A Lakeside Build With Rosetta Grand Ledge
Project Name: Flora, Mississippi, Lakeside Patio
Manufacturer: Deep South Precast
Landscape Designer: McCrory & Associates
Contractor: Turfscape Earthwork and Utilities, LLC
Location: Flora, Mississippi
Year Built: 2026
“Who doesn't want a 180-degree view off the back of the pool staring at a lake and being able to enjoy their fire pit?” – Brad Pepper, Turfscape Earthwork and Utilities, LLC
The Challenge: Creating a Cohesive Outdoor Design on a Sloped Site
Sometimes, a waterfront property is ready-made to host a family’s dream home. But more often than not, architects, designers, and contractors are tasked with turning sloping sites into stunning spaces. Such was the case with this residence in Flora, Mississippi.
The home had to be raised to accommodate the site, necessitating carefully planned retaining walls, transitions between elevations, and positive drainage to protect the home's foundation. At the same time, the landscape needed to accommodate a pool and spa, multiple patios, comfortable walking routes, and an inviting front entrance. The project called for more than a retaining wall in one area. The team needed a cohesive landscape design that could bring together several distinct spaces while making the property's lake views a focal point.
Delivering the homeowner’s desired result would require coordination among the architect, owner, general contractor, and installation team. Clear plans and a shared understanding of the finished design would help the team address potential obstacles before construction progressed.
For Brad Pepper, owner of Turfscape Earthwork and Utilities, and his hardscape installation team, the design needed to translate into a plan his crew could confidently execute. That meant clear blueprints, a defined wall layout, reliable field benchmarks, and a material plan that showed installers where each block belonged and helped ensure the right materials were on site.
The Solution: One System, Multiple Possibilities with Grand Ledge
Rosetta Hardscapes’ Grand Ledge retaining wall was selected to perform the heavy lifting for this multifaceted project. With Grand Ledge, the project team could address the property's varied elevations and functional needs with absolute confidence. Rather than relying on separate systems for each area, the team incorporated Grand Ledge throughout the landscape to create a consistent look and purposeful transitions between spaces.
For Pepper, the ability to see a detailed design made all the difference for this project. “The architect being able to use the 3D model that Rosetta and [supplier] Earthscape [Supply] shows allows us to walk through the project with the architect, the owner, and the contractor, as well,” he explains. Grand Ledge is supported by a complete suite of design and installation resources, including solution-specific SketchUp model files and templates for SRWall 4.0 and 5.0. The Turfscape Earthwork and Utilities team knew the entire plan from the beginning, allowing them not only to execute the designer's vision but also to provide the customer with detailed pricing. But Pepper’s appreciation for Grand Ledge wasn’t limited to its design simplicity. He and his crew also called out Grand Ledge’s straightforward installation.
“Every stone has its place, so it's really easy for your crew to know where this is going to go, what pallet to choose from, and making sure you have that material on-site.” – Brad Pepper, Turfscape Earthwork and Utilities
The Outcome: A Connected Design with Endless Possibilities
The completed Flora, Mississippi, project demonstrates how Grand Ledge can serve a variety of purposes within a single residential landscape. From the pool and patios to the front driveway, the system helped the team manage elevation changes, define usable spaces, and create transitions that connect the property.
A contoured Grand Ledge wall in the front defines the home's driveway, manages a slight elevation change, and creates a more intentional, finished entrance. The sweeping wall supports a raised berm, home to several mature trees, and serves as a contrasting backdrop for a row of accent bushes. It acts as an introduction to the property’s cohesive outdoor design, which carries through from the front of the residence to the lakeside.
If the driveway wall was the appetizer, there’s no question that the rear of the home is the main course.
Multiple Grand Ledge walls form the foundation of the outdoor living spaces, including the main pool/spa deck and the fire pit area.
Perfect for Pools: Rosetta Handles the Heavy Lifting
Pools bring significant weight and structural demands to a landscape. Rosetta Hardscapes retaining walls offer the strength and stability to support pool installations while creating attractive, functional outdoor spaces. From managing elevation changes to defining poolside patios, Rosetta helps make ambitious backyard designs possible.
See how Grand Ledge helped transform a challenging Lake Norman, North Carolina, property with pools, dramatic elevation changes, and versatile wall applications.
The pool and spa deck stepped down slightly to the cozy fire pit area. Rosetta’s Dimensional Wedge Fire Pit serves as the focal point of this gathering spot, and even with the area sitting several feet below the pool deck, it offers a commanding view of the lake below. Two rows of Grand Ledge Freestanding Wall Blocks were installed on top of the retaining walls with a steel fence anchored to the exterior row. The inside row – which featured two courses – serves as a cleverly integrated seat wall for times when visiting friends outnumber the classic Adirondack chairs that ring the fire.
Completing the project is the duo of gently curving staircases that allow access to the lawn and lakefront beyond. Rosetta Dimensional Steps serve as both steps and small landings, allowing for an easy descent to the lush lawn below.
“Rosetta really gives us the ability to use particular blocks for steps that are gentle to walk down, stair step our walls so we can really see the landscape on the backside and present the house as the contractor will really appreciate and so will the customer.” – Pepper
The Flora project is a great example of how much you can do with Grand Ledge and complementary Rosetta Hardscapes solutions like the Dimensional Wedge Fire Pit and Dimensional Steps. Across the property, the same wall system helps support the pool and patios, manage changes in elevation, create comfortable transitions between levels, and give the front driveway a more finished look.
It's this combination of design flexibility and practical planning that makes Grand Ledge such a valuable wall option for challenging residential properties. Whether you're creating a poolside retreat, connecting multiple outdoor spaces, or making better use of a sloped lot, Grand Ledge offers more ways to bring the landscape together.
For homeowners and design professionals looking to make the most of a challenging property, Grand Ledge provides the flexibility to do more than retain soil. It can help shape the spaces, connections, and features that make an outdoor environment work.
