GreenRoots Completes Exterior Spaces at The Francis Hotel in Kennett Square

GreenRoots worked with Square Roots Collective & Riverwards General to connect the boutique hotel’s interiors with its entrance, gardens, planters & courtyard.

KENNETT SQUARE, PA, UNITED STATES, November 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — GreenRoots Design Firm has completed the entire exterior landscape at The Francis Hotel & Suites, part of Square Roots Collective’s transformation of a restored historic home at 205 South Union Street into a boutique hotel connected to the character of downtown Kennett Square.

GreenRoots’ involvement extended around the entire property, from the front entrance and metal gate to the planters, side gardens, rear of the building, and courtyard. The firm also contributed to exterior design decisions, including the siding paint color, while working closely with Square Roots Collective and interior designer Riverwards General to connect the hotel’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

The Francis features eight guest rooms, each with a theme developed by Riverwards General around a different part of local history. Square Roots Collective set the overall vision for The Francis and oversaw the project from start to finish, including its funding and administration. The nonprofit uses proceeds from the hotel to continue investing in Kennett Square.

“Working on a historic building in our hometown carries a particular responsibility,” said Josh Cauffman, Landscape Designer at GreenRoots Design Firm. “We wanted the stonework and plantings to feel like they belonged here. It means a lot to contribute to a place our neighbors will walk past and visitors will remember.”

Connecting the Hotel’s Interior and Exterior

Throughout the project, Josh Cauffman of GreenRoots and Megan Helmuth of Riverwards General met regularly to review their respective plans, working within the vision Square Roots Collective set for the hotel. Their coordination considered room entrances, views from inside the hotel into the landscape, and views from the exterior back toward the building.

Those conversations helped shape how guests would experience the property as a whole. Plantings, materials, colors, and sightlines were considered together, connecting the character of the guest rooms with the outdoor spaces beyond them.

At the front entrance, a hand-laid dry-stacked stone retaining wall and a mix of hydrangeas, shrubs, and perennials complement the historic building. The metal gate marks the transition from the street into the entrance of the hotel. Stepping through the brick-laid breezeway takes each guest to the courtyard, where layered planting, natural materials, and a sculptural water feature create a setting for gathering or quiet moments outdoors.

Planters and landscaping along the sides and rear extend that attention throughout the property. Together, these spaces make the exterior part of the hotel experience, from a visitor’s first impression on South Union Street to the view outside a guest room.

Photographs and additional details are available in GreenRoots’ The Francis Hotel project profile.

Local Craftsmanship, Shared Vision

For GreenRoots, the project brought its design-build approach into the center of its hometown. The firm’s in-house team carries projects from initial design through installation, maintaining continuity between the plans and the finished work.

At The Francis, that process meant adapting GreenRoots’ exterior work to the strong vision Square Roots Collective set for the hotel. Square Roots Collective led the project and oversaw every phase, collaborating closely with Riverwards General and GreenRoots throughout. Its vision and leadership, together with Riverwards General’s interior design and GreenRoots’ exterior work, contributed to a shared goal: a hotel that reflects Kennett Square’s history and welcomes people into its community.

“Perfection isn’t our goal, it’s our standard,” Cauffman said. “That starts with listening and carries through to how the stone is laid and how the planting fits the building. Keeping design and construction within our team helps us follow those details all the way through.”

The same attention to architecture, views, materials, and movement informs GreenRoots’ residential work. For homeowners considering a pool, patio, garden, or outdoor living space for spring or summer 2027, fall provides time to evaluate the property, develop a design, select materials, and address required approvals before construction.

Homeowners can contact GreenRoots to discuss their project and establish a design and construction timeline suited to their property and plans.

About GreenRoots Design Firm

Founded in Kennett Square in 2002, GreenRoots Design Firm designs and builds custom outdoor environments across Chester County, northern Delaware, and the greater Philadelphia region. Its services include custom pools and pool houses, hardscapes and masonry, outdoor living spaces, landscape lighting, and planting design. The firm’s in-house team manages projects from initial design through installation.

Josh Cauffman
GreenRoots Design Firm
+1 484-631-3852
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