He wanted a lake house, she wanted a pool. Tucked away on a small cul-de-sac in North Reading is a backyard oasis like no other. “During our initial meeting with the homeowners, it became apparent that they wanted a unique pool, so we suggested a free-form gunite pool surrounded by an indigenous Goshen Stone patio, custom cut to create ultra-tight joints. The stone arrived in huge slabs — most over 5’ x 5’ in size — and varied significantly in thickness. Countless hours were spent cutting, chiseling, and even sandblasting this life-sized jigsaw puzzle. The final look was exactly what we were shooting for.” Russell The pool itself has a dark, pebble finish with a long, custom bench and a simple, spillway stone creating a perfect respite with a calming sound. Surrounding the pool and patio is a lush lawn with large swatches of summertime perennials. The homeowner is an active gardener, so providing him with areas to hone his skills was paramount to our success as a design firm. Large, architectural boulders were carefully arranged throughout the rear yard as both design elements and as functional furniture. A custom-built, wood, wire, and split granite fence meets pool-enclosure requirements and adds that farmhouse-feel to the overall look. Carefully arranged Goshen step stone set flush in the lawn orchestrates movement throughout the garden while connecting the house and pool in a thoughtful, artistic way. No need to travel north to the lake when you’ve got this to enjoy daily — right in your own backyard!