An award-winning design representing the best in contemporary resort-style living.
One of the most influential design trends to sweep Australia is the resort-style garden. At the forefront of this push is Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes whose display garden, Resort Style Living, blitzed the field in the 2007 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, winning multiple awards, including the Gold Medal.
The centrepiece of Dean’s lavish resort-style design was a fully tiled 10m-long wet-edge lap pool that incorporated a swim-up wet bar. The stainless-steel stools were actually placed in the pool and faced a custom-designed covered outdoor bar complete with fridge, sink and storage facilities.
A handcrafted “floating” kitchen bench — a 5m-long Corian counter top suspended from the ceiling — was the feature of the main outdoor pavilion, its sleek lines and clean styling epitomising the calibre of design expected in a luxury resort landscape. At one end, the bench could be used as a dining table and at the other was a cooking station.
On the lower level extending from the pavilion, the timber-decked lounge area was perfectly positioned to take in a restful view of the pool and the massed plantings. This outdoor-room-style lounge area featured comfy furniture and wall art to create an indoors feel out of doors.
Materials used throughout the garden included stone and timber, which brought warmth and natural texture to the space. Australian products and materials were sourced where possible, such as the Australian hardwood used to construct the distinctive, custom-designed hardwood pavilion posts, and the Ithaca sandstone used for the paving and steps.
One of the most eye-catching features of the design was the massive metal sculpture from Sculptura. Positioned above the pool, the sculpture stood before a striking dragon’s blood tree, smartly linking all the other stainless-steel items within the garden.
This design is Dean’s sixth consecutive Gold Medal-winning garden, the highlight of his winning streak being receipt of a Gold Medal at the 2006 Chelsea Flower Show, held in London. Many of Dean’s designs, including the Chelsea Flower Show garden, are showcased in his book, Resort Style Living. The book is available through good book stores or it can be purchased online at the Rolling Stone Landscapes’ website.
Photography Danny Kildare
Project details:
Landscape design and construction by Rolling Stone Landscapes
Email dean@rollingstonelandscapes.com
Website www.rollingstonelandscapes.com