Hidden within a valley, Amongst the Trees was conceived as a deeply personal project for Landscape Designer Dean Herald, founder of Rolling Stone Landscapes. Surrounded by towering trees and dense bushland, the property offered an extraordinary natural setting in which to create a private family sanctuary centred around a poolside pavilion and generous alfresco spaces. Determined to avoid painted surfaces, Herald instead assembled a gallery of Eco Outdoor materials to shape the retreat, allowing architecture, materials and planting to work together in quiet harmony.
The landscape design unfolds as a sequence of outdoor zones that balance gathering with retreat. At its centre sits a breezy pavilion – part cabana, part outdoor kitchen – positioned beside an expansive infinity pool that anchors the entertaining spaces. Underfoot, Maia Technifirma forms the material foundation, running continuously through the pavilion and across the pool surrounds. Selected for its durability and performance in wet areas, Maia’s creamy grey tone and stone-like texture create a calm, cohesive surface.
The infinity pool, the visual centrepiece of the garden, is lined with Deepdive glass mosaics. Inspired by the classic tones of traditional dive pools, the tiles introduce mottled blues and fossil-like patterning that shift subtly beneath the water’s surface. Their glossy finish catches and refracts light throughout the day, giving the pool a luminous depth.
"The goal for this project was having non-painted finishes, having materials layer the walls in different areas was really important.” Dean Herald
Within the pavilion, the outdoor kitchen is defined by a rich composition of glazed lava tiles. Calisto tiles line the surrounding walls, their soft milk-white glaze and gently speckled surface reflecting light and brightening the space. At the centre, the wood-fired oven is wrapped in Halley glazed lava tiles, whose deep cerulean tones introduce a striking focal point.
Beyond the social heart of the garden, quieter moments emerge. Along shaded pathways that lead deeper into the trees, a sauna and outdoor shower offer a more private wellness retreat. Finished in Marsh glass mosaics, the curved outdoor shower sits quietly among the ferns. Its jade and forest-green tones mirror the surrounding foliage, enhancing the feeling of being immersed in nature.
Even where there are no strong colour contrasts, shape and texture come into play. The clean, linear courses of Meda brickwork sit alongside the irregular forms of Sarelle crazy paving and Maia Technifirma. Unified by harmonious tonal shades, the three materials create visual interest through their contrasting forms, reinforcing Herald’s intention to let natural finishes define the character of the garden.
Amongst the Trees captures the easy rhythm of outdoor living. Throughout the property, a carefully considered palette of Eco Outdoor materials ties each space together. The result is a relaxed family retreat where landscape, architecture and materiality combine to create a place designed for gathering, slowing down and enjoying life outdoors.
