I don’t know if you’ve noticed but there’s a certain aesthetic sweeping the interiors scene of late. An extension of the curved and organic trends, the current Flintstones vibe features fossil-inspired shapes that play cheekily with proportions. It’s a quirky reference point and not one you’d typically associate with high style, but it’s one that I’m totally here for.
It’s also an aesthetic explored by Aussie interior stylist Tim Neve through his debut furniture collection. Featuring organic-shaped statement pieces, executed in warm and tactile materials such as rattan, teak and travertine, Tim’s range is hand-crafted by artisans, produced in limited quantities and features everything from tables to chairs, sofas and sculptures.
“Each piece is designed to work as a statement piece, and they’re even stronger when placed together. I can’t wait to see how people style the furniture in their homes,” says Tim, who is known for his bespoke range of textile prints and busy career styling and educating.
The Arch armchair
A standout from the range, the Wave Coffee Table pairs a kidney shaped travertine tabletop with a trio of on-trend ball feet – the design’s fossil vibe is accentuated by the table’s chiselled stone edges.
The range’s Linen armchair, Wave coffee table and Sculptural side table make quite the statement
The range’s carved timber side tables are super fun too, acting as both practical tabletops and sculptural pieces. The Linen armchair features a warm woodgrain combined with textural oatmeal upholstery – the nude leather straps add a stylish accent, and the design is grounded with four oversized ball feet. In contrast, the Sling Lounger features nude leather paired with sculptural, club inspired teak legs that would make Barney Rubble proud.
Sling Lounger
And for those wanting in on the aesthetic without diving head first, the range also includes a series of organic shaped sculptures and bowls, perfect for styling your next shelfie.
The Carved bedside is styled with various timber accessories
Located in an industrial suburb of Newcastle, interior stylist, author and educator Tim Neve recently updated his nineties era cottage with a mix of industrial, bohemian, vintage and masculine elements.
“The home was purchased around six years ago and started out as a cute little two-bedroom cottage. The facade was classic weatherboard so always appeared timeless, but it would have originally been built in the 1990’s – all the tell-tale signs of that era were there in the interior. Peach walls, apricot kitchen, and faux-marble tiles with, you guessed it, peach veining!” says Tim who lives in the home with his three-year-old son Honne.
BEFORE kitchen
AFTER kitchen
Parenthood was the impetus for the renovation with Tim completely altering the home’s floor plan to give him easier access to his son’s nursery. Situated on a tiny 160 square metre block, he wasn’t able to extend so embarked on a clever redesign instead. “I was frustrated that I couldn’t keep an eye on my baby from wherever I was in the house – prior to that it was a series of smaller rooms, and if I was in the kitchen, I couldn’t see the lounge room, and vice versa. So open plan was definitely at the core of the design brief,” says Tim who moved the bedrooms to the front of the home and removed internal walls to create a large t-shaped space that forms the new centrepiece of the home.
AFTER Sparkk’s ‘Marula’ wallpaper acts as a feature wall in Tim’s son’s room
“The old kitchen and dining had no outlook. This now opens up via triple stacker doors to the alfresco space – the Aussie dream of seamless indoor/outdoor living! Louvre windows allow airflow and the view in too. Overall, the new layout has utilised the whole width of the home, around eight metres, so it feels especially spacious,” says Tim.
AFTER The new open plan living space
The home’s original kitchen was pokey and lacking in functionality but that’s been completely replaced too and although small, it boasts floor to ceiling cabinetry in Laminex ‘Sublime Teak’ which contrasts with its Caesarstone ‘Sleek Concrete’ benches. “A couple of skylights above the island literally makes everything glisten, at any time of the day. And little choices like choosing the built-in convection microwave adds to the streamlined look,” says Tim.
AFTER The kitchen connects to a lush outdoor area
When it came to paint, Tim opted for Dulux ‘Hildegard’ (a greeny-grey) instead of a more straight-forward grey tone. “It’s almost like a deep grey but it has the feeling of sage green depending on the time of day. I am not one for all-white interiors!” says Tim who paired the paint with Dulux ‘Black’ trims, matte black handles, raw timber doors and powder coated black shutters in Dulux ‘Black Ace.’ “They totally dress the windows to complement the masculine and moody scheme,” says Tim.
BEFORE bathroom
AFTER bathroom
AFTER bathroom
Another standout part of the home is its use of monochromatic pattern – a feature that greets Tim as soon as he arrives home given the porch is tiled with Bonnie and Neil’s stunning ‘Byzantine’ tiles. “I am a fan of pattern, but most people are scared of including it as I think they fear it comes hand in hand with a bold colour too. Instead, I like to choose tiles in geometric, monochromatic patterns. Beautiful encaustic tiles have that lovely chalky matt finish in black and white and add a graphic element, but don’t dazzle the senses,” says Tim.
AFTER Bonnie & Neil ‘Byzantine’ tiles feature at the entry to the home
AFTER A close-up of the gorgeous tiles
Tim’s love affair with pattern is evident in his latest textile collection ‘Foraged’ which launched earlier this year and is scattered throughout the home. Inspired by Australian botanical wild flowers the range features warm rusts and dusty pinks printed onto velvet and linen. “The cushions are now stocked at homewares stores, galleries and with interior designers all over Australia. I’m thrilled to have been hand-picked and included in The Block Shop for the upcoming season!” says Tim.
AFTER Tim’s bedroom features cushions from his new textile collected ‘Foraged’
Largely, Tim is very content with the renovation which has resulted in a series of stylish yet practical spaces. “Overall, I’m happy with how every piece of the puzzle came together, I think that’s the most daunting thing for anyone renovating! It’s just such a nice feeling to walk through the door each day and have both a practical and attractive space to walk into.”
AFTER The lounge features a gorgeous ‘Native Protea’ cushion designed by Tim
Photography: Atelier Photography | Styling: Tim Neve
Photographing gorgeous homes up and down the east coast for his book Sandcastles, inspired interior stylist Tim Neve to renovate his own beachside getaway – and he managed to do it in just four weeks!
Before
After
“At times it really was reno-by-YouTube,” said Tim who rolled up his sleeves and got to work transforming the two-bedroom red brick villa into a boutique holiday rental in the coastal town of Forster, NSW. “Overall, I would consider this a cosmetic renovation as I didn’t move any internal walls. However, I went gung-ho and ripped out the old kitchen within the first hour of keys being handed over on settlement day!”
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After
The uninspiring green and white kitchen was brought back to life with a spectacular Carrara marble benchtop, pastel blue cabinetry in Laminex ‘Fresh Spring’ and his own mermania tiles. “The kitchen is so simple, fresh, modern and inviting,” said Tim of what’s now his favourite room in the villa. “The most cost-effective option turned out to be having the kitchen units custom made and constructed in my hometown of Newcastle, and then shipped up to their final destination. The hard work was done, so all I needed to do was position each unit, level the legs and attach the benchtops.”
Before
After
Bare brick walls throughout the villa were painted in Dulux Timeless Grey, and feature walls in wood paneling and wallpaper from Tim’s Anchorage collection with Sparkk Studio added, to break up the block look. “I’m not usually a fan of feature walls but in this case, it meant one less bare brick wall to deal with!” joked Tim.
“Colour and paint are always my biggest styling weapons. The villa is positioned to get sunlight most times of the day, on both sides – so it always feels light-filled. As such, I took a risk on a deeper wall colour. White furniture pieces, and painting out the dark door frames and doors in gloss white, contrast amazingly with this hue too.
“I also got the sparkie to replace the traditional batten lights in the ceiling with down lights in each room – a slightly higher expense, but instantly it modernised the property – taking it into the new century.”
Before
After
Existing floor-to-ceiling storage was also cleverly disguised using wallpaper and paint. “The living area doors are covered with a wallpaper that looks like rustic grey wood – it has now become a talking point instead. In the bedroom, I opted to paint out the cupboards in the same colour as the walls throughout the villa, so they disappear into the background instead. For both, a simple change of handles to large-scale brushed steel ones, made them look like a new creation.”
Before
After
Plantation shutters in the lounge room were another big expense but according to Tim they look a “million bucks” and were essential to create the feeling of a beachside haven – a theme that also plays out in the bedrooms. “In both bedrooms, I wanted to create a relaxing oasis – one for adults, and more of a wonderland for children. I achieved this with layers of mismatched linen in tactile fabrics, and cool tones. In fact, the first thing I bought when I had found out I got the property wasn’t the practical renovation items – but all the bed linens! They kind of set the tone for the entire look.
“The main bedroom is massive, so I was actually buying additional furniture like an occasional chair, and additional storage to fill the space. The furniture throughout mixes budget buys (vintage pieces with Fantastic Furniture for example) but I like to think the overall effect is far from budget looking.”
Before
After
In the bathroom, a few low cost upgrades like new tapware and tiling over the existing floor tiles, completely transformed the space. “Removing the old shower screen and replacing it with an off-the-shelf glass panel was another smart choice. For the shower walls, I used waterproof sheeting that comes in a gloss Carrara marble look – so easy to clean, and didn’t have to bother about cut tiles. All of these items for the shower were a couple of hundred dollars each,” said Tim.
The renovation added an estimated $100,000 to the value of the property and has dramatically increased the villa’s rental return, much to Tim’s delight. “As a run-down rental it was lucky to bring in $200 a week, but as renovated boutique holiday accommodation I can ask around $2,000 a week in the high season – that’s a ten-fold increase!”
A relief, considering the renovation – at times – proved incredibly challenging for Tim who set a strict four-week deadline, managed all the trades (many of whom fell ill during the build) and lived on site. “About two thirds of the way through the process, I had a meltdown. I had been working so hard, around the clock, for weeks – but the end just didn’t seem to be in sight. However, something happened after that day – I must have turned a corner emotionally and found new energy, because after that, everything seemed like fast-forward and suddenly all came together perfectly. So, hang in there!”
Before
After
Needless to say, Tim has now well and truly caught the reno bug, and after successfully completing the overhaul has this advice: “Manage the settlement period wisely. I knew this wasn’t the six weeks to kick back and relax! Instead, I ordered and paid deposits for all my furniture, and started stocking up on the materials and tools I needed. I tried to get three quotes for my trades and custom-made items during this time, but I can tell you now – contact three and you’ll be lucky to get one formal response. I considered if they had done that, they deserved being considered for the job.”
He admits he was was scared about buying into a strata property. “I had so many changes I wanted to make that actually needed everyone’s approval, I went into the first meeting with pages of requests, thinking they would shoot them all down – things like changing the screen doors from the retro 70’s grid style, to a modern security grill. In the end, they not only approved everything I wanted to do, but under strata some things – like the doors – were paid for!
“Another note on strata I didn’t realise — they may have different hours when you are allowed to make construction noise – reduced compared to normal residential allowed hours, so I worked out I was missing out on at least three hours of productivity a day, compared to if I was renovating a normal home.”
‘Benalta’ Holiday Villa Forster by stylist Tim Neve is available as a holiday rental – for weekends away or full vacations. Click here to book through Stayz. If you have a styling enquiry, contact Tim here.
Forget tacky beach décor, Mermania tiles in shades of aquatic blues create a modern, yet effortless summer style.
These on-trend encaustic tiles are handmade from pressed cement, giving the pieces a chalky, matt patina with patches of imperfections a part of their charm.
“The coastal-inspired scallop motif is perfect to create a statement in a bathroom – or imagine a kitchen splashback!” said Tim Neve, the designer behind these stylish tiles.
The designs can be laid for both indoor and outdoor wall or floor use, to create a unique patch, and retail at $160 per metre squared.
Each week we shine the spotlight on some of Australia’s best designers, artists and stylists and have them share with us what’s making them tick; anything from their favourite cafe and shop to their favourite book and musician. Today we chat to Tim Neve, the beach-loving stylist, author and fabric and wallpaper designer.
Tim Neve
1. What is your favourite cafe?
In Newcastle, Suspension Espresso at Islington has the best coffee. So much so, it’s why I chose just around the corner to open my pop-up shop! It’s far from glam — in fact, it’s grunge — but the caffeine kick never fails to get my creative juices flowing each morning. I’m not the only one who loves it, be prepared to join the line outside the front door each morning.
2. What is your favourite book?
Styling wise, I can’t go past the wonderful Sibella Court’s book Etc. I remember when it came out and how it cemented for me that styling was more than just cushion fluffing. I honestly believe this book changed the format and tone of good interiors books, and it’s the reason I hunted down the same publisher (Murdoch Books) for mine.
3. What is your favourite shop?
I’m always on the hunt for the unique and one-off, so vintage and op-shops are a weekly outing. Newcastle also has a growing artisan markets scene — Hunt and Gather markets are amazing, with handcrafted homewares that are also bang-on trend. I also can’t stop myself from going inside a bargain $2 shop — you never know what little goodies you might find inside as future styling props!
4. What is your favourite homeware you own?
As a stylist my favourite changes constantly, as I am lucky enough to have in my possession a rotating treasure chest of wares and props. But at the moment it’s a cushion design from my debut range with Sparkk called Mermania, in a fresh coral colourway. It’s a watercolour scallop pattern that looks like the scales of a fish, or mermaid’s tail.
5. Who is your favourite musician?
The daily grind of styling can be stressful, with more often than not unrealistic deadlines and demanding clients. But it’s the pop tunes of Kylie that make sure I always have a smile on my face. I also love anything that helps to keep the mood upbeat and energy flowing, anything from the original ’80s to latest releases will do the trick for me. That being said, I can’t stand commercial radio for more than a few minutes, so the car radio is always tuned to the ever-soothing ABC Classic FM.
Taking inspiration from what he knows best, beach-loving stylist Tim Neve has released a debut fabric, wallpaper and cushion collection in collaboration with renowned Sydney design studio Sparkk.
Featuring 11 coastal-inspired patterns across 30 colourways, inspiration came from Tim’s favourite styling props: sea-worn ropes and nets, vintage maps and nautical signal flags.
From the on-trend geometric motifs of Alpha Delta to the watercolour hues of Mermania, the designs mix traditional hand drawings with vintage illustrations and computer-generated patterns.
Colour is also not forgotten, with serene nautical blues, deep indigos and watery aquas juxtaposed against sizzling sunshine tones, the perfect backdrop as we head into spring and summer.
The wallpapers and fabrics collection is available at Sparkk and the cushion collection at Sparkk Shop and Tim Neve Shop.
Believing coastal decorating had become extremely cliché, stylist Tim Neve decided to take matters into his own hands, writing the new interiors book, Sandcastles.
“When you hear the phrase coastal decorating, I don’t blame you if you shudder,” says Tim. “For too long, faux starfish and mass-produced Gone Fishin’ signs have reigned supreme and muddied the waters of what should be the clearest, most authentic inspiration in home styling.”
Beautifully designed, Sandcastles sees Tim explore many versions of coastal style: from the elegant, salt-bleached driftwood neutrals of Beachcomber and the retro zing of Endless Summer to the rich velvets and vintage collections of Bohemian and the lush tropical foliage of Islander.
As an avid collector of vintage wares, Tim uses statement pieces and salvaged objects to achieve timeless interiors. Drawing on inspiration from his surroundings, Sandcastles encourages you to do the same. Interwoven throughout, Tim has also provided a wealth of practical advice, moodboards, colour palettes, stylist’s tips and insider secrets.
Newcastle-based Tim is the creative force behind Australian Coastal Home magazine and has spent most of the past decade working in styling and writing features for magazines including Real Living, Home Ideas, Country Home Ideas and Modern Home.
Sandcastles is published by Murdoch Books and retails for $49.99. Available for purchase online.
