A person sitting on a wooden dock over a lake, surrounded by trees and mountains, under a cloudy sky, with a canoe nearby.

Our Design-Build Process

The Brandywine
Design-Build Method

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Precision in Planning. Mastery in Execution.

Big projects fail when details slip through the cracks. Homeowners are left juggling multiple contractors, surprise costs, and half-finished work. At Brandywine Designs, we eliminate that chaos. Our design-build process gives you a single point of contact, from first sketch to final stone, so your project feels effortless, permanent, and exactly as promised.

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Hardscape installation process by Brandywine Designs in Chadds Ford, PA

The Process That Delivers Permanence

Our clients in Malvern, PA and Greenville, DE don’t have time to babysit contractors or chase down schedules. They expect the discipline of a custom home builder applied to outdoor living. That’s exactly what our landscaping process delivers: clarity at the start, precision in the middle, and craftsmanship that holds up for decades.

Drafting custom landscape plans at Brandywine Designs studio in West Chester, PA

Step 1

Consultation & Site Review

Every build begins on-site. We walk the property, ask the right questions, and understand how you’ll use the space, whether it’s a patio with a fire pit, a stone outdoor kitchen, or a full estate-scale landscape design. From day one, we share real budget ranges so you know what to expect. No smoke. No guesswork.

On-site project coordination and material selection in Glen Mills, PA

Step 2

Design Proposal

We develop a design tailored to your property and goals. Our design fee (3% of the projected cost) is credited back if you move forward with construction. It’s not just a sketch, we provide a complete plan that accounts for everything: grading, drainage, retaining walls, infrastructure. That’s how we eliminate the “free design, surprise change order” trap.

Landscape crew preparing backyard site for build in West Chester, PA

Step 3

Collaborative Refinement

We refine until it’s right. With CAD renderings and hand-drawn layouts, you’ll see exactly how stone walls curve, how fireplaces anchor, and how reclaimed materials integrate with your home’s architecture. Nothing off-the-shelf. Everything purpose-built.

Garden and hardscape integration during build phase in Glen Mills, PA

Step 4

Fixed-Cost Agreement

Once the design is locked, you get a fixed-cost proposal. No “per square foot” games. No vague allowances. Every stone, permit, and bolt is scoped from the start. What we agree to is what it costs. Period.

Project manager reviewing plans on site in Chadds Ford, PA

Step 5

Build with Precision

When our crew shows up, they stay until it’s done. No hopping between jobs. Whether it’s setting 17,000 pounds of cut limestone level to the millimeter or installing concealed venting for an outdoor kitchen, we execute with old-world standards and modern precision.

Quality inspection by Brandywine Designs team in West Chester, PA

Step 6

Completion & Legacy

We don’t leave loose ends. When we walk off-site, the project is finished, down to the last capstone. What’s left isn’t just a patio or a wall. It’s a structure that looks like it’s always been there and will still be there for decades. That’s the difference between “landscaping” and legacy.

Why Design-Build with Brandywine?

One team, one process.

No juggling subcontractors, we manage everything.

No surprises.

Fixed-cost agreements eliminate mid-project headaches.

Legacy-grade work.

From patios to outdoor kitchens, we use natural stone, reclaimed materials, and precision masonry techniques.

Built for permanence.

Every project is overbuilt to outlast trends, and most contractors.

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“Mark assessed the situation, rolled up his sleeves with his talented crew, and delivered every time as advertised. His team hit every project out of the park. Highly recommended.”

Edward K., via Facebook

When Clients Talk, Craftsmanship Speaks.

When Clients Talk, Craftsmanship Speaks. •

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Completed outdoor project showcasing design-build results in Glen Mills, PA

Serving the Main Line & Brandywine Valley Region

We create enduring outdoor landscape environments and custom backyard designs that reflect your identity and our craft.

Pennsylvania: Villanova, Kennett Square, Chadds Ford, Glen Mills, West Chester, Malvern, Chesterbrook

Delaware: Greenville

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