Crafting Elevation: Jordan Miller’s Award-Winning Vision in Cypress Creek

In the hardscaping world, a project’s success is often measured by the beauty of the final result. But for Jordan Miller of Landworks Unlimited, it’s the transformation that tells the real story—the creative problem-solving, craftsmanship and connection with clients that happen before the first paver is laid. His recent project in Cypress Creek, which earned him the March Hardscape Hero award, is a perfect example of what happens when vision, skill, and partnership come together.

A Legacy of Craftsmanship

 

Landworks Unlimited has been a staple in the Virginia hardscaping and landscaping scene for over two decades. Founded by Jordan’s father more than 23 years ago, the company initially focused on traditional landscaping services like irrigation, drainage and maintenance. Jordan began working summers as a teenager and quickly found his passion in hardscaping.

“I started learning the process before I could even drive,” Jordan says. “Back then, the industry wasn’t flooded with hardscape work like it is now. But once I stepped in to take over the business full-time, hardscaping just took off for us.”

Today, Landworks Unlimited specializes almost exclusively in hardscape design and construction—transforming challenging outdoor spaces into functional and visually striking environments. Jordan’s combination of ICPI certification, a horticulture degree from Virginia Tech and decades of hands-on experience set the foundation for the kind of high-caliber work that earned him the previous title of Belgard Hardscape Hero.

 

The Cypress Creek Challenge

 

When a new homeowner moved from Texas to the Cypress Creek golf community in Smithfield, VA, he was greeted by a backyard that looked picturesque from afar but proved completely unusable due to an extreme slope and loose ground. Perched just off the 15th tee box, the home sat atop a steep, unstable slope of sandy soil—graded just enough to install a deck, but not much else.

“It was totally unusable,” Jordan explains. “You’d walk on it and the ground would literally shift beneath your feet. The owner bought it sight unseen and was like, ‘What the heck can I do with this?’”

That question sparked a months-long design journey that pushed both creativity and constraint. The initial idea—a full-size raised patio—wasn’t feasible within budget. So Jordan and his team went back to the drawing board, ultimately designing a layered, multi-elevation layout that offered functionality, stability and serious curb appeal. Or rather, golf course appeal.

 

A Design Rooted in Practical Beauty

 

“We had to get seriously creative,” Jordan says. “Our goal was to bring costs down but still make the space functional and beautiful.”

The final plan included a raised patio near the home’s deck, a recessed staircase flanked by Diamond Pro® retaining walls, and a second lower patio built closer to ground level. Strategic landscaping, lighting and intricate hardscape details helped bring cohesion and beauty to the space.

“We used plants with lateral root systems to hold in the hillside,” Jordan explains. “It was a great opportunity to use our horticulture background to solve structural issues in a natural way.”

Every detail was intentional—from the use of CBPA-compliant plantings that stabilized the slope to landscape lighting that enhanced usability and ambiance. The project even included custom-wrapped pillars at the base of the deck, transforming what had been exposed footers into stylish architectural features.

“You can be a great hardscaper, but if you just put in stone and leave, it won’t have the same impact,” Jordan says. “The landscaping, the lighting—that’s what polishes a project and makes it truly shine.”

Elevation as a Design Language

 

The Cypress Creek project stands out not just for its aesthetics, but for its complexity. The property features over 15 feet of elevation change from the driveway to the backyard’s lowest point—an uncommon canvas in the generally flat terrain of southeastern Virginia.

“I just love how everything came together,” Jordan reflects. “From the driveway to the bottom patio, you transition through so many different areas. It’s rare to have that kind of elevation and space to work with around here.”

The elevation also enabled some creative design problem-solving. The homeowner was adamant about avoiding handrails, so Jordan designed the steps and landings in such a way that railings weren’t required—delivering both safety and seamless aesthetics.

Each segment of the project was tackled methodically: one day the upper patio, another the wall, the next the lower patio. This segmented approach helped keep Jordan’s install team focused and prevented them from being too overwhelmed. “I saw the big picture,” Jordan says, “but I didn’t communicate it all to the crew at once. We kept it simple—one section at a time.”

 

Built to Last—and Love

 

The transformation wasn’t just physical—it changed how the homeowner uses his outdoor space. What was once an unusable slope is now a place of comfort, beauty and connection.

“The client and his wife sit out there every night,” Jordan says. “They’ve got a couch, a solo stove and they just watch the golfers pass by. Almost every time someone tees off on 15, they shout compliments over the fence to us. He told me, ‘I’ve never gotten so many compliments on a backyard in my life.’”

And after nearly eight months, the property has held up perfectly. No erosion. No dead plants. No mulch displacement. Just a fully functioning outdoor living area that brings daily joy.

A Belgard Partnership That Elevates

 

Jordan credits much of the project’s success to the support he received from the Belgard Mid-Atlantic team.

“You don’t get support like this from many other manufacturers,” Jordan says. “Belgard makes you feel like a true partner, not just a buyer. It’s not transactional. The co-op advertising and merch are great and they also helped me engineer the wall plans. I also really appreciate the “Pardon Our Dust” door hangers in the neighborhood.”

That kind of support makes it easier for contractors like Jordan to stay focused on what matters to them: delivering exceptional results and happy clients.

“I’ve been preaching one main message to my team for years ‘don’t chase the dollar, chase a happy customer,’” Jordan says. “It leads to more jobs than any margin ever could.”

 

Looking Ahead

 

As Jordan looks to the future, he’s excited about the continued evolution of Belgard products, especially additions like Diamond Pro Smooth Face that bring modern aesthetics to an already trusted product line.

From a steep slope in Smithfield to an award-winning showcase of creativity and craftsmanship, Jordan’s Cypress Creek project is a reminder of what’s possible when skill meets support, and when a contractor chases happiness above all else.

 

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The following Belgard Hardscapes products were used in this project:

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