Kind words from my clients
Almost all of my work comes from referrals and word of mouth. This is why.
Black Beach House, Haumoana
“It takes a great deal of talent, empathy, and scholarship for a garden designer to step in the footprints of an award-winning architect, and complete a project like our Haumoana house.
We had lived with the basic digger-built landscape over the 3 levels of our home’s paddock for nearly 2 years before we engaged Tim to come up with a design that would integrate with the original 150 year vision for the property. Budgets, seasons, timing - all the things that can get in your way completing the last steps of a new build.
We wanted the immediate house surrounds to anchor the building to the hillside, with natural elements of local rock, stones, and native planting. With the beach only a mile away, you don’t have to dig deep to find the sandstones, limestone, and mudstone of the ancient Hawke’s Bay seabed with its rich fossil beds and golden colours.
Tim’s skill lies in the process of getting from abstract thoughts to solid ground. His digital renderings helped us see what would work, at what scale, and over several conversations a clear plan emerged. Tapping his local network of suppliers, partners, hard-working gardeners, irrigation specialists, quarries, crane drivers and advisors, the job was done in a matter of a couple of weeks.
Tim is the kind of designer who will pull his boots on, jump in the truck with you and head to a massive local quarry to hand-pick giant rocks, but can also fly his drone, render a design revision, and supervise the placement of those 2 ton boulders in the exact right spot to catch the light at sunset.
100% recommended.”Nigel Dalton & Lesley Melody · View project
Installation photography supplied with the testimonial by Nigel Dalton & Lesley Melody.
Green on Green, Havelock North
“Tim listened to the overall vision of our project and executed exactly what we wanted. We are so pleased with the finished project and are grateful for Tim’s experience and expertise.”Danielle Lowy & Tom Harper · View project
Te Awanga Beachfront
“Our experience with Tim Durrant was a huge success. Having rebuilt our home, we then required a full rebuild of our garden too.
Having a beachside property poses big problems with planting, but Tim quickly came to grips with a plan that, in the front by the beach, saw him use coastal natives from Te Awanga and Ocean Beach.
Further back on the property, out of the range of salt spray, he was able to include a far wider selection of natives and exotics. On the road-side, furthest from the sea, he built a Mediterranean design including lavender and conifers.
Tim is inventive and imaginative with the hard-landscaping design and selection of plants, sourcing varieties, including a fully-grown transplanted hedge, at the best price from a range of outlets.
His design architecture of the garden was outstanding. A pebbled drive, concrete stepping-stone paths poured on site, and some ingenious devices to cover and compensate for existing structural deficiencies in the site have all proved a great success. His in-ground watering system was his final triumph on a property prone to long, dry summers.
We would have no hesitation in recommending him for his creativity and ability to bring a garden in on time and on budget.”Bill Ralston & Janet Wilson · View project
Decks and outdoor connection, Haumoana
“Tim did some amazing designs for us when our new house moved onto our property. He was brilliantly tactful, because my husband and I didn’t agree on many things, for example how our decks were going to link our outdoor spaces. Tim navigated our differences superbly and came up with several plans we both really liked. Our decks are superb. The plan gave us just the right proportions, but most of all we have peace of mind because we both liked what he designed. I was very happy to have asked Tim for a consultation and highly recommend him. He is very approachable and easy to work with.”Julia Llewellyn & Jim Coyle
