Tim McAuliffe originally thought he would retire in Texas after selling his firm in Pennsylvania and moving in 2018. However, he and his wife chose to make a change for more work/life balance with their family in 2024.
“I had the opportunity to join a local firm in the Carolina coastal area of Wilmington, North Carolina,” McAuliffe says. “We have family in Pennsylvania and in Flordia so the Wilmington area was the perfect spot in between family. This was a plus while keeping me in the same planting zone. I love working with the same Texas plants, and another bonus was the same planting zone! But the biggest plus was the freedom to go back to doing the design work I love and not semi-production work.”
After nine months with this new firm, McAuliffe felt his style and client-first approach didn’t align with the company, so he decided to start his own firm, The Outdoor Living Designer, based in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“I have children in high school and college, so with this move, I could not move my children again, so starting this firm was the best alternative to joining another local firm,” McAuliffe says.
McAuliffe says his previous experience running his own business in Pennsylvania set the groundwork for this new chapter. He also says his NALP membership helped him navigate this transition.
“The NALP membership has helped me to grow this new firm and brand over the first 15th months in business,” McAuliffe says. “I cannot say enough about the support and help available to me as a member.”
To measure the company’s success in creating one-of-a-kind designs that put the client first, McAuliffe decided to enter 50% of their projects in the 2025 NALP Awards of Excellence. With just himself, two employees and 15 different subcontractors, the Outdoor Living Designer earned 14 awards.
“From the initial consultation to our expert installation, we celebrate these awards with all of the teams and the subcontractors that allow me to create these amazing outdoor transformations,” McAuliffe says.
He already has his sights set on winning over 20 Awards of Excellence in 2026.
“By growing my brand and my team while working with my coastal clients to create one-of-a-kind outdoor transformations that showcase the coastal community and the design trends for 2026, we are hoping to create another record for a small firm in a single year!” McAuliffe says.
McAuliffe says his key to creating landscape designs that stand out from the competition is to listen to understand in all phases of the project and take a client-first approach. He also takes sustainability factors for the coastal area into consideration. He recommends that others see clients as more than a number.
“The NALP Awards of Excellence is an amazing opportunity to market and brand what you and your teams do to create for your clients each year,” McAuliffe says. “I would highly recommend entering and joining NALP to help keep and grow the education for this life we live each and every day.”
Click here to participate in the Awards of Excellence. Entries must be submitted by July 31.
