HAYDEN - Sean Henry is known as the man who can create paradise.

His South Carolina-based company Lagoons, Ltd. was responsible for landscape designs, natural waterscapes and pools seen at luxury resorts and multi-million dollar private homes up and down the East Coast.

The natural beauty of North Idaho lured Henry out West, and his new company, Rock & Water, opened late last year, specializes in integrating the look and feel of the Northwest into innovative swimming pool and backyard designs.

"This isn't a job for me," Henry said. "I put my heart and soul into what I do."

Henry's design work was first inspired as a kid, growing up in Redding, Calif., and exploring the unique landscapes of the Redwood National Forest. In the time since, Henry has developed his own 32-step process in hand-crafting natural-looking stone and pool designs. His carvings are made with a combination of concrete, rebar and natural materials that can be molded into formations to match any environment.

"We can blend the color of the man-made stone into what's already present in the area," Henry said.

The process includes aging and coloring to give the stone a weathered look, and Henry said it can be used to create lichen, moss and other natural effects.

Throughout his career, Henry has created rivers, hot spring-style pools, vanishing pools, fountains and waterfalls big and small. One of his more notable efforts is the pond and waterscape at Clemson University that includes a lazy river and a human checkerboard.

Henry is also a longtime inventor, with his various gadgets appearing on The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and sold at numerous online retailers.

Henry has been married to his wife, Tracy, for 23 years and they have three sons together. After vacationing in North Idaho in previous years, they made the move for a better quality of life.

"We built our paradise here and are ready to build them for people here," Henry said.

Information: RockandWater Idaho.com or (208) 446-8675.