About Carter Design Group
Rooted in Ted Carter’s vision.
Carried forward by an employee-owned team.
The Company
For more than 45 years, Ted Carter has shaped a way of working grounded in collaboration, craftsmanship, creativity, meaningful relationships, and care for the natural world. That philosophy continues to guide Carter Design Group today.
Formerly Ted Carter Inspired Landscapes, Carter Design Group is an employee-owned landscape design and construction firm based in Buxton, Maine. We design, build, and care for landscapes that are intentional and personal, creating places of respite from a busy world and natural extensions of our clients’ homes.
As the company enters its next chapter, Ted continues to guide our design vision as Creative Director, while Harry Portlock serves as President. Together with our employee-owned team, they carry forward the values and commitment to clients that have defined the company for decades.
Our Approach
Specializing in a naturalistic style, our aim is to create a landscape that not only fits the existing environment, but looks as though it has always been there. We endeavor to create landscapes that are both attractive and functional. We work closely and collaboratively with our clients to ensure their wishes and needs are listened to and interpreted correctly. We emphasize the importance of a strong visual relationship between the inside and outside of our clients’ homes.
Our Mission & Values
Our Mission
Empowering people through cultivating relationships with our clients, our team members, and the Earth.
Through our transformative landscape designs and installations, we strive to awaken in ourselves, our clients, our team members, and our collaborators the ancient and enduring connection to the natural world around us.
Our Values
| Value | We... | The Embodied Action |
|---|---|---|
| Integrity | Uphold | Protecting the standard and keeping your word, even when no one is looking. |
| Accountability | Solve | Moving past blame to find the solution and own the outcome. |
| Craftsmanship | Hone | The relentless pursuit of sharpening your skills and perfecting the details. |
| Collaboration | Cultivate | Nurturing relationships and ideas so the collective result is greater than the individual effort. |
In 2026, our team adopted four core values. Each is a noun, an action, and a daily practice. Together they describe how we work and who we are.
Employee-Owned Since 2019
Built together. Owned together.
Carter Design Group has been employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan since 2019. Employee ownership reflects a philosophy that has long been part of the company: by engaging others, we empower those around us to contribute their ideas, talents, and perspectives, creating something far greater than any one person could accomplish alone.
Our Team
A natural evolution in leadership
As Carter Design Group enters its next chapter, Ted Carter continues to guide our design vision as Creative Director, while Harry Portlock serves as President.
Harry’s relationship with the company began at age fifteen as an after-school job. After serving as Production Manager since 2021, he now leads the company while continuing to oversee construction and installation work.
Ted will continue to guide the creative vision of the company he has shaped over more than four decades.