The homeowners of this property had a huge landscape dilemma; a dramatic elevation change. The solution: building an upper pool patio and connecting it to a lower-level cozy fire pit area with natural looking Maya steps.The elevation change from the upper patio to the firepit required retaining walls and steps. Mini-Creta 6” in Shale Grey with a 3” Onyx Black banding was used for its soil retaining and anti-erosion capabilities. This particular wall was also chosen for the beautiful curves it produces, echoing the circular shape of the Shale Grey Valencia fire pit and the Flagstone & Blu paver clad patio also in the same color. Villagio paver in Onyx Black was used as a banding to recall and tie in the black banding built into the Mini-Creta walls. By choosing to work with, not against, the land’s layout and the elevation changes in this backyard, the family was able to increase the size of their outdoor living space and benefitted from the long-term structural advantages of having soil retaining walls to better control the erosion of their land.