Multiple zones and layered gardens create a space that adapts to every moment
Rolling Stone Landscapes – 2026 Pool of the Year Awards Entrant
Set among mature trees on a vast Dural acreage, this remarkable pool and garden project designed by Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes delivers a true sense of escape. Designed as a destination rather than a single feature, the pool anchors a series of outdoor experiences that invite lingering afternoons, social gatherings and quiet moments of retreat, without ever feeling at odds with its natural surroundings.
From the outset, the brief was clear: create a resort-style environment that could flex with the owners’ lifestyle. With adult sons and a busy professional life, the clients wanted a place to decompress, entertain friends and enjoy time together. The solution is a multi-zoned poolscape complete with spa, swim-up bar, shallow lounging areas and in-water lounges — each element carefully considered for comfort and flow.
Spanning approximately 22m x 12m, the pool’s generous proportions are balanced by thoughtful material choices and lush planting. Porcelain coping and pavers in Maia Technifirma by Eco Outdoor frame the water, while Deepdive tiles bring depth and richness to the pool interior. These refined finishes are softened by layered gardens that weave between hard surfaces, ensuring the scale never feels overwhelming.
The site’s natural fall became a design advantage rather than a constraint. An infinity edge draws the eye outward, while elevated gardens and a striking stone blade wall introduce structure and movement through subtle water features. Planting in and around the pool breaks up linear paving lines, adding texture and a relaxed, organic feel that enhances the resort mood.
Beyond the pool itself, Dean and the team at Rolling Stone Landscapes delivered the entire outdoor setting, including a feature entertaining pavilion and curated outdoor furniture selections. The result is a cohesive landscape where architecture, planting and water work together seamlessly — an outdoor environment that feels both indulgent and deeply comfortable.
For Rolling Stone Landscapes, this project reflects a core design philosophy: respond to the site, respect scale and create spaces that genuinely support how people live. In Dural, that approach has produced a refined yet welcoming retreat, one that feels worlds away while being perfectly attuned to its setting.
At a Glance
Pool design: Dean Herald — Rolling Stone Landscapes
Pool built by: Rolling Stone Landscapes
Size: Approx. 22m x 12m
Site: Seven-acre property
Coping: Maia Technifirma porcelain — Eco Outdoor
Tiles: Deepdive — Eco Outdoor
Pavers: Maia Technifirma porcelain — Eco Outdoor
Landscaping: Rolling Stone Landscapes
Outdoor furniture: Eco Outdoor
Special features: Glass spa, infinity edge, swim-up bar, stone blade wall and water feature
Company Profile
Founded by Dean Herald at just 19 years of age, Rolling Stone Landscapes has grown into one of Australia’s most respected pool and landscape design and construction studios. Dean’s career is marked by industry leadership and accolades, including a gold award at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in London, Australian Landscaper of the Year, and induction into the TLA Landscaper Hall of Fame.
Specialising in pool and landscape design with detailed construction, Rolling Stone Landscapes delivers 20 to 30 pool projects each year across Sydney’s Hills District, Lower North Shore, Longueville and the Northern Beaches. The studio is known for creating tailored outdoor environments that connect families to their spaces — thoughtful, enduring landscapes designed to be lived in and enjoyed.
As managing director, Dean remains closely involved in every project, guiding teams through design, approvals and construction to ensure each project meets the studio’s exacting standards. A published author of Resort Style Living and Residential Landscape Design, Dean’s work is widely featured across print and television, and continues to influence trends.
For more information
Rolling Stone Landscapes
A: PO Box 3341, Dural NSW
P: 02 9651 5002
M: 0404 866 799
E: sales@rollingstonelandscapes.com
