Written by Sue Markgraf
Building residential waterscapes reflects Larry Carnes’s belief that unique opportunities for peace and tranquility lie right outside one’s own back door. His luxurious swimming pools are natural sanctuaries where relaxation and recreation are always at home.
Based in the Chicago area, Carnes began Reflections Water Gardens in 2010. The small business grew into the award-winning, premiere waterscape company that it is today. Serving the luxury market, Carnes’s creations are found in numerous backyards throughout the Midwest and in select areas of the United States. Carnes also provides technical consulting on commercial landscape projects, including a 5-acre waterpark in the Wisconsin Dells.
Whether the desire is for a calming space to unwind, a safe place for children to play, or a memorable destination for weekend entertaining, escaping to your backyard has benefits beyond unique use of space.
HAVEN: Larry, your creations are beautiful. What drew you into the business of designing waterscapes?
Larry: My professional background is in landscaping, and I have an affinity for art. After building our home, my wife and I wanted a backyard swimming pool. We had a specific idea of what that pool should be but couldn’t find a company that really grasped our concept. So, we did it ourselves. Reflections Water Gardens grew from that vision into the company it is today. We started by mostly doing maintenance on existing water features. We then evolved to designing and building small backyard water gardens and koi ponds. Fast-forward 14 years and we find ourselves in this unique niche market, designing and building epic natural swimming pools in the luxury space.
HAVEN: What do you mean by “escape to your backyard?”
Larry: The pandemic taught us that our homes are more than places to come home to at the end of the day. People invested in renovations, expansions, and redesigning interior rooms that were previously underutilized. The same was—and is still—true of their private landscapes. Our clients tell us all the time they want more from their backyard spaces—they want an oasis and more diverse opportunities for enjoyment, relaxation and entertainment.
HAVEN: What are the benefits of living a pond lifestyle, Larry?
Larry: We live in stressful times. The beautiful, serene environment of a natural water feature lowers blood pressure and provides a sense of connectedness to Earth’s essential elements. Natural swimming pools are inherently a place of wonder, exploration, and play for all ages. They conserve water, have no need for the use of toxic chemicals, create a safe haven for pollinators and wildlife, and increase homeowner property values.
HAVEN: Do your clients want luxury or usability?
Larry: Luxury and usability are not mutually exclusive. Natural swimming pools are very grounding, and that’s their commonality no matter their diversity of designs and experiences. Our clients want a place to relax, an outdoor space that is peaceful. Calming. But active places are important to them, too, because active experiences take their minds off day-to-day stressors. Natural swimming pools call us to put down our electronics and stand with our feet in the water. We hear water tumbling over waterfalls and see the vibrant colors of waterlilies, admire the majestic stature of lotus in bloom. Smells aren’t of chemicals, but of real, clean, fresh air. It’s simple, but it’s elegant. It’s a life experience we all deserve. That’s how I define “luxury.”
HAVEN: What is your design style? How do you begin to design a natural swimming pool?
Larry: We begin by listening to our clients. We consider their lifestyle and their priorities, as well as the typography of the existing space. We ask questions to understand their dreams and goals. We capture all of that and present it in a design format that is conceptual, so clients can “see” the water feature in their own backyard.
As for our design style, each water feature is custom. There are no two alike. Our natural swimming pools are a marriage of boulders, rocks, and pebbles, mingling with water and plants. These elements are designed in harmony as a unit and in a way that complements the natural environment, appearing seamless as if Mother Nature placed it there herself.
HAVEN: The water in your projects is pristine, Larry. How do you ensure that on an ongoing basis for your clients?
Larry: Proper maintenance is crucial to ensuring the health, beauty, and longevity of an aquatic paradise. Paired with our custom maintenance services program, our enhanced oxygenation filter technology combines natural oxygen and ozone to eliminate unwanted bacteria, parasites, and viruses. This keeps water clean and ensures that the water feature is operating at its maximum potential, which means a healthy and beautiful natural swimming pool and a more enjoyable experience.
HAVEN: What other services does Reflections Water Gardens provide?
Larry: In addition to designing and crafting natural swimming pools and providing ongoing maintenance for all of our projects, our services include recirculating streams, koi ponds, pondless waterfalls, elegant water gardens, and breathtaking water fountains.
Visit Reflections Water Gardens online to learn more about Carnes’s work, to get design ideas, and read about living the pond lifestyle in the company’s blogs.
Sue Markgraf is a veteran journalist with decades of experience in media communications for the horticulture and agriculture industries. Contact her at smarkgraf@greenmarkpr.com.
