Cliff Wonsettler and Lenny Murgi built their careers studying how people move, heal and respond to the environments around them.
Today, they’re applying that same lens in a different setting — one that exists just beyond the back door.
The two doctors of physical therapy recently launched Settler & Stone, a Scenery Hill-based landscape design-and-build company serving homeowners across the Pittsburgh region. Their work centers on creating outdoor living environments—patios, walkways, retaining walls and full landscape installations — crafted with a deep respect for natural materials, thoughtful design and the restorative power of being outside.
“Over time, you start to see how much environment shapes how people feel,” Wonsettler said. “Not just physically, but mentally. The right space can calm you, ground you, pull you out of the noise of everyday life. That’s what we’re trying to create.”
While the company is new, its foundation is anything but. Years of clinical experience inform how both founders approach each project — from how water moves across a property to how surfaces transition underfoot and how the land itself wants to be shaped.
Rather than imposing on a space, their goal is to work with it.
“We’re drawn to natural and native materials because they belong,” Murgi said. “Stone, soil, plantings—when they’re used the right way, it doesn’t feel built. It feels like it’s always been there. That’s where a space starts to feel different.”
Demand for outdoor living spaces has grown in recent years, as homeowners continue investing in their properties and looking for ways to extend their living space beyond interior walls. In Western Pennsylvania, that often takes the form of custom patios, fire features, walkways and layered landscapes that reflect the region’s terrain.
For Wonsettler and Murgi, those features are just the beginning.
“We think about how a space is experienced,” Wonsettler said. “How you step into it, where you pause, where you gather. The details matter — how stone meets soil, how light hits a surface, how everything comes together to create a feeling.”
The company’s name reflects that philosophy. “Settlers” are there for the long haul. They’re where their feet are. Connected to the land. While “Stone” represents both the materials they use and the permanence behind their work—an emphasis on building something enduring.
“We wanted something that felt grounded and lasting,” Murgi said. “Spaces that don’t just look good for a season, but become part of how people live for years.”
Though their work now takes place outdoors, both founders see a clear through line from their time in clinical care.
“At the core, it’s still about helping people feel better,” Wonsettler said. “There’s something powerful about stepping outside into a space that’s quiet, natural and thoughtfully built. It gives people a chance to slow down, reconnect and just be.”
Homeowners can learn more or request a consultation at settlerandstone.com.
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