When it comes to owning a business, Dale and Kalli Bukowski say having a great support system and a strong customer focus is key. With these essentials in mind, the couple took a new step for their business, Aquatic Rock Formations, this spring. With over 20 years’ landscaping and water feature installation experience, a longtime vision for the Bukowskis has become a reality: a beautiful showroom in White Bear Lake that displays the projects they love to make for their customers.
Along with the custom water features, the showroom displays an added product line of outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and bars and countertops custom designed and built from artificial rock. Dale works with several different styles of rock, or “patterns,” and applies concrete stain, water-based spray or sponging to give clients the exact look they want. “Whatever anyone dreams up that they want to look like rock, Dale can do,” Kalli says.
The showroom also offers items perfect for what Dale and Kalli call “accenting the outdoors.” Patio furniture, pergolas, outdoor lighting, fire tables, and gas and log fire pits furnish the space, giving clients a sense of the look they want to create. They also have smaller items, too, including one-of-a-kind handmade patio torch lights and mailbox base stands, birdhouses, planters, rain gauges and wind chimes which provide additional ways to bring an outdoor space together.
The teamwork the two bring to the business is clear. They’ll tell you they love to bring a sense of risk and edginess to what they do, and that they’re not afraid to tackle a project someone else might pass up. “If people have an idea of what they want, we would love to help them create that,” Kalli says. “Even if it’s not something we currently have, if they have a vision, we can find a way to help them do it.”
Dale is often able to work with homeowners on pre-existing projects, or with materials they already have on hand. In one instance, a customer called Dale with an idea. He had two large water basins he wanted made into a fountain. Dale was ready for the challenge. “I’ve never considered myself someone who says, ‘No, I can’t do that,’ ” he says. The result was a beautiful custom made fountain that reflected the homeowner’s personal style and taste.
Dale notes that many clients like the water features, whether a fountain, pond or waterfall because of the sense of calm and relaxation it brings. “It gives you the sense that you’re at a resort,” Dale explains. “People don’t think they can have that, but it’s a possibility. People want to be surrounded by beauty and things that bring them joy.”
Adding an element of tranquility to their South St. Paul home is what led Jeff and Alisha Schaibley to reach out to Dale. Incorporating a waterfall feature in their backyard had always been on their list. As they laid out the plans for the backyard space, Dale asked if Jeff had ever considered a pond-less waterfall. “I hadn’t even heard of that when he mentioned it,” Jeff admits.
A pond-less waterfall allows water to cascade and “disappear” into an aesthetic rock arrangement below, allowing homeowners the luxury of a waterfall without the work of maintaining a pond. It turned out to be a great option for the Schaibleys. “I was impressed by how meticulous [Dale] was. Even when the project seemed finished, he continued to add small boulders and rocks to the feature to make it look like it was carved by nature,” says Jeff. The Schaibleys appreciated the extra detail Dale put forth to give them a customized product. “He even placed it so we can see the waterfall from every window in the house,” Jeff adds.
Since every project is customized, cost varies depending on materials used, the size of the project, lighting and other custom selections. A feature such as a small fountain set-up or repair work on an existing feature runs from $2,500–$5,000. Medium projects, including a complete water feature rebuild or an 8-by-10 pond with falls, ranges from $8,000–$15,000. Custom projects consisting of large fountain builds, swimming pool waterfalls with slide or cave builds, or large pond-less waterfall builds, start at $20,000. Installs typically take anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on the size of the project. For clients who might like an idea of what these custom features look like, there is a slideshow with many examples on display in the showroom.
Along with working hard for customers, the entrepreneurial pair says they also have a lot of fun in the business. “We’re trying to develop a good rapport, to develop a client base here,” says Dale. “[We aim] to not only provide great service and a great product, but develop great relationships, because it’s all about people.”
