The backyard of this newly constructed home in Raleigh was not functioning well for the homeowners. Because of the way the backyard was sloped, water ran towards the house every time it rained. Also, there was no space to entertain the grandkids. We created a terraced yard with a retaining wall to divert the water away from the house. A spacious patio with a fire pit with plenty of room for seating, lighting in the steps, and a gravel pathway with steel edging provide a clean, sharp finish that will function well for years to come.

S’mores have always been a family favorite; now this family has a beautiful, safe and well-functioning place to roast marshmallows and enjoy being together. If you or anyone you know is interested in solving drainage issues or improving the function of their backyard, contact us today for a free estimate.

After moving in to their new-construction home in Wake Forest, these homeowners knew their home wouldn’t be complete until they created an outdoor living space to relax and enjoy the fall weather. This particular home is situated on a lot with a wooded lot. The sound of running water, a pond and water-plants were must-haves in the design, but it was most important that any design served to compliment and blend in with their surroundings. (more…)

We created this backyard oasis in collaboration with an electrician, a fencing contractor and a pool contractor. After moving in to what they hope will be their forever home, these homeowners asked us to completely transform their blank slate of a back yard. Now, their tranquil retreat includes a patio with a knee wall, a cascading water feature, a swimming pool, a fire pit, night lighting and many various plantings. We also installed significant drainage work that can’t be seen.

If you or anyone you know is interested in transforming their backyard into an oasis, contact us today for a free consultation.

We just completed a project in a Chapel Hill front yard where we created a stone walkway and added columns to a garden wall. Before, the entrance was a standard sidewalk leading both to the home and an enclosed garden. The garden was surrounded by a brick wall with a large white gate serving as the garden’s entrance. The original design had a functional blue print, however, it lacked character and elegance. This client wanted a customized style with more polish than the previous one.

(more…)

We just completed a custom formal water feature in an exclusive Chapel Hill neighborhood. We designed the water feature using a natural stone facade and bluestone coping to create a smooth top surface. From the bottom of the pool, one hundred lights illuminate the water and serve to enhance the welcoming entrance after dark. The large shear water fall adds tranquility and elegance to the entrance of this beautiful Chapel Hill home.

This particular project was unique in that it began as a natural water feature. We transitioned from a natural design to a more formal one by constructing it similar to how we would do a swimming pool. The natural stone facade, bluestone coping, lights and water combine to provide this home with elegance, beauty and tranquility. Most importantly, this Chapel Hill water feature makes for a welcoming entrance for any guest.

Contact us today to get a free estimate on creating a welcome entrance with your own Chapel Hill water feature, and view our water gardens portfolio for ideas.

Natural Designs just finished one of their first Raleigh pool installations. We are excited to be venturing into the business of designing and building pools.  Given that we have done an increasing amount of water features and hardscape installations in Raleigh, expanding our patios to be able to include pools naturally became our next step.

We designed and installed this particular pool and patio using travertine stone. We also created a wall and staircase with natural stone.  The stone from the patio, wall and stairs merge beautifully with the surrounding trees to create an organic and serene backyard escape. The thoughtfully placed lights not only provide safety allowing people to use the backyard at night, but they also add to the tranquil feel of the space. This family is now ready to enjoy their backyard both day and night all year long.

(more…)

Redoing steps whether at your front entry or in your backyard can make a big difference in the overall design of your home. Many clients come to Natural Designs to replace steps that are old and craking or in poor structural shape. Other clients simply want to improve the look of their home.

Natural Designs provides complete services for new stone and masonry steps. We’ll come out to your property, discuss layout options and materials and provide an estimate. Below are a couple of examples of new steps we’ve recently put in for clients. Please call (919) 522-3886 or contact us to schedule an appointment.

(more…)

Our latest project involved removing an existing brick patio in Raleigh that had become dated and no longer in very good shape. During removal of the old patio, we discovered that the drainage had been poorly installed and there were some damaged pipes. The poor drainage and damaged pipes caused water to enter the crawl space so fixing these issues was a core part of the project.

Regarding the design and installation of the new patio, the homeowner wanted an updated look with a more classic and elegant design. After discussing the options, project and design characteristics they were looking for, we recommended and decided on a cut bluestone using a “french” pattern. As you can see from the pictures, the updated design matched the design of the home much better and created an outdoor living space the home owner could enjoy and entertain guests.

If you’d like to discuss replacing a worn out or out of date patio, please contact us online or call (919) 522-3886. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how Natural Designs can improve your home.

(more…)

This was a challenging Cary Waterfall Installation project located at parkside commons in Cary/Morrisville.  The difficult portion of this installation arose because the walls were built without any consideration for the water feature. The location and steepness of the site was also challenging, requiring heavy equipment (exactors) to locate each boulder.  This was a risky and time consuming waterfall installation, but came out beautifully. Most of the people involved, including engineers and site managers, had a hard time visualizing how it could be done, but we assured them of the plan and everyone was extremely pleased with the end results.

(more…)