A man with dark hair and a beard wearing a black plaid shirt crouches in a lush garden with various green plants and flowers, surrounded by a stone pathway and a decorative stone sculpture, with a wooden fence and greenery in the background.

Meet Justin Nigh.

The designer behind Regenerative Designs.

Trained to plan first.

I am originally from Toronto, Canada, but I’ve called Australia home since 2006.

Right after high school, I completed a two-year horticulture and landscape program at Niagara College in Canada. One of the core subjects was landscape design, and the training was heavily focused on the architectural side of things. We were taught a very specific, step-by-step method for laying out a property before a single plant is even discussed.

That approach stuck with me. From day one, I was taught that you don't just decorate a yard; you map out how the space actually works. That is why I focus so heavily on the planning and layout side of landscaping today. It’s how I was trained, and honestly, it’s the part of the process I enjoy the most.

Why I only use Australian natives.

People sometimes ask why a guy from Canada is so strict about only planting Australian natives.

Honestly, growing up on the other side of the world made me appreciate just how unique and authentically Australian the local plant life is. When you aren't used to seeing these plants every day, they really stand out to you.

But there is a practical and environmental side to it, too. Once you learn to spot exotic weeds taking over the bush, and you realize how much original vegetation has been cleared out over the years, it changes your perspective. I want to put the right things back into the soil.

Native plants just make sense here. They are adapted to the local weather, they belong in the local dirt, and they don't need you to fight the environment to keep them alive.

Designing for the Sunshine Coast.

After moving to Sydney with my Australian wife in 2006, we eventually decided we needed to get away from the busyness of the city. We moved up to the Sunshine Coast in 2011 to enjoy a different pace and a better lifestyle.

This area has a very specific climate and a very specific way of living outdoors. My goal with every masterplan is to design properties that actually fit into this environment, rather than fighting against it.

Let's look at your block.

If you are building new or doing a major renovation and want to get the site layout right from the start, let's talk.

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