HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

For over 50 years, The Barn has transformed ho-hum yards into stunning landscapes and great escapes.

65 Bc2025 04 017 New England Granite Walls Mortared Bluestone Walkways With Limestone Accents And Precast Limestone Planters With Seasonally Changed Flowers Frame The Entrance — New England granite walls, mortared bluestone walkways with limestone accents, and precast limestone planters with seasonally changed flowers frame the entrance.

You can go home again. Just ask Tom Kusmerz. As a kid working for his grandfather’s lawn maintenance and gardening business, Len’s Landscaping, he pulled weeds and watered plants for $3.56 per hour. After attending the University of Iowa, where he studied business and finance, Kusmerz worked at the Board of Trade. But it wouldn’t be long before he felt dirt under his nails again. “As the floor trading was disappearing,” he recalls, “I went back to the family business and have never left since.”

By then, the family business had metamorphosed into The Barn Nursery & Landscape Center, a retail garden center and landscape construction business. In 2022, the family sold the retail side to focus on landscape design, construction, and maintenance under a new name, The Barn. Located in Barrington, its many services range from expert maintenance programs and custom potting to full-scale landscape design and construction.

Like a well-tended garden, the business has weathered its share of changes. It began quite humbly as a lawn mowing service in the city. In 1973, Kusmerz’s father and grandfather set up shop in Hawthorn Woods and branched out to provide landscaping services for suburbanites who wanted more than a weed-free lawn. Over the years, the company went from installing simple paver patios, planting trees and shrubs, and erecting retaining walls to creating sophisticated outdoor rooms that allowed families to make the most of their outdoor space. “We have expanded from basic timber retaining walls and brick patios to full masonry construction, landscape lighting, outdoor kitchens, water features, pools and spas, pergolas, and pavilions,” says Kusmerz. “And we use very high-end 3D software so that our clients can fully visualize the end result of their potential project.”

No doubt about it, tiki torches, boom boxes, and the ubiquitous plastic Monobloc chair have given way to sophisticated outdoor lighting designs that extend usability into the evening, first-rate audio systems, and furniture that wouldn’t look out of place in a family room. One of the biggest changes is the popularity of hardscapes as a central element in contemporary outdoor design schemes. “Patios, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens have become must-have features, turning backyards into true extensions of the home,” notes Kusmerz. “Homeowners are no longer just thinking about traditional lawns and garden beds, they’re designing complete outdoor ‘rooms’ that offer both beauty and practicality.”

Turning a so-so yard into something special takes real planning. “When homeowners are looking to enhance their outdoor space, the first step is understanding how they want to use it,” Kusmerz explains. “Just as an architect or interior designer considers functionality inside the home, we take the same approach outside. We ask key questions: Do you entertain often? Do you love to cook and need an outdoor kitchen? Do you want a peaceful retreat with lush gardens, or are you looking for a low-maintenance space for kids and pets to enjoy?”

Once a client’s needs have been determined, The Barn’s landscape architects and designers devise the best approach to realizing the aesthetic and functional requirements of the project. “Layout and flow are crucial,” says Kusmerz. “Just as rooms inside a house need to connect seamlessly, outdoor spaces should feel natural and inviting. Sun exposure and shade play a big role in comfort, and we often incorporate pergolas, umbrellas, or even strategically placed trees to create the right balance. Materials matter, too. Durability and maintenance are key, whether selecting pavers that withstand harsh weather or choosing plants suited to the climate.”

Recently, Kusmerz and team transformed a 14,233-square-foot lot in Elmhurst into a well-appointed retreat for year-round entertaining. The scope of work ranged from relocating a pool and setting it against a masonry wall punctuated with LED lighting—all backed by a formal hedge of long-blooming hydrangeas and espalier-shaped European hornbeams—to creating an outdoor kitchen equipped with a drop-down screen to provide shade and bug protection. “Beyond aesthetics, we incorporated smart solutions for stormwater management,” relates Kusmerz. “A large dry well behind the pool was repurposed to support a custom putting green, surrounded by permeable gravel and stone coping, ensuring proper drainage while adding a recreational feature. Landscape lighting enhances both safety and ambiance, making the space usable well into the evening.”

Three generations on, The Barn very much remains a family business. And that family includes the devoted team that has made the outfit such a success. “Our longest-standing employee just retired after 43 years,” shares Kusmerz. “This year, our delivery driver, Martin, will be here 36 years, seasonal designer, Martha, 25 years, and construction supervisor Angel, 27 years. I believe this a testimony to treating people with respect, trusting them to make their own decisions, and creating career growth opportunities. I fully trust my team to do whatever it takes to exceed our clients’ expectations.” And after many years there himself, Kusmerz continues to find deep fulfillment in helping homeowners achieve the landscapes of their dreams. “Getting a text from a client enjoying the pool with their kids, sitting by their new fire pit with friends, or preparing some fabulous meal in their new outdoor kitchen is what really keeps me pushing to create the next perfect space.”