Testimonials

  • After several years of house construction, our front lawn had been decimated. We wanted to try something radically different — have no grass at all! Instead, we have a carpet of Creeping Thyme that has bloomed for weeks, is drought tolerant and smells heavenly when you walk on it. We have ended up with a unique garden space that after a year, neighbors are still so appreciative and can’t stop complimenting us...”there’s always something in bloom, and new things to look at,” was a recent comment we received.  Andrea’s design took into account all our needs and wishes and she certainly knew, and researched, her plants. She also would send us links, especially for trees, so we could tell exactly if it was something we wanted. Her computer program really did show us what the garden would look like in different seasons...  We give the highest recommendation possible! 
    Andrea Nolin, Homeowner
  • Andrea did the most incredible job with our project — from initial brainstorming to implementation — she was fabulous and so easy to work with . We wanted to start over from scratch a new garden and wanted to include many edibles (fruits, vegetables, etc.) while still maintaining a traditional “Cape/ Cottage” look.  Andrea worked with us to make the perfect garden for us (fruit trees, raised beds for veggies, roses, hydrangeas, etc) — we couldn’t be more pleased and I have been recommending her to everyone I know. Andrea was diligent and updated us through every stage, worked with subcontractors (landscapers, irrigation, etc) and got everything finished exactly when she said it would be. You won’t be disappointed — she’s the best!
    Jen Helzberg, Homeowner, Wellesley, MA
  • My husband and I recently moved into a renovated 150 year old house on a busy street in Lexington, MA. Our front and back yards aren’t large and we wanted to make the most of our outdoor living space. Andrea created a wonderful screen from the street with several beds and a mix of trees/shrubs/flowers in our front yard. In the back yard she created a small vegetable garden, other beds and a new patio that is a wonderful extension of our kitchen. We are already spending much more time outdoors and expect to do so throughout most of the year. We love her simple lines with respect to beds and her organic approach to outdoor living.
    Leslie Brunner, Homeowner, Lexington, MA
  • [Andrea] made our dreams a reality—even dreams we didn’t know we had! Her plans had our vision in them but were made better by her skill and expertise. She made it livable/usable in ways we could not have imagined.  Andrea took care of every issue—she was point person—took worry/hassle from me. This was critical—she dealt with all other professionals, from the spa company to each contractor to even the furniture store! 
    Richard Moore, Homeowner
  • S+H Construction recently completed a project in Belmont working in conjunction with Andrea for the hardscape/landscape portion of the project. During this project Andrea showed great knowledge on the plant material choices as well as an elaborate well thought out design that incorporated a new water feature, stone walkway & a new entranceway. Throughout the course of the project Andrea was a pleasure to work with and worked well with our craftsman to complete the project exceeding the homeowner’s expectation.
    Jack Shea, Division Manager of S+H Construction Landscape / Site Work Division
  • Andrea is a rising star in the field of Landscape Design! She has completed numerous projects for my development company, mostly in tight urban locations that require incredibly thoughtful and creative designs in order to maximize their potential. After implementing Andrea's master landscape plans, I always receive numerous compliments from neighbors, brokers, and buyers.  Andrea, is extremely enthusiastic and passionate, and it shines through in her work. I will certainly look to Nilsen Landscape Design for my future projects! 
    Scott Zink, President of Newmarket Properties, LLC
  • Andrea Nilsen works creatively with a limited budget. The programed and natural outdoor spaces she developed for the Little Compton Retreat were a beautiful success. Her design embraces the agrarian surrounding and artfully incorporates both manicured and wild elements. She was able to work within the budget and helped to achieve the home’s LEED for Homes, Gold rating.
    Stephanie Horowitz, AIA Managing Director of Zeroenergy Design
  • As a company that truly believes in team work, we seek out designers that work together with us to provide the customer with unsurpassed quality... Ms. Nilsen has consistently been exceptional in both her professionalism and her ability to achieve a cohesive group of craftsman that can bring her visions to fruition. Time and again, we have watched as she has worked with us to dissipate potential crisis through thorough communication, offered practical solutions to complicated site conditions, and resolved design issues to the complete satisfaction of the client.  As in any artistic venture, material selection can be the key to success; landscape design is no exception. Moreover, the perishable nature of plant material and the variance that can occur in stone, make a discriminating eye all that more essential. We have worked closely with Ms. Nilsen to procure components for many of her projects and we are always impressed by her ability to seek out the best the market has to offer. It truly has been our pleasure to work with her and we continue to seek her out as a colleague, an artist and a friend .
    Steve Smith, General Manager of A. Bonadio and Sons
  • Pinney Designs is a new design firm in the Boston area that has enjoyed two years of very rapid growth and a base of loyal and discerning clients. We are known for our use clean lines and open spaces and Andrea’s design was able to complement this perfectly. In an urban environment, outdoor space becomes very valuable and our clients were anxious to extend their loft by 1000 feet with the incorporation of landscaping. After a long search, including many meetings with reputable Boston area landscape architects, we were fortunate to find Andrea. After seeing her profile on houzz.com and reading her many positive reviews, I was anxious to get to know her and possibly collaborate. Instantly when speaking with Andrea I knew I wanted to work with her and knew she could take on the large job (large for a Boston terrace) we had.  Her attention to detail in both design and execution was impeccable... Andrea came up with several options of layouts, containers and a variety of plants the clients and I could choose from. Once the final selections were made I was very pleased and how effortlessly she was able to execute the design to the finished product. Andrea worked closely with the Landscape team on all aspect of the design and the delivery of the product, including irrigation and organizing the crane that was needed to lift the large tree and other containers up the 8 stories in Boston’s Fort Point.  The end result was truly beautiful and what she was able to accomplish in a relatively short time frame was remarkable. I know the clients were very pleased and enjoyed the finished outcome very much. It was nice to be able to recommend her for this project and I hope I am lucky enough to work with her again in the future! 
    Emily Pinney, Principal of Pinney Designs
  • I worked with Andrea as general contractor on a residential project in Jamaica Plain in 2013. We worked together to transform a dysfunctional and neglected outdoor living space for a single family homeowner. Andrea developed a plan that captured the needs and style of the homeowner while aligning the outdoor space to a new and improved flow.  The focal point of the project was a dry-stacked radius stone wall which enveloped a small lawn and intimate eating/ cooking space. In addition, the plan replaced a weathered deck with a reconfigured mahogany deck which included an outdoor “living room” and sunken spa. Coupled with hand-selected plantings, the end result transformed the space into an intimate entertaining venue for the clients.  In working with Andrea, I found her to be very well prepared and attentive to the needs of the client. She promptly issued notes and action items after meetings which facilitated a smooth and consistent work flow. Her work product was detailed, thorough and well-conceived. She responded well to critical input and demonstrated a strong grasp of design decisions. In the field, Andrea kept a pulse on the work schedule as well as the budget. She proactively worked to resolve construction/ sequencing difficulties and carried a positive and committed disposition throughout.  I have worked with scores of professional in my 14 years of construction management and building and have developed over a million square feet of mixed-use real estate. Andrea demonstrates the best characteristics of seasoned professionals and I look forward to our next project together. Andrea Nilsen is a fine choice for New England Magazine’s 5 Under 40 Award for 2014.
    Sean Donovan, Leed AP Owner of Woodsmoke LLC