Amongst the trees

Landscape design by Dean Herald, Rolling Stone Landscapes

From the designer:

Positioned within a valley and surrounded by established trees and native wildlife, this project responds to place with a thoughtful material palette and a considered planting strategy.

Designed by Dean Herald, founder and principal designer of Rolling Stone Landscapes, the estate is conceived as a home for family life while remaining sensitive to the character of its natural surroundings.

Rather than imposing on the site, the design draws from it, allowing built form, hardscape and garden to work together with restraint and clarity.

Material selection plays a defining role in the project’s success.

Considerations in a bushland environment

"In a bushland environment, performance is just as important as appearance, particularly around outdoor areas exposed to leaf litter, moisture and changing conditions," says the owner/landscape designer.

Maia Technifirma from Eco Outdoor was selected for its slip rating around the pool and its durability within this context.

Deepdive tiles introduce a mottled surface quality that feels suited to the site, helping the material sit naturally against the shifting tones of trees, paving and shadow.

This approach to stone tile and planting creates continuity across the property, where the textures of flooring, crazy paving and brick walling complement one another without visual competition.

One of the most memorable moments within the estate is the wellness area, reached by moving through the garden and descending into a more secluded setting.

Here, a sauna, outdoor shower and supporting amenities are embedded within dense planting and soft material transitions.

Marsh mosaic, with its rich green tone, was chosen to echo the surrounding tree ferns and reinforce the lushness of the space.

The result is an area that feels sheltered, immersive and tied to its environment.

Stone tile and plantings are not treated as separate design elements but as parts of a single atmosphere, one that heightens the experience of moving through the landscape.

Elsewhere, an outdoor pavilion introduces a strong architectural gesture through its cantilevered form, yet even here the landscape softens the expression of structure.

A concrete planter box wraps the exterior edge, allowing cascading greenery to spill over and dissolve the line between built object and garden.

Planting responds to conditions

Throughout the project, the planting palette shifts according to condition and orientation, from tree ferns in shaded zones to succulents in warmer areas.

This variation gives the estate richness while ensuring every species is positioned with purpose.

In this way, stone tile and planting become the means through which the project balances utility, beauty and site responsiveness.

The same sensibility continues across stairs, paving, rooflines and the gardens that frame the swimming pool.

"Planting interrupts and overlaps with architecture at every scale, blurring the threshold between bushland and home," Dean Herald says.

There is a calm assurance to the composition, where every gesture appears measured yet effortless.

Stone tile and planting guide the experience of the property, shaping moments of arrival, pause and retreat.

The result is a landscape that feels grounded in its setting and generous in spirit, offering a place where daily life unfolds in close connection with nature.

Story by: Trendsideas