Those of us who live in four-season climates know the innate urge that arises come spring thaw; the desire to embrace outdoor living. Our exterior spaces become an extension of our home, and through intentional design, can reflect and complement our individualistic lifestyle. For nearly three decades, Carrington Lawn & Landscape has been mastering this art, transforming Madison-area yards into stunning, functional extensions of their clients’ lives.
Sean Carrington, a lifelong Madisonian, started the company in 1998 as a way to help fund his education while a student at UW-Madison. Whether he took to the field or the field took him, he found himself ready to dig deep and forge his own foundation for growth. A pivotal independent study class with a UW business professor helped Sean craft his first business plan, set an ambitious goal to own 20 trucks, and lay the groundwork for continuous, achievable success. With a “strategic mindset, our evolution has been carefully crafted in controlled growth, concentrated on empowering our people,” expressed Sean, whose early grit and open mindset led to the steady expansion from a primarily lawn care service to the full-service construction side of landscape design. Carrington has surpassed the initial goal set in 2002 and now operates 40 trucks.
His distinctive leadership style, centered on valuing efficiency, commitment to retaining relationships, high-level service, and genuine community care through Carrington Cares, has allowed Carrington Lawn & Landscape to elevate the very definition of professionalism in the industry. Sean recognized that as outdoor spaces became a deeper reflection of personal style, clients would desire an elevated, seamless experience, a demand his company was built to meet.
Senior Landscape Designer Bob Wambach highlights the company's deeply personalized approach they use for their exterior design process, which begins with a series of questions to ensure every space is a bespoke reflection of the homeowner. Understanding the client’s stage of life, interior style, lifestyle needs, and family dynamics provides insight to tailor a plan for budget, layout, maintenance level, and material selection.
When it comes to visual aesthetics, the Carrington design team aims to create a seamless integration between interior and exterior spaces. They delve into the home's existing style, and rather than merely matching, they seek out "echoes" from within the house that they can extend to the outside in meaningful ways. "We might take an interior trim color... and use that as one of the interior bands around the outside of the patio," Bob shares. Subtle visual cues, such as using different textures of the same color paver – a smooth finish in a kitchen area for practicality, transitioning to a textured finish, work to create sophisticated connections without too much continuity. Using techniques like “quilting” and “art lines” defines spaces and adds visual interest.
Whether it’s a strategically placed columnar tree to fill an architectural gap, a flowy shrub to create sound through movement, a water feature to enhance sound, or lighting to add depth and play with shadows, a good design subconsciously enhances all of the senses. Their extensive knowledge ensures that every detail is a worthwhile long-term investment, balanced in both practicality and style.
The minor details, often echoed from the interior to the exterior, are what make you love the overall feel of something, without really understanding why.