Cavanagh Design is based in Tiverton, Rhode Island, and primarily serves clients throughout the Northeast United States — Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. The firm also serves select clients in Canada and Ireland.

Yes. Michael Cavanagh is a Registered Landscape Architect in the State of Rhode Island and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He holds an ISA Arborist certification, a Master of Landscape Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design, and certifications in Geomancy and Invasive Plant Management.

Cavanagh Design is a boutique firm where Michael Cavanagh is personally involved in every project. His rare combination of certifications — licensed Landscape Architect, ISA Certified Arborist, certified Geomancy practitioner, and RI Invasive Plant Management specialist — backed by 30+ years of experience, sets the firm apart from larger, template-driven landscape companies. Every project begins with a rigorous topographical and site analysis, not a pre-set template.

Cavanagh Design offers four core services:

• Landscape Architecture — master planning, CAD, 3D Sketch-Up, hardscape engineering, planting design
• Construction Project Management — permitting, site preparation, on-site management
• Geomancy — land energy assessment and environmental harmony planning
• Invasive Plant Management — RI Certified identification and treatment of exotic species

The firm also maintains a Fine Art practice at Cavanagh.art.

Yes. Cavanagh Design uses industry-standard 3D Sketch-Up software to create immersive, walkthrough renderings of your proposed landscape before a single shovel touches the ground. Fully drafted CAD plans are also produced for exacting spatial and engineering precision. This ensures complete visual alignment before construction begins.

Yes. Environmental permit management and compliance are included in the firm's construction project management service. Cavanagh Design's RI Certified Invasive Plant Management credential also provides expanded permit allowances through the Rhode Island Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC), which is particularly valuable for coastal and waterfront properties.

Geomancy is a multidisciplinary system of land energy analysis and remediation rooted in traditions from every human culture — including Feng Shui, Genius Loci (Spirit of Place), and Water Dowsing. At Cavanagh Design, geomancy involves a professional site evaluation of natural energy, orientation, sunlight, wind patterns, terrain, and environmental characteristics before any design decisions are made. The goal is to create landscapes that feel intrinsically balanced and deeply connected to their natural surroundings.

Geomancy consultation is ideal for homeowners and land developers seeking a holistic, ecologically and spiritually considered landscape design. It is particularly valuable for clients selecting a new property, planning a significant site transformation, or seeking to understand and improve the natural energy and functionality of their existing landscape. Cavanagh Design's geomancy approach is also integrated into all landscape architecture projects at no extra cost.

Contact Cavanagh Design by phone at 401-644-9195, by email at cavanaghdesign@mac.com, or by completing the consultation request form at cavanaghdesign.com/contact. The design process begins with a site visit to evaluate the property's geography, topography, existing conditions, and your vision.

Cavanagh Design works across a broad range of project types — from intimate residential garden transformations and luxury estate landscape designs to large-scale commercial land development projects. Past projects span Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and beyond. All projects receive the same level of personal attention from Michael Cavanagh.

Invasive plant management involves the professional identification and treatment of aggressive, non-native plant species — such as Japanese Knotweed, Autumn Olive, and Oriental Bittersweet — that threaten native ecosystems and reduce property value. If you own a coastal, waterfront, or wooded property in Rhode Island or the Northeast, invasive species are likely present. Cavanagh Design's RI certification also provides expanded CRMC permit allowances for coastal work that most firms cannot obtain.