A Country Estate, Refined

Saddle River, NJ

Learn More About the Project

As seen on Designing Spaces

Project Description

Set deep along East Saddle River Road on a breathtaking 14-acre property, this country estate offered abundant beauty—meadows, woodlands, a serene pond, and wide-open lawn. But it lacked a cohesive sense of place.

Magic Landscaping’s approach was to let the land lead. With a “less is more” philosophy, Drew and the team preserved open lawn expanses and enhanced them with architectural stonework, sculpted gardens, and spaces that invite both stillness and celebration.

The journey through this estate now unfolds with a quiet sense of luxury. A reimagined entry court welcomes you with grace. A bluestone patio and thoughtfully positioned pool offer moments of leisure and serenity. Throughout the property, the landscape doesn’t just impress—it belongs.

This project is a masterclass in restraint, rhythm, and refinement.

Project Challenges

The expansive site posed two major challenges:

1. Pool Placement: With set-back limitations and grade shifts, it was difficult to find a placement that felt integrated and unobtrusive. The solution was to install the formal pool in close proximity to the drive court—then soften it visually with a freestanding privacy wall and lush green framing.

2. Visual Disruption at the Front Lawn: An exposed utility box sat directly in the center of the otherwise majestic lawn. Working with engineers and utility providers, Magic redesigned the grading plan and used custom fieldstone enclosures and subtle recontouring to make the structure virtually disappear—transforming an eyesore into invisible infrastructure.

Beautiful landscape design in Saddle River, NJ

    • Granite Cobble Drive Court: A sweeping drive with hand-laid cobblestones forms an elegant, old-world welcome and transitions seamlessly into the home’s architectural palette.

    • Classic Poolscape: A crisply edged, rectangular pool framed in lush lawn and stone detailing offers a sense of modern elegance with resort-level relaxation.

    • Elegant Bluestone Patios & Walkways: Timeless and cool underfoot, bluestone surfaces provide beautiful transitions between outdoor spaces, from dining terraces to garden paths.

    • Formal Retaining Walls: Built with hand-placed fieldstone to manage elevation changes and sculpt the garden’s vertical layers while remaining visually soft.

    • Gravel Garden Paths: Low-profile pathways defined by lush borders lead to quiet destinations like a garden bench or guest house, drawing movement without distraction.

    • Private Garden Retreat: A circular parterre garden with boxwoods and seasonal color anchors the landscape in romance and geometry. At its center, a stone birdbath and gravel court offer a perfect moment of pause.

  • Before: A grand property with untapped potential: beauty interrupted by functional flaws and visual discord.

     After: An estate that breathes: intentional, refined, and grounded in quiet elegance. Nothing shouts. Everything speaks.

    This project exemplifies how Drew and the Magic team don’t just design spaces—they translate feeling into form, honoring the natural character of the land while crafting a living experience that’s serene, timeless, and unforgettable.

  • Elegant, Timeless, Restrained, Refined, Structured, Naturalistic, Understated Luxury

  • Bluestone Patios and Walkways, Formal Pool Garden, Custom Retaining Walls, Freestanding Privacy Wall, Utility Screening with Grading & Stonework, Entry Court, Native Plantings, Meadow and Woodland Integration

  • Budget: $1M+

  • Saddle River, NJ

  • Residential, Estate Renovation

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