KMS Gardens and Design

Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers

About Us

KMS designs and installs urban gardens. We specialize in city-sized landscapes for residential clients and small businesses. Additional services include seasonal containers, renovation of existing gardens, patio, walk and deck designs, rooftop gardens, vegetable gardens, bulb designs and outdoor holiday décor. KMS welcomes long-term client relationships that include seasonal maintenance of our installations. We maintain sustainable and organic gardening practices and have experience designing and installing LEED certified and native gardens.

Services Provided

Custom Water Features, Deck Design, Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Edible Gardens, Garden Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Plans, Organic Gardens, Patio Design, Project Management, Site Planning, Seasonal Containers/Planters, Renovate Landscapes, New Home Landscapes, Shrub and Perennial Borders, Design and installation of Garden and Landscape Sp, Bulb Designs and Displays, Landscape Design Consultation, Annual Plantings and Displays, Water Feature Design, Urban Garden Design and Installation, Small Garden Design and Maintenance, Rooftop Designs, Outdoor Furniture, Contemporary Garden Designs, Water and Fire Features

Areas Served

Chicago, Chicago-Lincoln Park, Chicago-Lakeview, Chicgao-Roscoe Village, Chicago-Gold Coast, Chicago- North Center, Chicago-Wrigleyville, Chicago-Andersonville, Chicago-Bucktown, Chicago-Wicker Park, Chicago-West Town, Chicago-Logan Square

Awards

2017 Best of Houzz Customer Service Award Chicago Botanic Garden- Ornamental Plant Materials Program Graduate LDA- Landscape Designer's Association of Chicago ILCA- Illinois Landscape Contractors Association

Back to Navigation

23 Projects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary partial sun courtyard stone landscaping in Chicago for spring.

Spring Containers

Chicago, IL

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional partial sun front yard garden path in Chicago for spring.

Spring Landscapes and Bulbs

Chicago, IL

Summer Containers and Planting Beds

Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard landscaping in Chicago for fall.

Fall Containers and Plant Beds

Chicago, IL

Winter Containers

Holiday Decor

Back to Navigation

Business Details

Business Name

KMS Gardens and Design

Phone Number

(773) 472-7761

Website

www.kmsgardensanddesign.com

Address

Chicago, IL 60657

Typical Job Cost

$1,000 - 30,000

Most services are billed time + materials.

License Number

2207847

Back to Navigation

Credentials

Back to Navigation

Write a Review

11 Reviews for KMS Gardens and Design

Newest first

Kelly Howe

Kathy is excellent. Full service, practical, flexible. Including holiday decorations. Have recommended her to all my friends, would recommend her to anyone!

March 9, 2018

Rachel Smith

We have worked with Kathy on a variety of projects ranging from seasonal flowers in planters to a complete backyard renovation. Kathy is thorough, thoughtful, innovative and cost- conscious for her customer. She headed up our backyard renovation and referred to wonderful contractors and hardscape specialists. She takes great care with our landscape and provides wonderful tips for our continued maintenance. Her work is comparable to other professionals I've seen around the neighborhood. However, I feel her prices and recommendations are much more practical for the good of the customer and not simply motivated by sale.

September 6, 2017

Sarah

Kathy was great to work with on our landscaping project. I interviewed her and one other group for a front garden project and decided to go with Kathy because she was easy to work with on making changes to the plans, she understood our budget constraints, and she communicated well. Our front garden looked great from the start and everything just continues to grow in nicely. We looked into doing the project in early April, had measurements and initial meetings in April, an estimate and revised estimate in early May and the project was done by late May after ordering plants/sprinkler equipment and having that come in.

August 31, 2017

Anne-Marie Rosser

I've worked with Kathy for about four years now, and she's excellent. She worked with us to renovate our entire backyard from a dark, muddy square to a Japanese-inspired sanctuary. We now have bamboo, an 8ft horizontal planter for flowers, and bushes and vines. Kathy's team does my planters year round, and they always receive compliments. Beyond the quality of her work, Kathy has been a great partner. She considers my requests, adjusts the planters accordingly, and has been patient in helping me understand what works and what doesn't. She is responsive and proactive. You can't go wrong with KMS Gardens and Design.

December 31, 2016

4hunters

We hired KMS Gardens and Design to design our lower backyard garden. Kathy Simpson, the principal, did a fantastic job of helping us to beautifully realize a wish list of features that included: modern feel, significant water feature, hardy in shade, ultra low mainentance, great looking all four seasons, lit for evening viewing, incorporating a dog run area and with strategically placed "kitchen garden" planters on the stair landing. Her proposal was well thought out, detailed and helped us visualize the result. We enjoyed her entire staff; they are knowlegeable and professional and worked quickly to install all elements which thrived. We highly recommend KMS Gardens and Design!

March 2, 2015Last modified:March 2, 2015

Alison M

I have experienced KMS gardens in two very different ways. First: As a designer and landscaper taking on a previously designed garden. Kathy has an eye, she is able to add to and even move around an existing garden. Second: Kathy's ability to work with someone, to ask them questions, probe to find out expectations as well as likes and dislikes to build plans to create an outdoor space from a blank slate. The execution meets and exceeds expectations. With regard to professionalism, KMS is timely, they come when they say they will, they are specific about what they will be doing, they plan ahead before the season so you can plan for services from spring to fall and Kathy is always available to answer questions.

March 2, 2015

mvrla

Kathy Simpson's vision transformed my backyard from a space I liked to a space I love. It's now a great place to hang out and entertain, and draws the eye out even when the weather "stay inside." It lives and feels like an extension of the house. Although the transformation was substantial, and involved a number of new plants, planting beds, and a water feature, Kathy reused many of the existing plants and recycled the brick patio into a walkway and edging for my front garden and parkway. KMS has maintained and further improved the property since performing the initial installation, and always has done a superb job. Highly recommended.

February 28, 2015

sdnatinsky

Kathy has helped me create a unique and lush garden around my home--she took time to understand what I liked and didn't like and then transformed my front and back yards into beautiful, eye-catching spaces. KMS provides excellent service and responds quickly if there is an issue with a plant/shrub or watering system. They do a wonderful job that is specifically suited to your property!!

February 26, 2015

cmhslp

Kathy Simpson of KMS Gardens and Design is a superb landscape design professional. I had the privilege of working with her last summer and I foresee that this will be a long-term working relationship. Kathy brings a remarkable level of expertise, creativity, depth of knowledge, integrity, timeliness and flexibility to her work. She is especially effective at listening to a client's preferences when proposing a design scheme and is always open to making changes throughout the process while lending her expertise to ensure an optimal outcome. Likewise, her suppliers are of the highest quality and she was able to recommend an equally talented hardscaper.

February 19, 2015

Pam Lookatch

Kathy Simpson and the staff of KMS Gardens and Design is professional, efficient and does a magnificent job. My garden is a show piece on our block and people stop me as I am walking out of my house to tell me how beautiful the containers in my garden are. I use KMS for both maintenance and containers each season. I truly feel like Kathy's floral designs are top notch and really stand out among the many beautiful landscapes as you drive around the Lincoln Park neighborhood. I would highly recommend KMS for their floral design, reasonable pricing and their efficiency in doing business.

February 17, 2015

rmjones811

We have used KMS as our landscaper for many years and we are very satisfied with their work. The landscape design they created for our home in the city is perfect for all seasons. Their creativity, knowledge and efficiency are excellent. The service is timely and communication is good. We highly recommend this company

February 17, 2015

Back to Navigation

20 Ideabooks

Back to Navigation

6 Comments

Commented: what conifer is that in the potsNo, they are small Juniperus Wichita Blue.

October 25, 2022

Commented: The paint color used on the front door? thanksThat is not known, it was a former client's home.

December 21, 2021

Commented: who is the manufacturer of this door?I have no idea, sorry. This is at the house of a former client

September 26, 2021

Commented: 素敵な花ばかりどうやって選んだ理由は季節感ソれとも色の感覚ですか？Not sure how to answer a question in another language???

May 8, 2019

Commented: I like this paver and wall block! Who makes it?The paver is Blu and wall stone is G-Force. Both are Techo Bloc products. The wall is capped with natural bluestone.

February 4, 2019

Commented: What kind of flowers are shown here?They are: Hydrangea "Matilda Guges" Hyacinth "Purple" (foprced bulbs) Muscari (forced bulbs) Stock"Harmony Cream Yellow" Sedum "Lemon Coral"

May 2, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

How is KMS Gardens and Design rated?

KMS Gardens and Design is currently rated 5 overall out of 5

What services does KMS Gardens and Design provide?

KMS Gardens and Design provides the following services: Custom Water Features, Deck Design, Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Edible Gardens, Garden Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Plans, Organic Gardens, Patio Design, Project Management, Site Planning, Seasonal Containers/Planters, Renovate Landscapes, New Home Landscapes, Shrub and Perennial Borders, Design and installation of Garden and Landscape Sp, Bulb Designs and Displays, Landscape Design Consultation, Annual Plantings and Displays, Water Feature Design, Urban Garden Design and Installation, Small Garden Design and Maintenance, Rooftop Designs, Outdoor Furniture, Contemporary Garden Designs, Water and Fire Features

Where does KMS Gardens and Design provide services?

KMS Gardens and Design provides services in the following areas: Chicago, Chicago-Lincoln Park, Chicago-Lakeview, Chicgao-Roscoe Village, Chicago-Gold Coast, Chicago- North Center, Chicago-Wrigleyville, Chicago-Andersonville, Chicago-Bucktown, Chicago-Wicker Park, Chicago-West Town, Chicago-Logan Square

KMS Gardens and Design