ABOUT US
At Nathan Wright Landscape Design, our founders, Nathan and Lola Wright, have always been driven by a passion for modern naturalistic landscape design, fostering strong connections with our team and clients, and unlocking creative inspiration through collaboration.
Serving both residential and commercial property owners in Chicago, Illinois, and nearby communities, our landscape team is proud to deliver a seamless design, build, and maintain experience.
Drawing on the rich heritage of celebrated masters from the Lurie Garden and High Line lineage, our approach to naturalistic perennial gardening reflects the design principles of Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf and Midwest plantsman Roy Diblik. We craft environmentally sustainable gardens with an all-encompassing approach that considers the local climate, bloom times, ongoing maintenance needs, and your specific outdoor lifestyle preferences.
Our clients can expect a smooth and well-organized process, from the preliminary design stage to detailed site planning, expert construction, and options for maintaining their outdoor living spaces.
Our team, led by Registered Landscape Architect Nathan Wright and CEO Lola Wright, consists of designers, horticulturists, and industry experts.
01.
Client Project : Jain
Year : 2024
This backyard landscape design features a concrete stepper patio and path set in permeable crushed bluestone, creating a cozy fire pit seating area between the back deck and detached garage. Perennial gardens surround the space, offering year-round interest with thoughtfully selected plants based on height, texture, color, and bloom time. The smooth steppers extend to a side gate, flanked by low-growing groundcovers. A row of trees provides privacy, while string lights overhead add a magical, enclosed ambiance at night.
Client Project : Smith
Year : 2022
This front yard transformation seamlessly blends modern elegance with natural beauty, creating a welcoming and sustainable outdoor space.
A thoughtfully designed stone pathway leads guests to the entryway, flanked by lush, drought-tolerant plantings that provide year-round interest. The layered garden beds feature a diverse mix of native and ornamental plants, offering dynamic textures and seasonal color.
Client Project : Smith
Year : 2022
Strategic placement of trees and shrubs adds depth and structure while enhancing privacy and curb appeal. The design embraces a naturalistic approach, allowing the plants to thrive harmoniously within their environment. Carefully chosen foliage and flowers attract pollinators, contributing to the local ecosystem.
With a balance of functionality and aesthetics, this front yard not only enhances the home's architecture but also promotes sustainability with minimal maintenance needs. The result is a timeless, inviting landscape that complements the surrounding neighborhood while standing out with its unique charm.
Client Project : Nothing Design Co.
Year : 2024
This front entrance design seemlessly integrates nature with architecture, creating a serene, minimalist space while entering the building. This design features a blend of natural stone, soft greenery, and warm lighting, enhancing the organic feel of the modern brick facade. The thoughtfulness of the materials selection fosters a tranquil, peaceful atmosphere, bringing balance to the urban environment.
Reference : rangedesign.com
Client Project : Wittmann
Year : 2018
This inviting backyard retreat features a natural bluestone patio, blending rustic charm with modern comfort. Surrounded by lush, pollinator-friendly plantings, the space encourages relaxation and connection to nature.
Thoughtfully curated elements—textured brick, soft greenery, and organic materials—create a warm and timeless outdoor escape
Client Project : Wittmann
Year : 2018
This garden design transforms a compact urban backyard into a lush, inviting retreat centered around a natural bluestone walkway. The space balances structure and softness, with clean hardscape lines complemented by an abundance of flowering perennials and native plantings. The crushed stone patios serve as functional and aesthetic anchors, offering a tranquil setting for outdoor gatherings, quiet reflection, or simply enjoying the natural beauty.
Around the hardscape, thoughtfully selected plant palette—including white coneflowers, lavender, and other pollinator-friendly species— adds texture, movement, and seasonal interest. The dark brick backdrop of the house enhances the garden’s intimate feel, while carefully placed seating invites visitors to slow down and connect with the landscape.
This project highlights our commitment to blending hardscape and softscape elements in a way that fosters beauty, sustainability, and everyday enjoyment.
05.
Client Project : Huck
Year : 2020
This landscape design blends natural beauty with functionality, featuring irregular flagstone stepper pathways that weave through lush, diverse plantings. The front yard showcases vibrant seasonal blooms, while the backyard offers a quiet retreat with layered grassses & greenery. Thoughtfully arranged for visual harmony and sustainability, this design enhances curb appeal and backyard enjoyment alike.
Client Project : Widmer
Year : 2020
This modern Chicago landscape design embraces contemporary clean lines, creating seamless connections between hardscaping and lush plantings. The sleek paver patio and crisp geometric lawn area provide a strong architectural foundation, while arranged plantings soften the space with natural texture and movement. Defined outdoor living areas, including a welcoming dining space, encourages social gatherings. A warm wood fence adds contrast and privacy, complementing the home's modern architecture. The result is a refined, functional, and stylish retreat that balances order and organic beauty.
Client Project : Brady
Year : 2020
This lush Chicago front yard design features a stunning ornamental redbud tree, adding seasonal interest with its pink vibrant blooms. A rich palette of greens, deep purples, and bright flowers creates a dynamic and inviting space. Layered textures, varied heights, and flowing foliage provide depth and movement, transforming this small urban yard into a natural oasis that adds beauty to Chicago's streetscape.
Client Project : Arcana Reliquary
Year : 2023
This commercial event space is a carefully curated outdoor venue designed to accommodate a wide variety of gatherings, from intimate celebrations to large-scale community events. At the heart of the design is a striking sculptural art feature, which serves as both a focal point and a defining element of the space. Positioned within a circular presentation area, this central feature provides a dynamic backdrop for performances, ceremonies, and special occasions. The surrounding landscape has been intentionally designed to enhance the experience, with a natural border of trees creating a sense of enclosure while maintaining an open, airy feel.
Client Project : Arcana Reliquary
Year : 2023
Lush plantings soften the transition between the structured event space and the natural surroundings, incorporating layers of greenery, texture, and seasonal interest. By day, the space offers a tranquil, inviting atmosphere, while by night, strategically placed lighting transforms it into a warm and enchanting venue. The addition of string lights overhead adds a magical quality, illuminating the area without disrupting the natural ambiance. This interplay of light, art, and landscape creates a flexible and immersive environment that is equally suited for corporate events, weddings, live performances, and community gatherings.
Designed to be both functional and visually striking, this event space successfully blends contemporary design with organic elements, creating a unique destination that fosters connection and creativity. Whether serving as a stage for artistic expression or a gathering place for meaningful moments, the space offers a harmonious balance between nature and modern design, making it an adaptable and memorable setting for a wide range of occasions.
Client Project : Bavilsik
Year : 2020
This suburban front yard design enhances curb appeal with a structured yet inviting layout. A bold, linear front walkway draws attention to the entrance, while stepper paver paths in crushed bluestone guide movement down the side of the house, integrating function with style. A custom wood-framed trellis adds architectural interest, softening the stone façade and providing a dynamic vertical element. Thoughtful plantings frame the space, creating depth and a lush, welcoming atmosphere.
The result is a balanced and timeless front landscape that seamlessly blends beauty with practicality while capturing the attention of passersby.
Reference : prairieconstructionco.
Client Project : Carter
Year : 2023
This garage rooftop design transforms a compact garage space in Chicago into a stylish urban retreat. New decking creates a clean, modern surface for lounging, offering a perfect escape in the heart of the city. A custom-fabricated metal trellis with hanging plant containers anchors the space, add greenery and texture while providing a touch of nature in an otherwise urban setting. This small-scale space maximizes the potential of the area, creating a functional yet visually striking escape above the city streets.
Reference : mfabricationinc.com
11.
Client Project : Smith Talarico
Year : 2018
This front landscape design features winding geometric crushed bluestone walkways that weave through lush plantings, creating a natural flow throughout the space. Strategically placed boulders provide both visual interest and structural definition, integrating with the surrounding environment. The design harmonizes with the modern architecture while enhancing the organic feel of the garden.
12.
Client Project : Wilson Court
Year : 2024
This apartment courtyard design thoughtfully blends function with aesthetics, incorporating smooth patio areas, with an irregularly placed stepper path set into a permeable crushed stone base. The design creates an organic flow, guiding visitors through the space. One patio serves as a grilling and dining area, while another is dedicated to lounging, offering a place for tenents to relax and gather. These distinct areas are separated by lush planting and a lowmaintenance artificial turf grass area, enhancing the visual appeal. Multi-stem trees fill the courtyard with life, adding texture and dimension while providing natural shade and privacy.
Client Project : Bloom
Year : 2020
This suburban landscape design masterfully integrates a detailed planting plan with a strategic water management system, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and environmental functionality. The arrangement of plantings, boulders, and carefully graded terrain plays a crucial role in directing and slowing water movement, reducing runoff, and enhancing overall drainage. This stormwater oasis design effectively mimics its benefits by filtering excess water, replenishing the soil, and sustaining a diverse plant palette.
Client Project : Bloom
Year : 2020
In addition to the front yard’s drainage-focused design, the backyard features a sleek, modern reflecting pool that serves as both a focal point and a tranquil retreat. Framed by lush plantings, the pool adds a striking visual element while reinforcing the theme of water as a unifying feature throughout the property. The reflective surface creates dynamic interactions with light and surrounding greenery, enhancing the sense of depth and serenity.
Together, these elements result in a landscape that is both highly functional and visually captivating—offering long-term ecological benefits while providing a peaceful, immersive experience for those who engage with the space.
Client Project : Bernacki
Year : 2025
This digital site plan showcases the landscape design for a newly built lake house in Michigan, thoughtfully integrating nature with modern outdoor living. Expansive planting beds soften the architecture, blending the home into its natural lakeside setting. A newly designed pool serves as a focal point, enhancing relaxation and entertainment opportunities. Circulation flows seamlessly through the site, with pathways weaving between planted areas, connecting key outdoor spaces while encouraging movement and exploration. Layered trees & plantings provide structure, privacy, and visual depth, creating a dynamic experience throughout the property. This graphic representation highlights the project's spatial organization, illustrating the balance of form, function, and natural beauty.
Reference : deconstructarchitecture.com
Client Project : McKinzie
Year : 2021
This front yard design integrates layered plantings and mature canopy trees to create spatial structure, seasonal interest, and ecological value. A mix of evergreen and herbaceous species supports pollinators while ensuring year-round texture and form.
Hardscape elements, including a natural stone path and tiered retaining wall, guide movement and manage grade subtly. The planting palette is low-maintenance and climateadapted, balancing visual appeal with long-term sustainability.
16.
Client Project : Koch
Year : 2021
This front yard design features softly curving corten steel edging that defines generous planting beds, creating a fluid framework for a bold, perennial block planting. Masses of climate-adapted perennials offer seasonal rhythm, structure, and pollinator support, with a planting palette designed for lasting visual impact and low maintenance.
A new paver walkway composed of geometric blocks anchors the space, providing a crisp counterpoint to the softness of the planting. Together, these elements blend contemporary form with ecological function, enhancing curb appeal while prioritizing durability and sustainability.
