Retaining Wall, Natural Stone Steps, and Paver Walkway in Waynesville

When a backyard gets a pool, the hardscape around it has to work just as hard as the pool itself. That was the situation here in Waynesville - a brand new pool space that needed structure, access, and some polish to tie it all together.

We started with a block retaining wall that doubles as a raised landscape bed. Fresh black mulch, young evergreens planted in a clean row - it sits right next to the pool area and gives the whole space a defined edge. Without something like that, the yard just bleeds into the pool zone with no visual separation. The wall handles that problem while also giving the planting bed somewhere to live.

From there, we set a run of large natural stone steps leading up toward the paver patio. These aren't cut pavers or pre-fab treads - they're solid, rough-cut stone slabs set into the grade. That kind of natural stone pathway work takes time to get right. Each slab has to be leveled and seated properly so it doesn't shift. When it's done well, you barely notice the effort - it just looks like it belongs there.

Along the side of the house, a paver walkway runs under the elevated deck, with a line of boulders anchoring the bed edge. The brick-pattern pavers and the natural boulders complement each other well against the brick exterior. It's practical - you need a clean path through that corridor - but it also looks sharp.

The whole backyard came together as one cohesive hardscape package rather than a bunch of disconnected pieces. A retaining wall, boulder accents, natural stone steps, and a paver walkway - each element doing its job while making the space feel finished and intentional.