Author: Karen Redick

After 20 years in business, Saratoga County’s Redbud Development is still going above and beyond to deliver the outdoor living spaces of their clients’ dreams.

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If you’re a homeowner, you’ve probably dreamed about elevating your outdoor living space. An in-ground pool, an outdoor kitchen, a new screened porch… the possibilities seem endless. But where to begin? A call to Redbud Development is a good place to start.

“We’re not selling a product, we’re providing an experience,” says Operations Manager Karen Redick, who runs the Wilton-based landscape design firm with her husband, Geff, who is a licensed landscape architect. To create the perfect outdoor living experiences, the Redicks prioritize getting to know their clients on a deeper level—their style, lifestyle, interests, hobbies, and how they love to entertain.

“For example, a client might tell us that a pool is at the top of their wish list,” Karen continues. “But is a pool really the best fit for their desires, their site, and their budget?” To find out, Geff or Matt Dennis, Redbud’s other landscape designer, will meet with the client at their home to assess the site and discuss their needs and wants. Are they a young family with kids? Or are they an older family with grandkids? Are they empty-nesters looking for a place to entertain their adult friends? Or are they sports enthusiasts looking for a space to swim laps? Often, the Redbud team will explain the maintenance a pool requires, and that, along with other factors, might help them realize that what they really want is not actually a full-on pool, but rather a swim spa, hot tub, or plunge pool.

Then comes the design phase and the inevitable question: Is this realistic? “The Redbud design process is very collaborative,” Geff explains. “We work with the client to prioritize what features they absolutely want, eliminate those that are not that important after all, and identify which ones might be phased in over time.”

Redbud also recognizes and respects that every client has a budget. Some are grand, and some are not. Through creativity and honest conversation, the firm helps clients create spaces that are truly buildable and not just pretty drawings that end up on the shelf in the closet. The goal is to create beautiful and functional spaces that clients will use and enjoy for years to come. If a client is cost-conscious, Redbud is more than willing to re-engineer and come up with creative solutions. And if a client is not as budget-conscious, the team utilizes the flexibility to develop ultra-tailored spaces aligning with the client’s style.

So, how does the Redbud team make it happen?

Once the custom design and budget are finalized, Redbud assembles a team of skilled professionals from their trusted network, including carpenters, stonemasons, pool contractors, electricians, and plumbers. When a project demands specialized expertise, they leverage their deep industry connections to find the perfect fit, as they did for a recent custom pool project. That job came with challenges on multiple fronts, including site conditions, material selection, custom finishes, and budget constraints. “Out of all the pool contractors in the area, we found Cypress Pools was most willing to take on the project and collaborate with us to work through the details,” Geff says. “It was a great team effort, and the client was very pleased with the outcome.”

“That’s how we approach every project that we work on, whether it is a pool project, an outdoor living space, or an interior renovation,” Geff continues. “We have a strong team of people that we work with regularly, and then if we need a new or uncommon trade, we’ll find that specialty contractor to get the job done.”

Geff and Karen have built their company on a hands-on approach that never cuts corners. “Twenty years ago, when we created our first brochure, we defined our core values as creativity, reliability, and integrity,” Karen recalls. Two decades later, those principles have cemented Redbud’s reputation as the region’s most trusted landscape design firm.

Redbud Development, one of the area’s premier creators of outdoor living spaces, is thrilled to be approaching their 20 year anniversary this August.

The business, founded by husband and wife duo Geffrey and Karen Redick, was started in earnest back in 2004. For the past two decades, Redbud Development has been helping countless residents discover, or sometimes rediscover, that their current house truly is the house of their dreams, all through the redesign process. The business has faced its share of obstacles through those years, from the difficulty of starting up a new company to a global pandemic, but has navigated every challenge. 

On Day 1, Karen and Geffrey founded the business on three principles: creativity, integrity, and reliability. While the business has evolved and grown throughout the years, these principles still hold as true as ever.

A graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Geffrey received his bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture in 1993. He worked in Glens Falls for four years before moving to Long Island after marrying Karen. While living there, he worked for several years under other licensed architects and gained his own license in the process.

In June of 2004, Karen and Geffrey decided to move back to the upstate area. Karen has a background in business with a bachelor’s degree in International Language/Business from the University of Scranton and a master’s degree in Finance from CUNY Baruch. They decided that their combined skills would make for a successful company. “We thought together as a team we would be well equipped to handle our own company,” Karen said. She handles the business end of Redbud Development, including contracts, insurance, and marketing, while Geffrey handles the front end tasks like designing and construction management.

During their 20 years in business, Karen and Geffrey have faced many challenges, one of the biggest being in 2020 during the onset of Covid-19. The global pandemic forced their business to shut down for several months, but once it was safe to do, so they started working again and even saw an increase in sales.

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