--- title: "Reflections Water Gardens — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/reflections-water-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1007508597 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1007508597.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Reflections Water Gardens" category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/6e03990402fba833_4308-w400-h400-b1-p10--.jpg address: "1450 Walnut Dr, West Dundee, Illinois 60118, United States" latitude: 42.0962 longitude: -88.2902 phone: "(815) 955-4911" website: http://www.reflectionswatergardens.com rating: 5 review_count: 20 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 98 last_updated: 2026-09-11 --- # Reflections Water Gardens Original Houzz profile: [Reflections Water Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/reflections-water-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1007508597) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** West Dundee, IL - **Serves:** Northern Illinois and the surrounding Great Lakes region. All United States per project. - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (20 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2024), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Reflections Water Gardens is a premier water feature design, build, and maintenance firm based in the Chicago land area; specializing in the creation of unique garden environments with an emphasis on water. Our naturally balanced ecosystem ponds work with nature, not against it. We pride ourselves in creating water features that appear to have always existed in their surrounding landscape. Enhance your landscape with one of our custom water features designed specifically for you. Whether you choose a pond, natural swimming pool, pondless waterfall or a rainwater harvesting system with a decorative water feature, you’ll be thrilled with the sight and sound that water brings to your landscape. ### Services Provided - Design - Construction and Maintenance of ponds - lakes - koi ponds - waterfalls and natural swimming pools. Repair - Enhancement and Troubleshooting of water features as well as Consulting Services. ### Areas Served - Northern Illinois and the surrounding Great Lakes region. All United States per project. ### Typical Job Cost $10,000.00 - Unlimited ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Reflections Water Gardens | | Address | 1450 Walnut Dr, West Dundee, Illinois 60118, United States | | Phone | (815) 955-4911 | | Website | http://www.reflectionswatergardens.com | | Followers on Houzz | 98 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Reflections Water Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/reflections-water-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1007508597) - **Website:** http://www.reflectionswatergardens.com - **Phone:** (815) 955-4911 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2024), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 20 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — ashley peterson, June 2023** > Can't say enough nice things about this company and the great customer service they offer! I feel like its rare these days to find people that actually want to help, but this company is amazing! **★★★★★ — Quantus Pools, July 2018** > I have had the pleasure of working with Larry on a few projects. His profesionalism always speaks for itself as he is meticulous in his approach to each project. The vision he has when maneuvering and manipulating the natural stone into a waterfeature always amazes me. I look forward to working on the next project with Larry and his team. **★★★★★ — Eric Herman, Feb. 2015** > I've worked with Reflections Water Gardens, Larry Carnes, in the capacity as a magazine editor covering the aquatics industries. Based on my experience, Larry is a consummate professional with solid design skills and artistic sensitivity. He is passionate about his art and craft and a student of the art of "water shaping" -- a true artist and an extremely good guy. **★★★★★ — Culliton Quinn Landscape Architecture, Feb. 2015** > We collaborated with Larry on a display garden for the 2014 Chicago Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier. The main feature of the garden was a modern bio pool. Reflections Water Gardens designed the bio pool system; they engineered the re-circulation system with proper flow rates and pump specs, carefully selected aquatic plants, and fully installed the pool liner, upper retention area, and a spill-over water feature and lower basin. Larry is a knowledgeable contractor who is diligent and easy to work with. We had a great experience teaming up with Reflections Water Gardens and hope to work with Larry in the future. **★★★★★ — dennistiliks, Feb. 2015** > I have known Larry Carnes for many years and as owner of Reflections Water Gardens, Larry goes above and beyond to make sure all bases are covered from first consultation to final finish of project. He is a good listener and respectfull of his clients wants and needs. I've seen completed projects and Reflections always amazes me with what they do. As a landscape supplier I have also recommended Larry to some of my clients looking for his type of service and as some in my shoes know....if you recommend someone they better do a great job or you'll hear it. All I've heard was "Where has this company been and thank you for telling us about Reflections Water Gardens." They should always be considered to bid on your next water feature. Try them and you'll know what I am saying. **★★★★★ — Waterscapes by Jesse Dutra, Feb. 2015** > Reflections Water Gardens is a professional and talented group. There water features and ponds are some of the best I have seen in the industry. I had the privilege to meet Larry when he became a BioNova partner in 2013. He has shown to be a valuable partner in designing and building the BioNova Natural Swimming pool. I look forward to learning and collaborating with him for years to come. **★★★★★ — Chalet, Feb. 2015** > Our business partnered with Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens last year. We asked Larry to create a parade float that was a working fountain with jets shooting water into the air from the back of one of our landscape trucks. While we had the concept, it took Larry a very short time to design the solution and complete a materials list. He was very diligent meeting our deadlines and the finished product what exactly what we had envisioned. So much so, that we were one of 5 theme winners in a parade of almost 200 competitors. > > Larry was there for us throughout the entire process, going way beyond the call of duty. He even dismantled it for us. He was very conscious and respectful of our budget, too. He made what had the potential to be a total disaster (if the mechanics malfunctioned during the parade) a complete success. People were blown away with the finished product! **★★★★★ — Dean Snow Fine Homes, Jan. 2015** > I cannot say enough about the outstanding project that Reflections did for very complex project I had > undertaken. The clients were blown away and I could not be more satisfied. I highly recommend Reflections Water Gardens, they are great designers and their construction process is top notch. > > Dean Snow Elegant Estates **★★★★★ — gjtax, Jan. 2015** > A professional design and proposal of a water feature in our backyard to include a waterfall, pond and plantings. The design included a detailed, colored sketch layout with specific boulder sizes, pump and filter equipment as well as plantings. > The proposal was very detailed with each item identified indicating the cost as well as labor to complete the installation. > The installation required extensive excavation, sculpturing of the pond and surrounding landscape, installation of fabric and liner, boulder placement, outlining the pond area with large stones and boulders throughout and the planting of various plants, water lilies, shrubs and flowers. > The installation was completed promptly, efficiently and the entire site cleaned up with no trace of construction. > Larry Carnes, the owner, and his crew were a pleasure to work with. > I would highly recommend Larry Carnes and Reflections Water Gardens. **★★★★★ — patriciahowe, Jan. 2015** > We hired Reflections to install a water garden in our show room at Lafarge Fox River Stone. > He did a fantastic job, creating a very natural water feature, using a large variety of both natural and manufactured stone. Our goal was to use this as a sales tool to display the products we carry. Reflections exceeded our expectations. They were respectful and professional to both our staff and our customers. > > To see a picture of the completed project please visit www.foxriverstone.com **★★★★★ — Lou Sigety, Jan. 2015** > Back in 2013, Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens was recommended by our Landscaping contractor as part of a large but short time-framed landscaping project - we needed to meet a hard deadline of my son's wedding. Larry and our Landscape contractor worked together to make a seamless flow between the more traditional landscaping project (a lot stone work and plantings around the perimeter of my backyard) and the flowing water feature Larry installed. This included coordinating and pooling the cost off purchasing various sizes rocks that were used by both contractors. The result was stunning. The water feature was like a magnet for those at the wedding and even a year and a half later we still are very pleased with the tranquility and relaxing nature this water feature brings. We can't wait until spring comes and we can start it back up. > > Details: 16' x 2' pondless Waterscape using Wisconsin Granite boulders 6-24" mixed. Project duration: ~2 weeks from signed contract to completion. **★★★★★ — bbiedermann, Jan. 2015** > Larry's work stands out from the others. He has a talent for making things look very natural. Given the opportunity to work his creative magic, the project looks like it was there….and the house was built around it (not the other way around which is how most projects look). I would recommend Larry without reservation. Bill Biedermann, Crystal Lake IL ## Selected projects - [Natural Swimming Pool. 2014 Chicago Flower and Garden Show](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/natural-swimming-pool-2014-chicago-flower-and-garden-show-pj-vj~516962) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - [Small Pond with Large Stone](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/small-pond-with-large-stone-pj-vj~451089) - Location: Chicago, ID - Photos: 3 - Description: This pond and waterfall were constructed with Pennsylvania Fieldstone boulders. Although the pond itself is on a smaller scale, the use of larger stone pulls this design together perfectly. Evergreens provide privacy while gray birch will provide shade and structure. The recycled rail road ties make for a gathering and viewing area. Perennials were plugged into sod to create a low maintenance meadow look and feel. - [Estate Pond](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/estate-pond-pj-vj~450935) - Location: Chicago, ID - Photos: 7 - Description: After two years of fighting with a failing pond liner, the resident decided to replace the liner in the pond. This 150’ x 115’pond sat above and flowed into a larger pond which was lined with PVC liner. We were replacing this with a 45 mil epdm fishsafe rubber liner. This presented a problem: there is no way to adhere the new rubber liner to the existing PVC liner in the lower pond. The solution was to pour a cement 18” wide x 2’ deep footing next to the wier damn between the two ponds in order… - [Mountain Stream](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mountain-stream-pj-vj~450875) - Location: Chicago, ID - Photos: 8 - Description: Our goal was to create a concept for the client using an assigned space that would resemble a mountain stream. From concept to completion, the entire project was designed and installed by us. Our expectations were high for finishing on time and for the overall aesthetic value of the area. The client also demands quality and for construction that is completed on-time. The end result was a walk-up pond complete with waterfall and natural landscaping using local rock, boulders and native plants, us… - [Japanese Inspired Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/japanese-inspired-garden-pj-vj~450839) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 5 - Description: Asian influences blended with native plantings helped create this garden, which we call Prairie-fusion. Water is the main focus of the garden, which falls and flows creating both visual and audial impact. Colorful koi dot the dark waters which reflect light and landscape. Choices in construction material were made to enhance a rustic look while touches of Japanese-inspired influences were appropriately placed to introduce an exotic feel. In keeping with the traditional Japanese gardens, raked ro… - [Limestone Water Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/limestone-water-garden-pj-vj~450804) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 5 - [Weathered Limestone Water Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/weathered-limestone-water-garden-pj-vj~450688) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 [See all 7 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/reflections-water-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1007508597) --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-11.*