Dirty girl designs
Sue project-manages the entire build — not just the design — and clients with difficult spaces keep coming back years later.
The standout pattern among satisfied customers is her ability to run the entire project, not just produce a plan, which is particularly valued by people managing builds from interstate or juggling trades for the first time. That said, the sample includes two negative reviews raising concerns about budget transparency and communication mid-project — one detailing unexpected cost additions and a dispute over tile colour, another alleging payment was taken with no work delivered. These sit alongside the majority of positive accounts, so the picture is mixed rather than clear-cut. Before engaging, it's worth asking Sue directly for itemised quotes upfront, confirming all material specs in writing, and clarifying how budget updates will be communicated during construction.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (14 total)
“budget was overrun and very rare updates were provided”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 156 gardenings in Lake Macquarie
Credentials & background
Sourced from 4 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Dirty girl designs
Sue, the sole operator behind Dirty Girl Designs, is a landscape designer and project manager who takes on work that goes well beyond planting a few shrubs — she's handled sloped and dysfunctional backyards, heritage home gardens requiring period-matched materials like sandstone and bluestone, bare new-build lots, and multi-townhouse development landscaping submissions that needed full DA compliance. What sets her apart from a standard garden designer is the project management layer: Sue coordinates and oversees the construction trades herself, meaning clients deal with one person from initial brief through to finished build. She has a long-standing working relationship with Mat Thomas at Bay and Beyond Landscapes as her preferred construction contractor, and reviewers who used that pairing described the on-site execution as matching the quality of her designs. Sue leans toward Australian native plants where possible — multiple clients flag this as practical because natives tend to be lower-maintenance and easier on the budget post-install. She's best suited to homeowners who want a fully managed outdoor transformation, not just a design drawing — particularly those tackling awkward spaces, heritage properties, or projects requiring council submissions.
Best for: complex backyard transformations requiring full project management, heritage or period homes needing design-sensitive landscaping, and multi-dwelling development submissions requiring DA-compliant landscape plans.
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Dirty girl designs
Does Dirty Girl Designs just provide plans, or do they manage the build too?+
Sue does both — multiple reviewers specifically highlight that she project-manages construction through to completion, not just produces a design drawing. She coordinates trades including concreters, landscapers, and tilers on the client's behalf. Clients who managed their projects from interstate specifically called this out as a major advantage. If you only need a design document rather than full management, it's worth confirming with Sue what scope she's willing to take on.
What kinds of projects has Dirty Girl Designs worked on?+
Reviews cover a wide range: sloped and inaccessible backyards, bare new-build lots, established courtyard renovations, a heritage home garden requiring period-matched materials, and a four-townhouse development requiring a DA-compliant landscape submission. Sue also has experience incorporating swim spas, outdoor dining and lounge zones, and feature BBQ installations. The common thread is projects that require both design creativity and construction coordination.
What do customers say about pricing and budget management?+
This is worth going into with eyes open. Several satisfied customers note that final costs exceeded initial estimates, though they say there was no pressure to upgrade and itemisation was clear. However, two reviewers in the sample raised more pointed concerns — one describing unexpected cost additions and very infrequent budget updates during construction. Before signing on, it's worth asking for a fully itemised quote upfront and agreeing in writing on how and when budget updates will be communicated.
Does Sue have a preferred landscaping contractor she works with?+
Yes — reviews mention Mat Thomas at Bay and Beyond Landscapes as a long-standing construction partner. Sue uses them on many of her projects, and multiple clients who used this combination praised both the design and the build quality. One reviewer who runs Bay and Beyond also confirmed working with Sue across many projects. If you have an existing contractor you want to use, it's worth raising that early to see whether Sue is comfortable working with an alternative builder.
What areas does Dirty Girl Designs service?+
The business is based in Marks Point, NSW, and reviews reference completed projects in Mayfield, Merewether, and other Newcastle-region suburbs. Reviews don't explicitly list a service radius, so if you're outside the immediate Newcastle area it's best to confirm directly with Sue whether she'll travel to your location.