Best five Exterior Designs in Fairfield

Here we showcase Fairfield, Connecticut’s top five Exterior Design and Landscaping experts! Discover the finest local designers as we highlight their exceptional quality, creativity, and innovative approach that makes them stand out. Let’s dive into the best of exterior design and landscaping excellence in Fairfield.

 

1. Ranney Designs

Ranney Michaels is a full-service Architecture, Design, and Construction firm rooted in Fairfield County. The company was formed in 2003 through the merger of Eric Michaels Architect, AIA and Ranney Design—two creative forces with deep experience and distinct strengths.

Eric Michaels, AIA, a lifelong Fairfield County resident and second-generation architect, founded his firm in 1993 after apprenticing under his father. His portfolio includes a wide range of residential, commercial, and retail projects across the region.

Sharon Ranney launched Ranney Design in 1993 after relocating from the Midwest. Her foundation in visual arts—spanning painting, drawing, and sculpture—shaped her unique approach to spatial design.

Their collaboration quickly revealed the power of their combined expertise, leading to the creation of Ranney Michaels. In 2006, the firm expanded into General Contracting to ensure seamless delivery and top-tier quality throughout every phase of a project.

Today, Ranney Michaels continues to deliver inspired spaces with an integrated approach to architecture, design, and construction.

Services Offered by Ranney Designs

1. Architectural Design

  • Custom residential architecture tailored to individual lifestyles
  • Expertise in site planning and spatial organization
  • Experience in both modern and historic architectural styles

2. Construction & General Contracting

  • New construction of single-family homes
  • Additions and expansions to existing structures
  • Interior and exterior remodeling
  • Comprehensive renovation projects

3. Historic Preservation

  • Specialized work with historic homes and structures
  • Restoration and maintenance of architectural heritage

4. Design-Build Integration

  • Seamless coordination from concept to completion
  • In-house collaboration across design, permitting, and construction

5. Project Management

  • End-to-end oversight ensures a smooth and enjoyable process
  • Efficiency and quality at every stage from design through hand-over

 

2. Vicente Architects

Founded in 1999, Vicente-Burin Architects is an award-winning architectural practice specializing in bespoke residential design. Led by partners Paulo Vicente, A.I.A., and Martina Burin, A.I.A., the firm is known for crafting exceptional projects tailored to the unique visions of discerning clients.

At the heart of Vicente-Burin’s approach is a dedication to simplicity and timelessness. Their design philosophy focuses on distilling concepts to their purest form—whether through efficient floor plans, expressive material choices, or celebrated structural details. Each project is considered holistically, balancing program requirements with context, natural features, and budget.

With over 20 years of experience, the firm has cultivated a process that yields architecture rooted in substance, integrity, and originality. Every project is guided with personal attention, as a partner remains involved from Schematic Design to Construction Administration. This ensures a thoughtful, collaborative experience where client priorities are deeply understood and translated into built reality.

Our Services

  • Island Cottage
  • Tidal Inlet Retreat
  • Beach Cottage
  • Modern Suburbia
  • Willow House
  • Saltbox
  • Waterfront Victoria
  • Cottage Compound
  • Compo Beach
  • Water Edge
  • Mediterranean
  • Coastal Cottage
  • Stone House
  • Play House
  • Stone Cottage
  • Country House
  • Country Compound
  • Shingle Style

 

3. Raymond Builders

Founded in 1998, Raymond Design Builders is Fairfield County’s premier design-build firm, delivering timeless craftsmanship and client-focused service for over two decades. From initial concept to completion, the team is dedicated to transforming homes through a highly adaptive and collaborative approach tailored to each client’s needs.

What sets Raymond Design Builders apart is their fully in-house design expertise paired with a proprietary cabinet and mill shop, allowing for bespoke detailing and customization beyond what standard manufacturers can offer.

Their client-centric philosophy is reflected in exceptional communication standards, including 24/7 access to a personalized construction management portal. Clients stay fully informed with real-time scheduling, progress tracking, and direct communication with the project manager, ensuring transparency and peace of mind every step of the way.

The firm’s design-build method streamlines the remodeling and custom home process, eliminating the complexities of managing multiple vendors while staying true to budget and timeline. With a fixed-price contract model, Raymond Design Builders honors financial clarity and trust.

Whether you’re seeking a luxurious bathroom upgrade, a kitchen redesign, or an entirely custom home tailored to your lifestyle, their team works closely with you to bring inspired solutions to life. Serving Fairfield and Westport communities—including Southport, Greens Farms, Saugatuck Island, Old Hill, and more—Raymond Design Builders is your trusted partner for creating elevated living spaces.

Let them guide you from vision to reality with dedication, creativity, and craftsmanship that define excellence in residential design and construction.

What we do

1. Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling

We remodel kitchens and bathrooms in Fairfield County, including locations such as Southport, Greenfield Hill, Fairfield Beach, and Westport.

Your bathrooms and kitchen are integral to your daily routines, hosting guests, and providing organization in a busy home. However, if your finishes and fixtures are dated and in disrepair, or the layout hinders more than helps, it’s high time for a remodel.

The cabinets, flooring, hardware, and amenities should not only reflect your style but also be durable enough to stand up to the heavy use these important spaces serve. At Raymond Design Builders, we approach design with deep intentionality, attention to detail, and a sense of interconnectedness that makes our creations more than the sum of their parts.

Our kitchen and bathroom remodels across the Fairfield area exceed our clients’ expectations in both design and function. Cabinets with soft-close doors, high-end finishes, a smart layout, a perfectly balanced color palette, and materials that are elegant yet durable will facilitate daily routines and elevate your home’s atmosphere.

At Raymond Design Builders, we cherish collaboration and openness from the very beginning. Thorough communication builds trust and clear understanding and it’s how we’re able to deliver homes and spaces that reflect exactly what you need from a remodel. It all starts with answering your questions to build confidence in our process, so we’re addressing a few of the most asked questions by homeowners in the Fairfield, Connecticut area.

2. Home Addition Services

When you know you’re lacking that extra space that would make life at home easier and more comfortable, it can be frustrating. Or maybe you’re expecting a new family member or an older loved one to move in soon. Adding onto your Fairfield area home has the power to solve a lot of problems, like a need for more storage, a place to house guests, create a more functional layout in a larger kitchen, or add another bathroom.

Adding onto your existing Connecticut home requires specific professional expertise, gained from years of experience and training. Your addition will need to blend seamlessly with your home, feeling as if it’s always been there. At Raymond Design Builders, we specialize in keen design that addresses not only the space you need but the spectacular style you want.

Our proven design-build process starts with your vision and ends with exceeding your expectations, all within your budget and timeline. We’ll assess your home as it is today, ask about your home’s challenges, and we’ll work together to find solutions that fit your unique lifestyle and design goals. Collaboration is key, and we truly enjoy every opportunity to improve the lives of our clients through the design-build process.

3. Outdoor Living Services

Visualize a warm Connecticut summer evening. What do you see? Is it preparing a hearty BBQ for friends and family in a custom outdoor kitchen? How about relaxing on a porch with stunning water views? Is it a movable glass wall that opens onto an expansive covered porch and dining area?

Dine al fresco, sip wine around a fire with friends, throw a birthday party without crowding your home, and soak in some sun next to the pool. Whether you’re celebrating, relaxing, dining, or connecting, add to your quality of life with an outdoor living space.

Our team at Raymond Design Builders is ready to transform all these ideas into a reality. Our designers will sit down with you to craft a custom design that makes the most of your outdoor space, blending perfectly with your home and the surrounding nature.

How? It’s all thanks to our proven design-build process that houses the design and construction processes under one roof. No more hiring a separate architect and builder with multiple subcontractors. With one point of contact, seamless communication, earned trust, and transparent accountability, Raymond Design Builders can offer an easy home remodeling experience, from start to finish.

4. Custom Home Services

We build custom homes in Fairfield County, including locations such as Southport, Greenfield Hill, Fairfield Beach, and Westport.

Your home should be a perfect fit. Like a tailored suit or your favorite pair of shoes, your home should feel like it was made for you. And, with a custom home, it can be!

Imagine entering the front door of your Fairfield home to a welcoming sensation of peace. Everything is in order because every element — from the layout to the style choices — reflects your needs and tastes. The kitchen is your ideal mix of beautiful and functional; the bathroom feels like a spa, with luxury features of your choice; the mudroom has built-in custom storage space for every family member’s coats, shoes, and bags. These details are just the beginning when you design a custom home with Raymond Design Builders.

With our client-centered designers, your dream home has never been more in reach. We work with you from concept to completion to create a bespoke home for your life. We even have an in-house mill shop, where you can get vanities, kitchen storage, and other custom cabinetry made to your exact specifications. Don’t wait to start living in a home that feels like home.

 

4. Ganim Garden

Since 1938, Ganim’s Outdoor Market has been a family-owned and operated cornerstone of Fairfield’s gardening and seasonal retail community. Founded by John Ganim as a humble fruit stand, the business quickly became a beloved local spot, expanding over the years to include seasonal flowers, autumn produce, pumpkins, and festive Christmas trees.

For three decades, John Ganim served customers with quality and care. In 1969, to meet growing demand, John and his son Lee relocated the business to its current Fairfield location, laying the foundation for what is now recognized as a premier garden center.

Today, Ganim’s continues to honor its heritage of exceptional service and a welcoming, family-run atmosphere, bringing seasonal joy and garden inspiration to generations of loyal customers.

High Quality Plants & Curated Selections

Each year, we select the “best of the best” of the new varieties available. The plants you find here are specially chosen for this area. In addition, you’ll benefit from our years of knowledge, and we’ll share our tips and tricks with you so that yours will be a garden to be proud of. Gardens can be time-consuming, and we want you to be successful with yours!

Our hanging baskets are legendary. Perennials are bright, bold, and bursting with color. Our annuals have flower power that lasts and lasts to bring you a spectacular summer garden. Ganim’s Garden Center plants are locally grown and are selected for our area, and they will perform well in your home garden.

Extensive Plant Inventory

  • Annuals

  • Perennials

  • Indoor Houseplants

  • Tropical Plants

  • Shade Plants

  • Native Plants

  • Fruits & Vegetables

  • Herbs

  • Shrubs

  • Trees

 

5. Fairfield Pool

With a longstanding history and a solid track record, Fairfield Pool has built a reputation for excellence that stands above the competition. As other pool companies have come and gone, Fairfield Pool continues to thrive as a trusted member of the Fairfield County, CT, business community. We take pride in delivering unmatched customer service, cutting-edge pool technology, and cost-effective elegance, bringing your backyard summer dreams to life with consistency and style.

Services