Residential Landscape Project | East Brisbane | 2024
When DCM Landscaping set out to transform this East Brisbane property, the brief was to create a modern, luxurious outdoor environment that was still practical and enjoyable for a growing family.
Rock N Soil supplied a wide range of landscaping materials throughout the project, from road base and decorative stone through to soils, compost, mulch, edging and Sir Grange Zoysia turf. Working closely with DCM Landscaping over several months, our team helped ensure the materials were available when required and delivered to a challenging residential site.
The result is a sophisticated landscape that complements the character of the property while creating a series of functional outdoor spaces for entertaining, recreation and family life.
The Project
Location: Laidlaw Parade, East Brisbane
Year: 2024
Project type: Residential
Landscape design: DCM Landscaping
Landscape construction: DCM Landscaping
Landscaping supplier: Rock N Soil
The property is a substantial East Brisbane residence set on a prominent corner block, with panoramic views towards the Brisbane River and city skyline.
The landscaping needed to complement an established home with strong architectural and heritage features, while creating a modern outdoor environment suited to contemporary family living.
The brief was to create a space that felt luxurious and refined without becoming impractical. The family wanted a landscape that looked at home alongside the property's historic character, while still providing areas for the children to play, lawns to enjoy and outdoor spaces for entertaining.
About DCM Landscaping
DCM Landscaping is a boutique Brisbane landscaping company specialising in landscape design and construction for residential and commercial properties.
Founded in 2021 by directors Rob Da Cunha and Chris Middleton, DCM combines more than 15 years of landscaping experience with a strong focus on quality, detail and project coordination.
The team works closely with homeowners, architects and builders to create landscapes tailored to the individual property, lifestyle and budget. With more than 50 projects delivered and a focus on both design and construction, DCM approaches each project from concept through to completion.
The Landscape Brief
The Laidlaw Parade property presented an opportunity to create something distinctly modern while retaining a connection to the character of the existing residence.
Rather than having one large, central garden area, the property incorporated a number of different outdoor zones across varying levels. This meant the landscaping needed to work cohesively across the entire property while giving each area its own purpose.
The design also needed to balance two very different requirements: a sophisticated finish appropriate for a high-end residence, and practical spaces that a growing family could actually use.
DCM achieved this through a restrained palette of natural stone, neutral materials, warm Corten steel, structured garden beds and contemporary planting.
A Modern Landscape with a Natural Palette
The material palette was deliberately kept bright and relatively neutral so the original character of the property could remain a feature.
Silver travertine around the pool provides a clean, contemporary foundation, while Nambucca Stone introduces natural texture and contrast. Redcor/Corten steel edging adds warm flashes of colour throughout the garden, creating a strong contrast against the greenery.
The planting palette was similarly considered, with dichondra, star jasmine, desert star, ferns, bromeliads, olive trees, Zoysia turf, snake plants, English ivy and Blue Senecio bringing different shades, textures and forms into the landscape.
The result is a landscape that feels modern without looking disconnected from the home.
The Landscaping Challenge
One of the key challenges of the project was the property's different levels and the number of separate recreation and garden areas.
Rather than working with one straightforward garden footprint, DCM needed to coordinate landscaping across a series of pockets throughout the property. This required careful planning of access, preparation and materials at different stages of the project.
The property's location and access added another layer of complexity.
With the site around Kangaroo Point and access to the property enclosed and restricted, getting materials into the right areas required careful delivery planning and experienced drivers.
For some deliveries, expert truck manoeuvring was required, while other products needed to be craned into position.
Rock N Soil's Role
Rock N Soil worked closely with DCM Landscaping over several months to supply the materials required throughout the project.
For a landscape of this scale, having the right materials available at the right stage is important. Rock N Soil supplied everything from structural road base and garden soils through to decorative stone, mulch, edging and turf.
The project was supplied with approximately:
- 16m³ of road base
- 4m³ of 5mm River Gravel
- 1.5m³ of certified playground sand
- 1m³ of Organically Enriched Compost
- 2m³ of Natural Valley Soil
- 2m³ of Premium Top Dress Soil
- 2¼m³ of Cypress Blend Mulch
- Sir Grange Zoysia turf
- Multiple grades of Nambucca Stone
- Split Face Granite
- Shapescaper Redcor/Corten steel edging and garden rings
- Adbri Turfgrid
The materials were supplied for a $5.7 million residential property, with the landscaping forming an important part of the home's outdoor living environment.
Materials Supplied by Rock N Soil
Road Base – 16m³
Road base was used to create stable bases for other landscaping work throughout the project. For landscaping and construction projects, road base provides a compactable foundation for applications such as pathways, paving and other hardscape areas. Rock N Soil's road base is designed as a stable, compactable base material for a range of construction and landscaping applications.
5mm River Gravel – 4m³
Approximately 4m³ of 5mm River Gravel was used throughout the garden beds. The fine gravel adds texture while complementing the project's neutral material palette and surrounding planting.
Nambucca Stone – 20–50mm
Nambucca Stone in the 20–50mm size was used around the pool, creating a strong natural contrast against the silver travertine pool surrounds. The same stone was also incorporated elsewhere on the property in different sizes, creating consistency throughout the landscape while allowing different areas to have their own character.
Shop Nambucca Stone 20–50mm Here
Certified Playground Sand – 1.5m³
Approximately 1.5m³ of certified playground sand was supplied to create a dedicated play area for the children. This helped balance the more refined elements of the landscape with a practical space designed specifically for family use.
Shop Certified Playground Sand Here
Nambucca Stone – 20mm and 5–10mm
Different grades of Nambucca Stone were used as accents throughout the property. Using the same stone in different sizes helped tie the separate garden areas together while creating variation in texture and scale.
Shop Nambucca Stone 5–10mm Here
Split Face Granite
Split Face Granite was used as feature rock throughout the property, introducing larger natural elements into the planting scheme.
Shapescaper Redcor/Corten Steel
Shapescaper Redcor/Corten steel edging was used to define garden beds throughout the property.
Garden rings were also incorporated as planters, providing a structured way to introduce additional foliage throughout the landscape. The warm tones of the Redcor steel provide an effective contrast against the neutral stonework and green planting.
Shop Shapescaper Redcor Garden Edging Here
Shop Shapescaper Redcor Garden Ring Here
Adbri Turfgrid
Adbri Turfgrid was incorporated into a pathway area, providing stability while allowing the old turf area to be replaced. Creeping dichondra was planted through the openings between the pavers, helping soften the hardscape and integrate the pathway into the surrounding garden.
Organically Enriched Compost – 1m³
Approximately 1m³ of Organically Enriched Compost was used in garden beds and planter pots as part of the growing environment for the new planting.
Shop Organically Enriched Compost Here
Natural Valley Soil – 2m³
Approximately 2m³ of Natural Valley Soil was used throughout the garden beds and planter pots.
Premium Top Dress Soil – 2m³
Approximately 2m³ of Premium Top Dress Soil was used throughout the garden beds and planter pots.
Shop Premium Top Dress Soil Here
Cypress Blend Mulch – 2¼m³
Approximately 2¼m³ of Cypress Blend Mulch was used as ground cover throughout the garden beds. The mulch helped provide a finished appearance while complementing the natural stone and planting palette.
Sir Grange Zoysia Turf
Sir Grange Zoysia was used across different sections of the property to introduce lawn into the landscape. Its fine leaf, slower growth and low-maintenance characteristics make it particularly suited to refined residential landscapes where the lawn needs to complement rather than dominate the overall garden design.
The Finished Landscape
The finished landscape brings together the property's heritage character with a distinctly modern outdoor environment.
Silver travertine, Nambucca Stone, Redcor edging and feature granite provide a restrained material palette, while the planting introduces the colour and texture needed to soften the hardscape.
The result is a series of connected outdoor spaces that feel cohesive across the property's different levels and garden areas.
The landscape provides spaces for entertaining and relaxing around the pool, dedicated areas for children to play, lawn areas, structured garden beds and quieter planted zones throughout the property.
As the planting matures, the greenery will continue to become a stronger feature of the landscape, complementing the neutral materials and warm tones of the Redcor steel.
Supplying a Complex Brisbane Landscaping Project
Projects like Laidlaw Parade demonstrate that supplying landscaping materials is about more than simply getting products from the yard to the site.
For trade customers, access, timing, quantities and delivery requirements can all have an impact on whether a project stays on schedule.
Rock N Soil supports Brisbane landscapers with:
- Live delivery updates via SMS and email
- Flexible delivery windows
- Online ordering
- Trade accounts
- Seven-day yard operation
- GPS-tracked delivery fleet
- Multi-trained and skilled drivers and yard staff
- A range of trucks and delivery vehicles to suit different access requirements
Our fleet includes vehicles suited to different site conditions, including limited-access deliveries where manoeuvrability is important.
At Laidlaw Parade, this meant working around restricted access, carefully manoeuvring trucks and, where required, craning products into position.
Our aim is to make the supply side of a landscaping project as straightforward as possible, so landscapers can concentrate on the work happening on site.
Brisbane Landscaping Supplies for Trade & Residential Projects
From bulk soil, bulk mulch, bulk stones and bulk sand to road base, decorative rock, turf, edging and landscaping accessories, Rock N Soil supplies the materials needed for projects of all sizes.
We're an accredited supplier through Landscape Queensland, reflecting our commitment to professional standards within the Queensland landscaping industry.
With a large product range, trade pricing, online ordering and a flexible delivery fleet, Rock N Soil works with Brisbane landscapers, builders, designers and homeowners across a wide range of projects.
We're proud to be one of Brisbane's most highly rated landscaping yards and to support the local landscaping industry with practical product knowledge, reliable service and flexible delivery options.
Project Gallery
Laidlaw Parade, East Brisbane – DCM Landscaping
Photography supplied by DCM Landscaping.
See complete project on the DCM Landscaping website: https://dcmlandscaping.com.au/projects/laidlaw-prd
Looking for a Brisbane Landscaping Supplier? Planning a residential landscape, renovation or larger landscaping project?
Talk to the Rock N Soil team about Brisbane landscaping supplies, bulk materials and delivery options for your next project.
Whether you need bulk soil, bulk mulch, bulk stones, bulk sand, road base, decorative rock or turf, our team can help you work out what you need and arrange delivery to your site.
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