Total Look Design

Total Look Design We offer landscaping packages, advice and gardening tips in the Tauranga area and Auckland (by advanced appointment).

Giving you a head start in landscaping or enhancing your garden on a budget that suits you. TOTAL LOOK DESIGN·
Sketches aren’t enough when asking clients to visualize what the final project will look like. Now I can create for you landscape designs that creates photos that are concept images rendering as if the landscaping and/or hardscape project is installed. Whether you have a new house that ha

s just been built and don’t know where to begin. Need advice to where to start and get someone to install it for you. Or want to do it yourself but just need some advice and ideas. Or a step by step approach for your future garden/s as your budget allows. Maybe your garden looks tired, you have moved into another home, getting ready to sell or you feel it’s just not ‘you’ but you’re unsure of what to do or what it is. I have the experience and landscaping software to set you on track. Night lighting is also very important and brings another dimension to your garden. Bringing that tree, garden feature, pond to life instead of being in the dark. So, when you are entertaining instead of looking out into darkness you and your guests can now enjoy the effects that night lighting can bring to your garden. See what your home could look like with night lighting before you spend a fortune in getting it installed and then realize you don’t really like the look. With 22+ years’ experience in landscaping/ enhancement in commercial and residential properties. A wide knowledge in plants, plant care and a eye for detail I’m here to help you get started.

In 2024 (1-1/2 years ago) one of my clients wanted some concept images to create a sub-tropical garden within a very sma...
24/02/2026

In 2024 (1-1/2 years ago) one of my clients wanted some concept images to create a sub-tropical garden within a very small area and not to much height. With a list of plants that they liked I got to work and created them the images, planting graph & information on their chosen plants.

Fast forward to February 2026 they are wrapped with their little piece of paradise and I'm very happy to be part of that journey.

Small lawn area transform into your own piece of paradise.Landscape for the best effect by having a curved path to maxim...
25/08/2024

Small lawn area transform into your own piece of paradise.

Landscape for the best effect by having a curved path to maximise your small garden space. This will give a feeling of having a garden that goes further than it does while adding privacy.

To create a sub-tropical feel, add foliage colour and shape. Repeat the planting for maximum effect giving the appearance of a lush, full but not busy garden. Having plant connections with at least 3 of the same variety repeated throughout the garden this will give a lush but 'easy on the eyes,' appearance.

Have a feature within or at the end of your garden path for a point of interest. This will create a purpose to venture to the end or bottom of the garden.

Shaded feature garden.A feature garden that has potential but lacks life.Remove and replace overgrown Pungas. Setting fu...
16/07/2024

Shaded feature garden.
A feature garden that has potential but lacks life.
Remove and replace overgrown Pungas. Setting further back and away from the walls add two Dicksonia fibrosa Wheki pungas.
Underplant with a mix of;
Blechnum gibbum - Silver Lady,
Adiantum aethiopicum - true maidenhair,
Asplenium bulbiferum -Hen & Chicken ferns.
Then add a splash with spring flowering and a different foliage textures with Clivia. This will now create a lush, low maintence and interesting feature garden for you to enjoy all year round.

Surrounded by native bush.To stabilise the bank and be in harmony with your surrounding area plant your bank in NZ nativ...
08/02/2024

Surrounded by native bush.
To stabilise the bank and be in harmony with your surrounding area plant your bank in NZ native plants and Vetiver which is a grass like/ non-invasive plant. The Vetiver roots pe*****te the ground up to 5 metres deep which helps stop erosion on banks.
Start with the smaller growing plants at the top of the bank and as you go further down the bank introduce plants with more height. This will prevent you from losing your view, doesn’t close your house area in or create too much shade. By nestling your house into the area you also create a haven for native birds with plants chosen for food.

Ugly retaining wallWhen you have a large retaining wall to look at as you enter your property. Disguise it with flowers ...
31/01/2024

Ugly retaining wall
When you have a large retaining wall to look at as you enter your property. Disguise it with flowers and fragrances. This will not just give you lovely fragrance but something to put into a vase. Having the Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides), Honeysuckle (Lonicera Belgica) hanging down the wall and the Compassion climbing rose going up the wall. Interplant with Murraya Paniculata, Astroemerias and Berginia Cordifolia. The area above the retaining wall plant wildflowers to attract the bees and butterflies.

Lower section to houseIf you have a lower section that you want a grass area, eatable garden and somewhere to sit and re...
13/10/2023

Lower section to house
If you have a lower section that you want a grass area, eatable garden and somewhere to sit and relax. Why not break it up into different areas by placing a small fence near the centre of the section. Have wildflowers facing the pergola and a raised vegetable garden facing the eatable garden. This creates different stories within the same area.
Stairs will take you down to the eatable garden. Once through this garden you enter the grass area before taking the stone pavers to an area that you can relax in. With fragrant daphne and gardenias adds to this flowery garden.
Having only two sides of the pergola creates privacy and cosiness without making it dark and closed in, utilising the wooden fence as a backdrop. Planting clivia to soften the fence giving you spring flowers that like the shade. Having a specimen tree like the Vulcan Magnolia gives you the stunning flowers and height.

A small courtyard with no outdoor space to relax in style. Looking at the fence and neighbours doesn’t create an area th...
14/05/2023

A small courtyard with no outdoor space to relax in style. Looking at the fence and neighbours doesn’t create an area that you want to sit out in or look out at from inside the house.
By landscaping this outdoor area to create a more holiday feel by using a narrow garden. This prevents the outdoor entertainment area becoming too small. To create a all year round colourful lush garden a selection of sub-tropical plants with a variety of foliage shapes, colours and fragrances where chosen.
Night lighting could either be under all large trees within the garden. Or as I decided to keep it simple and have the spotlight on the feature at the end of the garden. This I felt kept the area a place of rest and more calming making it an area to look out to rather than up-close.

Small front property in a frost zone. Planting with NZ natives for a simple, low maintenance and modern look. A rustic p...
22/11/2022

Small front property in a frost zone. Planting with NZ natives for a simple, low maintenance and modern look.
A rustic panel gives privacy to the neighbours without closing the deck area in. Keeping the existing large flaxes to the back of the garden creates some height. Continuing with the native theme bring in smaller varieties of flaxes & native plants that are frost hardy. Choosing plants for foliage colour and texture will give you all year round interest. Riverstone, rocks and w**d mat will make this a low maintenance garden.
Having a path angled creates a welcoming entry point to the house and having grass in between the pavers breaks up the solid concrete effect.
Night lighting creates points of interest within the garden. The tree trunk and branches are highlighted while it is deciduous. Once the tree is in full leaf the foliage will then be highlighted at night.

Sub-tropical driveway: Can be created by using at least five different plants for texture and levels for height. That ar...
12/06/2022

Sub-tropical driveway: Can be created by using at least five different plants for texture and levels for height. That are not too wide in their growth habit or if necessary, can be trimmed back from the driveway. Use the same plants on both sides of the driveway and repeated. This creates a lush, textured entry to your home without closing it in.
Entertainment area: Make a private sub-tropical entertainment area that you can relax with friends. Using some of the plants chosen for the driveway to connect both areas together. Again, using different textures and heights you can create your own paradise. By using a sail cloth gives you privacy from your neighbours while giving you shade in the hot summer days. Add fragrant plants to give that extra tropical feel. A feature could be added into this garden e.g., driftwood or rocks this will give the garden depth and solidness.
Night lighting: Lighting up the palms gives an ambience to these areas.

Small courtyard area requiring the landscaping to have a Japanese theme. With a small dry riverbed, bridge and Riverston...
29/04/2022

Small courtyard area requiring the landscaping to have a Japanese theme. With a small dry riverbed, bridge and Riverstone's creates a lovely contrast to the surrounding limestone. Using bamboo fencing enhances the garden making this area the vocal point of interest with a Japanese Pagoda lantern. Large rocks give the area body and depth with creeping thyme and Scleranthus Biflorus-Cushion plants around the rocks to create a moss like effect.
Stepping stones gives you direction in which to walk around the house.
In the evening place a tea-light into the Pagoda lantern gives warmth and interest to the area.

Address

Tauranga
3141

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+64274809318

Website

https://www.facebook.com/blueheronridge.nz

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