Ginkgo Leaf Studio LLC

Over the years, we had half a dozen or more landscape professionals walk through our backyard. Each time, we explained what we wanted, and each returned with a drawing that reflected our requests. Yet we were never moved to take action—perhaps because, while the designs met our specifications, they simply weren’t inspiring. Friends eventually referred us to Jim Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio in Cedarburg. After initially hesitating over the cost of a comprehensive backyard plan, we decided to move forward, realizing we had likely already spent as much (or more) money trying to do things ourselves or working with other companies that never fully delivered. Jim met us in our overgrown, wooded backyard and listened carefully as we described our vision: preserving the best parts of our woodland and creating a pergola off the back of the house—over the twelve-foot patio doors—to extend our living space. A few weeks later, he returned with a plan that placed the pergola off to the side. I was not happy at first. Jim calmly explained his reasoning: the alternative placement would allow more natural light into our family room, make the fire pit the focal point, and eliminate the awkward experience of walking out of the house and around a dining table (possibly full of dirty dishes) to reach the yard. Beyond the hardscaping, the plan included plantings that beautifully and thoughtfully integrated into our woodland setting. Every other designer had simply given us what we asked for—but it never felt right. Jim had the confidence, vision, and talent to not simply mirror what we thought we wanted. For the first time, we had a hardscaping and landscaping plan—and a detailed plant portfolio—that truly moved us to action. The project was bid out, and we selected Jay Stilb of Endless Summer Landscaping, also in Cedarburg. Given our trust in Jim, we hired him to manage the entire project so his expertise could guide the work from beginning to end. This was not a straightforward plan: it included a Lannon stone patio with dining and fire pit areas, a water feature with a dry creek, lighting, and well over 100 plantings. Jay and his team were professional, thoughtful, and a pleasure to work with. His attention to detail was exceptional. He intentionally selected one signature rock because it had a divot that collects water and placed it near a bird feeder. In the midst of heavy equipment and construction chaos, Jay also took special care to protect a small bush given to me in memory of my father—something that meant more to me than he could have known. The final phase was planting. Jim and his associate, Hannah, meticulously mapped out every plant according to the plan, viewing the space from multiple angles to ensure not just technical accuracy, but beauty and livability—privacy, nature, art, and spaces that invite birds and daily enjoyment. Both Jim and Jay were: -Excellent listeners and communicators -Exceptionally attentive to detail, so we never had to worry or wonder -Detail-oriented yet flexible and adaptive in the moment -Artful in every aspect of execution -Patient, meeting us where we were—and at times gently and appropriately coaxing us forward -Truly collaborative, leading to thoughtful enhancements to the original design Together, their collaboration—blending art and science—has transformed our backyard into what many of our friends now call a sanctuary.

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 project.

Recently we completed a backyard project designed and led by Ginkgo Leaf Studio. We had found their company online and their design portfolio really excited us. Jim and his team were a pleasure to work with from the beginning. Each visit he spent a considerable amount of time answering questions and giving us honest recommendations to make our back yard look great. Jim proposed a design we had not even considered for a large retaining wall that was unique and in the end we absolutely loved it. He also provided us several beautiful schematics that allowed us to see the proposed end result in great detail. The contractors he worked with who did the build of the project were efficient, incredibly hard working and professional. When an unknown came up, Jim was readily available and helped us to work with the contractors to find the best solution. Overall we were incredibly happy with our whole experience with Ginkgo Leaf and everyone we worked with through Jim, and already are considering our next project with them. Would highly recommend choosing them for your next project if you want something truly personalized to you. Thank you Ginkgo Leaf Studio!

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 (MCM) 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.

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.