house (add a portico, etc.). please advise. A: I would rather see a landscape that enhances the architecture of your home which has a more contemporary style, as in the example below . I would get rid of the boxwood . Some landscapers in the area may be able to dig them without damaging their root system and transplant them. These are very pricey shrubs -just one the size that you have averages $100 and up. **Q: Help with curb appeal** *(in Landscape Design)* Hi everyone, This is my first time posting. I'm looking for some help on the exterior of my home. I have a 1970s ranch, and I would like to improve it's curb appeal. I have made some minor changes, but feel I could make it better. 1\. We painted the trim around the door white ( it was a peachy color). 2\. Removed the dead shrubs lining either side of the sidewalk 3\. Removed azalea bushes. (missing grass areas). I want to do something that will add some interest. I'm strongly considering painting the brick a light grey/tan. You can't see it in this picture, but there was an addition to the back of the house and the brick difference is very noticeable. Any suggestions on what could be done to improve it? A: Your home has nice clean lines . If you want something different I wouldn't hesitate to say definitely paint the brick . Below is an example of a painted brick ranch . To see the "before and after " of this formerly red brick ranch click on the photo in my EXTERIOR DESIGN IDEABOOK. How far is it from the curb to your front door ? The space looks very long but that could be an illusion. If it is very long I would consider adding some ornamental trees to break up the expanse and add interest. **Q: Curb Appeal for 1980's Ranch** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hi everyone! First-time poster here, and first time homeowner. Woo! I bought a cute little house. I love the interior. The kitchen is beautiful, remodeled bathrooms, etc. The only thing I'm unhappy about is the curb appeal on the outside/the fact that there are so many other homes with the same layout in the neighborhood. I'm on the hunt for some cheap ways to make it more "me" and increase the curb appeal. Here's a photo from the listing. It was taken at dusk, so the exterior colors are actually quite a bit lighter than they appear: There is another house in the neighborhood with the same layout that I think handled updating it well without being overly crazy with redesign costs: I'm thinking of replacing the door and painting it a lighter blue like this (the color of my house is actually closer to this one in the sunlight) This is a really quick and crappy Photoshop of my ideas. I think something like this, plus adding the tiled entryway with the fencing could help. Any thoughts? A: I like your house just the way it is, except for the landscaping. Plantings hugging the foundations are SO yesterday. Where are you located and how much sun/shade do you have in the frontyard ? --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-03.*