"Lakeside Living" in Richcliff and Rivercrest

Jennifer Lake is a popular Chicago-area influencer with a keen eye for fashion, luxury travel, and lifestyle products, so it’s only fitting that she chose Unilock to help transform the exterior of her lakeside retreat.

With incredible water views as the backdrop, the potential for Jennifer’s lake house was there, but the space wasn’t living up to it. The backyard fell away on a steep slope that made the space difficult to use, and the existing small wooden deck provided minimal space to gather. The wooden surface—prone to fading and staining over time—didn’t hold up to the kind of hosting and everyday living Jennifer imagined for her family. As well, the open layout offered little sense of boundary despite the view.

Unilock Rivercrest® Wall offered the solution. Designed with the look and character of a natural dry-stacked flagstone wall, but with the durability and engineering potential of manufactured concrete, it brings a texture that feels right at home alongside the sprawling back lawn with fresh grass, lively planting, and shimmering water. As a retaining wall, it supports a raised patio that reclaims square footage from the slope and creates a level foundation for a more spacious outdoor living space. Despite the relatively small size of each individual block, the unique design of Rivercrest makes it possible to engineer a retaining wall at this impressive scale, fully supporting the back patio and introducing a sense of enclosure while still staying open for plenty of sunshine, fresh air, and the incredible lake view. Jennifer says, “This Rivercrest retaining wall solved the problem of our sloped backyard, making it possible for us to build a much bigger patio. We even had room for a custom outdoor kitchen.”

That same system is used throughout the project. In addition to supporting the raised patio, it was used to shape seat walls, build pillars, construct the grill island, and even extended to the front stoop. The design flexibility of Rivercrest allowed each element to do its job while still tying the whole property together in a beautifully cohesive look.

Across the patio, Richcliff® XL in Dawn Mist sets the tone underfoot. Part of the Elegance line and inspired by natural cut flagstone, it pairs perfectly with the dry-stacked character of Rivercrest. Copthorne® accents in Basalt add a darker border that outlines the space and gives the layout definition. Built with unsurpassed durability and authentic textures, the Elegance collection offers styles you can’t get anywhere else, with product technology exclusive to Unilock that ensures the pavers hold their look over time. EnduraColor™ keeps the texture and surface color rich, while EasyClean™ keeps maintenance minimal even in a space used regularly for cooking, dining, and hosting.

Through seasons, evolving trends, and changing tastes, the patio remains a steady presence even as styles and surroundings evolve. “We wanted to create a space that our family could enjoy, with products that look and feel timeless. For me, that was Unilock Elegance,” said Jennifer.

The same materials also define the front of the home, creating a walkway that welcomes while reflecting the elevated style that Jennifer envisioned for her home. Worn boards, cracked pavers, and plain concrete steps have been replaced with a more defined entry, with Rivercrest forming the base and Ledgestone™ coping on top. Cast from natural stone, the steps feature pitched edges that offer a natural, finished look to the space. The front entrance now feels inviting, hinting at the level of detail and thoughtful design that carries through to the new back patio.

This lakeside property now opens outward into a beautiful and spacious outdoor living space that feels every bit as stylish and Instagram-worthy as the rest of Jennifer’s home.