Project Brief
Summary:
The Mocerino Project in Somonauk, Illinois is a masterclass in balancing beauty and complexity, serving as a multi-tiered outdoor living space built directly into the steep hillside overlooking Lake Holiday. This project redefines what’s possible when precision engineering meets timeless design. From its layered stone patios and ambient lighting, to its fire-lit gathering spaces and private dock, every inch of the property showcases Greenscape’s ability to merge functionality, artistry, and nature into one breathtaking landscape.
Scope and Key Features:
This project exemplifies Greenscape’s full-service expertise, integrating design, engineering, and craftsmanship into one cohesive vision. The design included:
A multi-tiered travertine paver patio system seamlessly built into the hillside, maximizing both views and livable space.
High-format Grand Ledge and Kodah retaining walls engineered for long-term structural performance on the steep slope.
Intricate custom masonry carried through the retaining walls, steps, and gathering areas, blending strength with refined style.
A custom-built fire pit designed for connection, warmth, and year-round enjoyment.
A fully equipped outdoor kitchen featuring custom 2-inch thick countertops paired with Blaze stainless steel appliances.
Extensive in-grade and architectural lighting woven throughout the space to highlight pathways, elevation changes, and key features.
A professionally installed irrigation system supporting efficient water management and plant health.
Layered softscape design strategically placed to soften the structural hardscape and enhance seasonal color.
A lakeside dock that connects the property directly to the calm waters of Lake Holiday.
The Mocerino Project stands as a testament to Greenscape’s mastery of transforming challenging landscapes into stunning, functional retreats.
Duration:
Completed over the course of nine months, this project reflects Greenscape’s precision, creativity, and commitment to excellence, from setting the foundation to finishing touches. Each detail was carefully executed to ensure both structural integrity and aesthetic harmony for generations to come.
Project Brief
Summary:
The Mocerino Project in Somonauk, Illinois is a masterclass in balancing beauty and complexity, serving as a multi-tiered outdoor living space built directly into the steep hillside overlooking Lake Holiday. This project redefines what’s possible when precision engineering meets timeless design. From its layered stone patios and ambient lighting, to its fire-lit gathering spaces and private dock, every inch of the property showcases Greenscape’s ability to merge functionality, artistry, and nature into one breathtaking landscape.
Scope and Key Features:
This project exemplifies Greenscape’s full-service expertise, integrating design, engineering, and craftsmanship into one cohesive vision. The design included:
A multi-tiered travertine paver patio system seamlessly built into the hillside, maximizing both views and livable space.
High-format Grand Ledge and Kodah retaining walls engineered for long-term structural performance on the steep slope.
Intricate custom masonry carried through the retaining walls, steps, and gathering areas, blending strength with refined style.
A custom-built fire pit designed for connection, warmth, and year-round enjoyment.
A fully equipped outdoor kitchen featuring custom 2-inch thick countertops paired with Blaze stainless steel appliances.
Extensive in-grade and architectural lighting woven throughout the space to highlight pathways, elevation changes, and key features.
A professionally installed irrigation system supporting efficient water management and plant health.
Layered softscape design strategically placed to soften the structural hardscape and enhance seasonal color.
A lakeside dock that connects the property directly to the calm waters of Lake Holiday.
The Mocerino Project stands as a testament to Greenscape’s mastery of transforming challenging landscapes into stunning, functional retreats.
Duration:
Completed over the course of nine months, this project reflects Greenscape’s precision, creativity, and commitment to excellence, from setting the foundation to finishing touches. Each detail was carefully executed to ensure both structural integrity and aesthetic harmony for generations to come.
Concept & Design
Engineering elegance and beauty from the ground up.
Concept:
Every Greenscape project begins with a deep understanding of both the land and the client’s vision. For The Mocerino Project, that meant finding harmony between form and function on a steep hillside overlooking Lake Holiday while ensuring long-term structural stability. The goal was to create a space that felt natural to the terrain yet elevated in experience, supported by high-format retaining systems, durable travertine surfaces, integrated irrigation, and layered lighting. Our design team collaborated closely with the homeowners to ensure that the final outcome would perform as beautifully as it looks, delivering a lakeside retreat that is both enduring and extraordinary.
Design:
With the vision established, Greenscape’s experts brought it to life through detailed 3D renderings that captured the project’s layered architecture and complex topography. These plans coordinated high-format Grand Ledge and Kodah wall systems with expansive travertine paver terraces to create clean structural transitions, while custom masonry elements unified the gathering spaces. The outdoor kitchen, outfitted with custom 2-inch thick countertops and Blaze stainless steel appliances, was strategically positioned for entertaining, and extensive lighting, irrigation planning, and softscape placement were carefully mapped to ensure long-term performance. The result is a design that appears carved from the hillside itself, evoking timelessness, functionality, and undeniable grandeur.
Concept & Design
Engineering elegance and beauty from the ground up.
Concept:
Every Greenscape project begins with a deep understanding of both the land and the client’s vision. For The Mocerino Project, that meant finding harmony between form and function on a steep hillside overlooking Lake Holiday while ensuring long-term structural stability. The goal was to create a space that felt natural to the terrain yet elevated in experience, supported by high-format retaining systems, durable travertine surfaces, integrated irrigation, and layered lighting. Our design team collaborated closely with the homeowners to ensure that the final outcome would perform as beautifully as it looks, delivering a lakeside retreat that is both enduring and extraordinary.
Design:
With the vision established, Greenscape’s experts brought it to life through detailed 3D renderings that captured the project’s layered architecture and complex topography. These plans coordinated high-format Grand Ledge and Kodah wall systems with expansive travertine paver terraces to create clean structural transitions, while custom masonry elements unified the gathering spaces. The outdoor kitchen, outfitted with custom 2-inch thick countertops and Blaze stainless steel appliances, was strategically positioned for entertaining, and extensive lighting, irrigation planning, and softscape placement were carefully mapped to ensure long-term performance. The result is a design that appears carved from the hillside itself, evoking timelessness, functionality, and undeniable grandeur.
3D Renderings
At Greenscape, every project begins with detailed computer models of your final project, giving clients a clear vision of their future space right from the get-go.
3D Renderings
At Greenscape, every project begins with detailed computer models of your final project, giving clients a clear vision of their future space right from the get-go.
Build & Maintain
Transforming vision into lakeside legacy.
Build:
Once the plans were finalized, Greenscape transformed The Mocerino Project from concept to reality with expert precision and masterful craftsmanship. Building a multi-tiered outdoor living environment into a steep lakeside slope required advanced engineering and disciplined installation, beginning with the construction of high-format Grand Ledge and Kodah retaining walls to properly manage grade and load conditions. Travertine paver terraces were then installed with tight tolerances, followed by the integration of custom masonry features, the outdoor kitchen with 2-inch countertops and Blaze stainless steel appliances, and extensive lighting across elevation changes. Irrigation infrastructure and softscape installations were carefully implemented to ensure the finished environment not only complements the natural terrain but enhances it.
Maintain:
While The Mocerino Project stands as a testament to enduring design, Greenscape ensures every landscape we build continues to thrive through proactive care and maintenance. From irrigation monitoring and seasonal cleanups to plant health management, lighting upkeep, and erosion prevention, our team provides the specialized support required for complex hillside environments. Our approach blends craftsmanship with long-term stewardship, protecting the project’s structural integrity while allowing the landscape to mature gracefully over time.
Build & Maintain
Transforming vision into lakeside legacy.
Build:
Once the plans were finalized, Greenscape transformed The Mocerino Project from concept to reality with expert precision and masterful craftsmanship. Building a multi-tiered outdoor living environment into a steep lakeside slope required advanced engineering and disciplined installation, beginning with the construction of high-format Grand Ledge and Kodah retaining walls to properly manage grade and load conditions. Travertine paver terraces were then installed with tight tolerances, followed by the integration of custom masonry features, the outdoor kitchen with 2-inch countertops and Blaze stainless steel appliances, and extensive lighting across elevation changes. Irrigation infrastructure and softscape installations were carefully implemented to ensure the finished environment not only complements the natural terrain but enhances it.
Maintain:
While The Mocerino Project stands as a testament to enduring design, Greenscape ensures every landscape we build continues to thrive through proactive care and maintenance. From irrigation monitoring and seasonal cleanups to plant health management, lighting upkeep, and erosion prevention, our team provides the specialized support required for complex hillside environments. Our approach blends craftsmanship with long-term stewardship, protecting the project’s structural integrity while allowing the landscape to mature gracefully over time.
Take a closer look.
See even more photos of The Mocerino Project in plain view!
Take a closer look.
See even more photos of The Mocerino Project in plain view!
Behind the scenes.
Step inside The Mocerino Project and meet the homeowner
who made it all possible!
Behind the scenes.
Step inside The Mocerino Project and meet the homeowner who made it all possible!