Who We Are

Ginkgo Leaf Studio was everything we could ask for (and then more) when it came to designing the landscape for our Chicago area mid-century modern dream home. Jim and Hannah are a wonderful team and their work is worth every penny. If you own a mid-century modern home, there is no other design firm you should consider, regardless of where you live. They truly listen to what you want, are easy to work with remotely, and produce awe inspiring designs that compliment your home and surrounding environment.Read More

Jim is a genius. If you are into mid-century modern design, Jim is your guy and you should not think twice about it. Even if he has a backlog of projects, it is worth the wait. He perfectly balanced our practical objectives for the space with his masterful design and artistry. He did a wonderful job of complementing the existing architecture of the house. He consulted on all elements of the project, providing helpful advice on pricing, “in flight” changes to the plan, and plant maintenance. The team of professionals he collaborates with is top-notch. Above all, Jim has great vision and takes great pride in his work. If you trust him, you will not be disappointed.Read More

If there was a 10 ⭐️ option, Jim and Hannah at Ginkgo Leaf Studio would be exceeding that! From the initial phone call, to the design phase, and then execution of our landscape plan, Jim was responsive and fun to work with. We are in Michigan so our project was remote, and we communicated via phone, and zoom. We wanted a designer with a mid mod aesthetic and Jim is very experienced in this area. We had interviewed three other designers who just gave us cookie cutter plans, but Ginkgo Leaf provided us with a totally unique plan that fits perfectly with our house. My daughter said, it looks so natural and like it’s all been there all along. The sidewalk is super cool, many rectangles offset and with blue stone runnels at the joints. We even have a recessed planter recessed into the front porch, and a matching planter recessed into the lawn. Jim spoke our language, so it was a very smooth project, and since it was a pretty complicated project, that says a lot. He worked super well with our local landscape company too, and was always available via phone or Facetime when issues arose during construction. We are very pleased, and if Jim and Ginkgo Leaf Studio design your project, whatever style your landscape vision may be, you’ll be very happy!Read More

We choose Ginkgo Leaf Studio because of their professionalism, top notch Mid Century Modern expertise and years of experience. Ginkgo Leaf Studio created a landscaping design for our 1960 Midcentury Modern home in western Michigan that exceeded our expectation. It was easy to work with Ginkgo Leaf Studio because; they listened to our desires and concerns, were quick to answer any questions, created a flawless design that enhanced the MCM architecture, used plants and trees that would flourish in our climate and that would provide color throughout the seasons, all while working remotely. We hired local concrete and landscape contractors to work from Gingko Leaf Studio’s detailed scaled drawings. We are thrilled with the results and have had many passersby admiring the beauty of our MCM home and landscape. Thank you Ginkgo Leaf Studio…Read More

Working with Jim and his team was a true pleasure from start to finish! We went to Ginkgo looking for a complete overhaul of our existing landscaping in which we liked certain things and still wanted to keep, but we also had some areas that needed some serious attention and redesign. They came in and did a complete inventory of all the existing plants, trees, and shrubs and then came up with a completely refreshed plan which was a great mix of existing and new plantings to make our property even more beautiful. When plans were delivered, we also received booklets of all the plants they intended to plant with full color photographs which made it easier to envision before the plantings began. The design was gorgeous and incorporated so much more variety than we currently had as well as adding in more native plantings that should thrive in our area. The overall design takes in colors, textures, and blooming times. Jim and Hannah were onsite to be sure the plantings were in exactly the correct locations before the final planting occurred. We also had a follow up meeting with Jim to go over proper care and maintenance of the new plantings for the future. We are very excited to see how the plants and design will mature in the next 1-2 years. I can't speak more highly of Jim and his team for their professionalism, talent and knowledge.Read More

After following Jim’s design evolution for over a decade - it was finally time to call on him for our home’s design. Our project took place in September 2025. Jim’s sophisticated and unique modern/Asian-inspired design perfectly complements our 1963 mid-century home. He listened to our needs and beautifully incorporated them into the design. He visualized our space in a way that we could not. He was a hands-on and responsive general contractor - coordinating the many schedules of his high-quality subcontractors. His thoughtful use of beautiful - yet low-maintenance plants will keep these gardeners aging in place for many years. We could not be more pleased or grateful for our beautiful backyard.Read More

Jim worked with us to landscape our yard during the install of a swimming pool. The results exceeded our expectations. His design and choice of plants fit perfectly in the new outdoor space. Jim's attention to detail and talent for design are exceptional. He recommended hiring Stone Oak Landscaping, we were very pleased with the quality of the work. The plants are thriving! Everything went smoothly and communication during the project was outstanding. We highly recommend Jim and his team for any Landscaping projectRead More

We have worked with Ginkgo Leaf for three projects now and are extremely happy and satisfied with our choice. The level of service, detail, knowledge is top notch. They also show an ability to adapt to styles and house aesthetics, whether it’s a mid century modern or a more traditional look they incorporate the right design to accentuate the home and property. Would gladly work with them again.Read More

Whether you are local to Ginkgo Leaf Studios or across the country, I can’t recommend Ginkgo Leaf Studios enough for your landscape design needs! Even though we were hundreds of miles apart and my design consultations were completely virtual from beginning to end, James at Ginkgo Leaf met and far exceeded all of my expectations! He listened to what I was looking for in a front yard design and worked his magic to come up with a design that completely blew my mind! What James presented me with was a stunning design for my front yard that made my home the envy of the neighborhood. My home went from being your typical, boring, outdated mid century ranch to an upscale mid-mod showcase with stunning curb appeal. Ginkgo Leaf Studios truly knows the difference between average and extraordinary!Read More

I contacted Jim at Ginkgo for a completely new backyard and front yard design at our home in Shorewood. Being the prudent consumer I am I had a few other bids including a design-build firm who could include both design and construction in one price rather than a design fee (like Ginkgo's) plus landscaping / hardscaping costs. I received a bid from the design-build firm for the back yard which included a design (which left a lot to be desired) and the price which was quite high. So I decided to go with Ginkgo for the design and then bid out the landscape / hardscape work. Jim’s design was thoughtful, gorgeous, and fit the style of our house. We couldn’t have been happier with the end result and the process overall. We opted to hire Jim as the project manager as well and he was on-site many times throughout the entire project making sure things were going to plan and even showed up with a tape measure on install day making sure the distance between plants was perfect. Not a thing was overlooked during the process. As an added bonus, not only did we get a superior design but the cost of the landscaping, design (front and back yard) and project management came in less than the design-build firm who offered a poorly planned design for only the back yard that didn't’ take many of our requests into consideration . Gingko gets an A+ from us and we highly recommend them.Read More