urban oasis

We wanted to install a large patio. Stephen did a great job. He helped us decide on the best material, i.e. rumbled clay bricks; gave us a quality job, done on time; and did so with an eye for detail like making sure the patio drains properly and putting down grass seed and straw where needed. We've had a few dinner parties on the patio and have received rave reviews from our friends and guests.

We had a basic, very large, stained and crumbling concrete front stoop that had to go! It was great working with Stephen to develop a design that incorporated all the features and materials we were looking for including brick to tie in with the adjacent brick, bluestone steps as well as new rumbled pavers for the front walk and a new patio, all while making it look like it had always been there. At the same time the new stoop has a modern flare with an asymmetrical design to include a built in planter on one side wall and a stone cap on the other with cascading steps down to the new rumbled paver patio and walkway. Stephen, his crew and subs were a pleasure to work with and we could not be more pleased with the quality of the craftsmanship. It has really changed the entire façade of our home and is so much more inviting. We highly recommend Urban Oasis and look forward to phase two on our back yard project.

We had a small boring deck, an ugly retaining wall, and an awkward slope off the back of our cabin. We hired Urban Oasis to design a new, larger deck to accommodate a hot tub and also provide significantly more space for lounging, gathering and outdoor dining. Stephen was responsive, thoughtful and best of all creative. He designed a set of new terraced retaining walls and decks that flow down the slope to the lower grade The decks function and flow perfectly. His thoughts about materials were spot on, and his knowledge of native plants is incredible. The result is fantastic, we’re so happy with how it turned out. It really is nice to know that there are still true artisans working out there. There are probably lots of contractors who could get your job done, but finding one with a legitimate creative vision and diverse knowledge is a real gift. Can’t highly recommend Urban Oasis enough.

Stephen did a wonderful inspired job for us in creating a front patio with artistic plantings. He understood what we were looking for and designed a front brick patio surrounded by plantings that flows seamlessly with the colors and shapes of our older home and semi-circular steps. He and his team worked in a timely fashion, and kept me updated - he is a great communicator with an artistic eye! We are looking forward to working with Stephen on Phase 2! I very highly recommend working with Stephen and Urban Oasis!

Urban Oasis did an exceptional job on our landscaping. They presented very creative ideas, executed the plan on time and on budget, and listened to our feedback. We are very happy with the results and would recommend them without reservation.

Steven was terrific. He has a strong design sense that brought great vision to our vague hopes, and he and his team worked incredibly hard to do wonderful work in no time flat! We look forward to the next phase.

Stephen creates inspired garden settings. When our 25 year old deck was on it's last supports, he helped us replace it with a modern stone and steel raised patio. Now the patio blends in with our Northwoods Zen garden and pond. We will continue o work with him on sculpting our plantings in new and creative forms. He is an excellent pruner when you need to contain the growth of your garden.

We are just finishing up the beautiful design Stephen dreamed up for us and it’s amazing. Everything flows so perfectly. He somehow turned my 50x50 flat urban yard into a masterpiece. If your looking for something artistic and unique he’s perfect. To save cost we did most of the work ourselves but he came and placed all the plants in position to make it easier for us. Also answered my way too many questions

I have worked with Stephen Kung a few times over the years. More full yard landscape job and smaller maintenance/replacement work. He's a great communicator, accountable, has fantastic ideas in your budget, and importantly, does not make you feel bad for neglecting a shrub or having no clue how to take care of your landscape! He goes over care for each plant, and gets his own hands very dirty in the job. I would highly recommend working with him. And the only guy I will call in the future.

I have loved working with Stephen Kung for a number of years. His knowledge, integrity, and creativity never cease to amaze me. He brought order and a tranquil sense of beauty to our very shady urban yard. Who knew how many shades and textures there are to green! Our yard has been given a city garden award for a number of years now thanks to Stephen. He is a delight to work with.

We lucked into being referred Stephen Kung. He's a musician, and his multidimensional creativity showed itself in our enjoyable discussions and his ultimate plan. We live in Summit Hill, in Saint Paul. We needed a sleek deck build for a side yard as well as landscaping for there and the front yard. After listening to us, he drew up an excellent design, which we executed fully based on his lead. He knows plants. He knows spacing. He has imagination. I choose my words carefully in saying we sit outside and marvel at our new spaces. Among many other inspiring element, he bordered the deck with large (very) custom-made, metal planter boxes (that patina!) - where we plant food, pollinators, and whatever else we want, and he expertly placed a wide variety of flowering plants, bushes and trees. We get non-stop compliments from friends and neighbors, but mostly from passers-by. He did a really great job.

We hired Stephen to design and install a garden and patio in a small urban space underneath our deck. He maximized the space - this tiny former mulch patch is now a beautiful urban oasis where we enjoy sitting. The project was delivered on time and on budget. We paid $10K.