Rowhouse
Growhouse
Philadelphia Outdoor Living Design
Rowhouse Growhouse is a Philadelphia-based exterior design studio led by Kristin Barrett Brown, focused on shaping outdoor living spaces so they function as intentionally as the interiors they’re connected to. The work centers on how a space is laid out, how it’s used throughout the day, and how elements like planting, shade, and structure come together to support that use over time.
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Philadelphia homes often include rooftops, patios, terraces, and small yard spaces that require thoughtful planning to perform well. Sun exposure, wind, drainage, and access all influence how a space can be designed. Rowhouse Growhouse approaches each project through that lens, developing outdoor living design solutions that may include pergolas and shade structures, container gardens and planting plans, privacy screening, and spatial layout that defines how the space is used.
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Kristin’s background in spatial design and environmental styling informs this approach, bringing a strong sense of composition and material awareness to each project. From rooftop gardens and roof deck layouts to patios, terraces, and container planting systems, the goal is to create outdoor environments that feel cohesive, functional, and aligned with how you actually want to live in the space.
Serving Philadelphia and Neighboring Communities
Rowhouse Growhouse works with clients throughout Philadelphia, including Society Hill, Old City, Washington Square, Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square, Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, Bella Vista, Queen Village, Northern Liberties, and Fishtown.
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We also serve nearby Main Line communities including Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Bryn Mawr, and Villanova.
The Navy Yard, Philadelphia
Meet Kristin Barrett Brown
For more than twenty years, Kristin Barrett Brown led an event design and production studio in New York City, creating environments for brands including Target, Giorgio Armani, Laura Mercier, Smith & Hawken, and Godiva. Her work focused on shaping immersive spaces, often incorporating organic elements and layered materials to create environments that felt both intentional and experiential. She was especially drawn to garden-centered design, including projects like the Pop Up Store created for Target and Smith & Hawken.
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After moving to Philadelphia, she began transforming her own rowhouse into an urban home designed around how she wanted to live. That process included rethinking both interior and exterior spaces, with a particular focus on creating a rooftop garden retreat that became part of her daily routine — a space shaped by planting, layout, and the realities of city living.
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Rowhouse Growhouse grew naturally from that experience, bringing together her background in spatial design, planting, and material composition with a practical understanding of how outdoor spaces function in Philadelphia. Today, her work focuses on designing outdoor environments that feel cohesive, livable, and grounded in how people actually use their space over time.
Let's Create Together
Rowhouse Growhouse designs outdoor environments for city living in Philadelphia, with a focus on how a space is laid out, how it’s used, and how elements like planting and shade support that use over time.
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Planting is approached with longevity in mind. Perennials are used wherever possible so the garden returns each season, reducing the need to constantly replant while allowing the space to grow in and feel more established over time. In Philadelphia, where many outdoor spaces receive partial sun or are surrounded by buildings, plant selection is carefully considered — incorporating shade-tolerant varieties, along with trees, flowering plants, and even vegetables that can thrive in those conditions. The goal is to create something that not only looks good, but continues to work, season after season, without feeling high-maintenance or uncertain.
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If you’ve been thinking about your outdoor space and what it could become, we’d love to hear about it. We offer a simple starting point — a short consultation to walk through your space, your goals, and what’s possible.