Landscape architecture — Northern Michigan
Grounds designed for how a Michigan property is actually lived in.
Harrington Outdoor Design is a landscape architecture and design studio working on lakeshore and estate properties throughout Northern Michigan — Petoskey, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, Traverse City, Bay Harbor, Boyne City, and the surrounding area — site planning, shoreline and grading work, and planting design suited to a four-season Northern Michigan property.
Selected work
Three recent projects
Lakeshore residence
Bluffside Infinity Lap Pool
Charlevoix, MI
Perched atop a high bluff with sweeping Lake Michigan views, this project centered on a 75' lap pool built for both recreational swimming and competitive-style training, with an infinity edge that visually merges the water with the horizon.
A custom-engineered trench drain eliminates cross-wave action for uninterrupted laps, and an ashlar bluestone patio ties the pool into the rest of the double-lot property. A multi-phase, two-year master plan, coordinated tightly with the pool installation company around Northern Michigan's short construction season.
Entry garden
Waterfall Garden Showcase
Bay Harbor, MI
Positioned at the entrance of a large circular driveway, this slate-outcropping water feature was designed to make a striking first impression: multiple cascading waterfalls feed a naturalistic pond, with a mature Japanese maple preserved in place as the centerpiece.
The predominantly shaded site called for bright, high-contrast foliage and blooms so the garden stays vivid through the growing season. Returned in 2025 for additional woodland plantings along both sides of the drive.
Woodland retreat
Creekside Firepit Retreat
Walloon Lake, MI
Set high above Walloon Lake on a bluffside property with a natural creek running through it, irregular stone steps wind down the bank to a secluded fire pit patio crafted from natural flagstone, crossing a large stone-slab footbridge over the creek.
Nestled within a cedar forest, the space feels hidden from neighboring properties while still opening to expansive lake views. All disturbed shoreline areas were restored with native plantings to stabilize the bank.
Approach
Serving all of Northern Michigan
Hilary Harrington, PLA, founded Harrington Outdoor Design to focus on a specific kind of site: Northern Michigan lakeshore and estate properties, where grading, shoreline regulation, and a genuinely harsh winter all shape what a landscape plan can actually be. A plan has to hold up in July and in February — that's the standard for every planting palette and hardscape material selected.
- LicensureProfessional Landscape Architect (PLA), Registered
- Service areaPetoskey, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, Traverse City, Bay Harbor, Boyne City & surrounding Northern Michigan
- Project typesLakeshores, property masterplanning, challenging grades, thoughtful planting design
- Typical scopeSite planning through planting design
A bit about Hilary
The person behind the plans
I'm Hilary Harrington, a licensed landscape architect and the founder of Harrington Outdoor Design. After more than a decade designing landscapes throughout Northern Michigan, I started HOD to bring thoughtful, design-focused landscape services to the area I call home.
I love seeing a design come together like a puzzle — taking all the individual pieces and turning them into something cohesive, functional, and beautiful. There's something incredibly rewarding about seeing an idea move from my mind to paper and, ultimately, into the landscape.
I'm drawn to landscapes that feel natural, welcoming, and intentional — spaces that feel like they belong, while still reflecting the people who live there.
— Hilary