Layers of Luxury

IN Franklin Lakes, NJ

See the Transformation

Inground pool with patio in Franklin Lakes, NJ

Before:

A backyard full of potential, but steep, segmented, and difficult to use.

AFTER:

A luxurious, flowing landscape experience, crafted with soul and story. Every step feels intentional. Every level invites connection. It’s no longer just a yard—it’s a journey.

Project Description

Set on over four acres beside a quiet pond, this Franklin Lakes estate asked for more than curb appeal—it needed a narrative. Though the home evoked classic farmhouse elegance, its sloped backyard felt disconnected, inaccessible, and incomplete. The clients dreamed of something that could bring their house and land into harmony, a place where nature, comfort, and design could meet.

Magic Landscaping reshaped the hillside into a flowing fairytale of terraces, stonework, and water. What was once an imposing drop became an invitation: to wander, to gather, to pause. With every level, the space draws you deeper into its rhythm, toward the stillness of the pond and the beauty of the journey itself.

This project is luxury carved from the land itself.

The existing grade presented a dramatic drop between the house and pond, making the yard feel inaccessible and fragmented. Instead of fighting it, Magic used the elevation as inspiration: terracing the slope into elegant platforms connected by riverstone walls and bluestone stairs.
Another key challenge was creating a pool area that met code without compromising views. The lower retaining wall was engineered to satisfy safety requirements, eliminating the need for fencing and preserving the immersive, resort-like atmosphere.
Elegant, Layered, Naturalistic, Organic, Refined, Inviting, Classic, Sculptural, Warm
Riverstone Retaining Walls, Sculpted Bluestone Staircases, Vanishing Edge Pool, Lower Soaking Pool, Brick Patio Terrace, Multi-Tiered Terraces, Outdoor Living Rooms, Lakefront Views, Natural Plantings, Grade Resolution
$1M+
Franklin Lakes, NJ
Residential, Landscape Renovation