Carved in Stone: A Private Lagoon Retreat

Saddle River, NJ

Project Description

This Saddle River home had the land, the privacy, the hillside, but not yet the story. The clients dreamed of a backyard that would feel like a true getaway. A place that blended resort luxury with natural beauty, rugged textures with refined experience.

Magic Landscaping used the natural slope of the land to sculpt a secluded lagoon, anchored by a boulder-lined water feature, a cascading spa, and a freeform pool that feels born of the earth, not built into it.

Layered hardscaping, lush plantings, and defined outdoor zones now offer distinct invitations: swim, lounge, cook, gather, reflect.

It’s not just a pool—it’s a place to live.

Project Challenges

The home’s steep terrain could have made this space unusable, but instead, it became an asset.

Magic Landscaping embraced the hillside, using it to create enclosure, movement, and drama. Natural retaining walls and expert grading allowed the pool and patio to nestle into the slope, rather than fight it. The result is a space that feels protected, intimate, and expansive all at once.

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- Lagoon-Style Pool: Organic in shape, carved into the hillside, and bordered by natural boulders and flowing plantings—this pool disappears into the landscape.
- Spillover Spa & Waterfall Feature: The raised hot tub spills into the pool below, cascading over stone in a multi-sensory experience of motion, sound, and calm.
- Multi-Level Paver Patio: Spacious enough for sunbathing, dining, and lounging, this patio integrates multiple hardscape materials for subtle definition and aesthetic richness.
- Fire Feature & Cabana: A built-in fire feature encourages connection into the evening hours, while the nearby cabana anchors the space with structure and comfort.
- Outdoor Kitchen: Sleek, fully integrated, and stone-clad, the kitchen turns entertaining into an effortless art.
- Retaining Walls with Purpose: Natural stone walls don’t just hold back the hillside—they define the space, hold the story, and shape the flow of the landscape.
Before: A sloped yard—untamed, disconnected, and undeveloped.
After: A sanctuary carved from the land itself. Organic, immersive, and emotionally transporting. Every element flows. Every material belongs.
The space no longer simply exists behind the house—it transforms the home, offering a lifestyle of peace, play, and togetherness.
Organic, Resort-Like, Naturalistic, Sculpted, Inviting, Sensory, Immersive
Lagoon-Style Pool, Boulder Waterfall, Spillover Spa, Multi-Level Paver Patio, Outdoor Kitchen, Fire Feature, Poolside Cabana, Stone Retaining Walls, Hillside Grading, Lush Plantings
Budget: $150K
Saddle River, NJ
Residential, Backyard Transformation