How would you define your style?
As a stylist, I try not to stick to one 'style' for fear of being pigeon-holed! But I would have to say I'm drawn most to furniture and homewares that have an organic yet design-classic feel, pieces that make bold statements (such as oversized light-shades), beautiful patterns, textiles in contrasting textures, and one-off, found or vintage pieces thrown in to give a space substance and heart.
What is your Inspiration for your home?
The wonderful beach-front aspect (the main selling point for me taking tenancy over considering the project that was ahead!) I wanted to capture the essence of relaxed, coastal life. But note: there’s not a crafty seashell in sight here! Instead, muted sandy tones and organic textures in fabrics and found, weathered objects complete the scene.
What is your favourite element of your home?
I've established the dining area in an intimate sun-room which leads off the lounge through french doors. It's light and has views down the coast - perfect for casual dining and entertaining! Each morning I soak up the perfect light that fills the space, and think how lucky we are in Australia (it's been glorious here and it's winter). In the deep evening I have my last thoughts of the day here too, whilst listening to the sound of vicious waves crashing. I've also fallen in love with the original floorboards which are patchy and unvarnished - at first they annoyed me, but now they add a whole beach-house bo-ho feel that you could never achieve if you tried.
What is the biggest challenge of your home?
As a renter you are faced with the dilemma of wanting to change your space to feel like it is truly your home, but without too much expense as at the end of the day you walk away and leave your hard work behind!
What do friends say about your home?
They immediately feel at ease and comfortable in the space because it's so light and welcoming - as a real home-body I'm pleased to have established such a sanctuary for me, and others.
I was too embarrassed to take anybody into the space until I'd waved my style wand, but now I have a 'before + after' photo album that I show and they can't believe the transformation.
What was is your proudest DIY?
The kitchen bench-tops have been given a new lease of life by simply covering the existing faded pink laminate with a durable wood-grain contact paper for around $40. It felt a bit like covering school books (which I was never good at and always got bubbles) but now friends have to stop and feel the finish as it looks like a whole new veneer!
What was the biggest indulgence with respect to your home?
As I'm a magazine junkie I'm constantly surrounded by piles of magazines with tearouts or bookmarks for inspiration for any project that lies ahead - I never stop flicking!
I was genuinely inspired by Australian stylist Sibella Court's use of found objects to create eclectic arrangements that tell a story together, as she does in her beautiful store The Society Inc.
Another inspiration is my favourite retailer and interior design studio in my hometown of Newcastle NSW - Habitat, who have the talented eye to mix natural textures in modern, organic furniture and homewares perfectly. It's one of those stores you just want to live in!
What is the best advice you've given or received?
Received: Colour hides a multitude of sins! The walls were in need of major patching and repair - but as this was a DIY job the result is still far from perfect. The deep driftwood paint colour (Taubmans Buff Tone) I chose seems to even the light across the surface.
Given: Style and arrange objects in odd numbers - three is always magic.
Tim has a great blog that has heaps of exciting behind the scenes details of his work, you can visit it here.
Thanks Tim!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
beautiful and so calming. is that a ladder in the bathroom?? what a great idea to hang towels, love it!
view youenjoymyself's profile
Wow - congrats on doing such a good job. I love the bedroom.
view ChrisGal's profile
Well, the makeover is impressive and the space now looks much improved.
Two things are puzzling to me:
1. Mr. Neve states that his "proudest DIY" is in the kitchen, yet there are no kitchen pics in the post, nor in the blog that is linked.
2. He states that the best advice he has received is "color hides a multitude of sins," yet this place is overbearingly monochromatic, in my view.
view mirandabee's profile
The towel rack seems misplaced in that narrow entry way. I really like the toilet. It has a very interesting shape and it looks great in white. The wood floor looks really dirty. I hate throw pillows, who uses them when sitting? Nobody. So they should not be there. If you need a way to add texture or color to your room do something else. Also no staged nick nack table of stone and another "found" letter. How many pictures are we going to see of someones random letter showing how kitschy they are.
view most's profile
This looks stylized like one is going to use the space for a photo shoot but not live in.
The furniture and layout are all wrong to me. I just don't think of white leather for a beachside home. The coffee table is way too low and there are no other side tables.
I understand doing a very neutral palette but this lacks texture and comfort.
All the accessories look like they were bought the same day at the same place.
Over all it is a big improvement no doubt just needs some layering and reworking.
view LoriSF's profile
I love that he left the gorgeous primitive floor and didn't put in some obnoxious laminate. Well done!
view medusa12120's profile
Is this really a rental? I can't imagine paying money to live in a place that looked like that and then doing all that work on a place that I don't own.
view tpgirl's profile
Wow, that bathroom is effing amazing.
view clampers's profile
looks amazing - I only worry your landlord will see what a fabulous job you have done and sell it out from under you; or charge you more rent. Hope your landlord is a decent person and appreciates your work and excellent taste.
It may look staged, but then he was taking pictures for us; so what?
I'd love to see more pictures!
view town*mouse's profile
Beautiful! I like the monochromatic color scheme. Makes it feel very calm. I love the rescued toilet. Most would have replaced it.
And sure it's styled for a photo shoot. I mean, this was a photo shoot, right?
view farmhousemoderne's profile
Omg! Freakin amazing...can't believe he was able to do all that with a rental. Bathroom is too cute and I like the rustic feel of the wood floors.
view fabchykny's profile
Light, bright and airy. Not what I would choose for myself, but I think a nice look for a beachside residence. That bathroom--what a transformation!
view queenbee1230's profile
Wow, quite an improvement! It's very calming and relaxing. It looks like a place I would want to rent for a beach vacation.
You rent this place? Did you discuss fixing the place up with the landlord before you signed a lease or what? Just curious about how that worked out.
view jamiealyse's profile
That carpet was hideous. I would have asked the landlord to rip it out (or, if like me, just paid the maintenance man a few bucks to do the job). I found it interesting how he quantified what gives a space heart. If you live in a place you love, heart just is there. you don't have to go a thrift store and pick up something to give it heart.
Very airy. Reminds me of living on a cloud.
view am_clarke's profile
'Most' is mean. This makeover/renovation job is just excellent. Who knows how fabulous it will look in another year's time?
view EAM's profile
Major improvement - but I agree that the furniture is awkwardly placed in the LR (besides the fact that the rug is far too small)
I sincerely admire his ability to see past the decrepit state of this place and his willingness to expend the time and energy to make this rental a cozy home.
view bepsf's profile
I agree-wanted to see some kitchen pics, but really lovely transformation. Amazing that it's a rental!
view jen_g's profile
I love love love it! Gorgeous!
http://www.makemineeclectic.wordpress.com
view jessimarie33's profile
That bathroom (along with the rest of the house) is to die for!
http://hopelesschest.blogspot.com
view HopelessChestBlog's profile
oooh! lovely job. brilliant to keep the floor (pronounced "flaw" and all the lovelier for it). I always admire a professional who can let the "professional" take a walk... on the beach in this case.
view Philip_Littell's profile
What is the wall color in the bedroom and living room? I like it. Very subtle.
view Guinness's profile
Well, I certainly admire the commitment to changing such a depressing space!
But I sense a lot less of the "found/one-off/vintage" here than might have been expected from the description.
It does have an "all bought on the same day at one store" feel, as LoriSF said. Or perhaps two stores - Domayne and Freedom (akin to Pottery Barn down under, I guess).
I think the space will look a lot better in a year's time. In the meantime, all that beautiful light to enjoy!
view JoJenks's profile
Wowowowow. I bet you're proud! Amazing throughout.
view retrocircles's profile
ahhh... a lot can be done with "good bones." wood floors, bay windows, white subway tile... these are the things i dream about while stuck renting a house from the 80's where NOTHING has taste.
the house is lovely.
view cvjn's profile
@ tpgirl,
I'm guessing it used to be a rental, but he bought it and remodeled. What I'm amazed at is that anyone would actually rent it in the "before" condition.
Congrats Tim, you've made a place that I would have run away from into a beautiful, relaxing, not to mention clean!, home.
view HeyNowTex's profile
@ 'most':
Maybe you were smothered with a scatter cushion as a child and still harbour some resentment but the idea that they have no function and therefore should not be used to add colour or texture is insane. Appart from cushions being quite useful in a lounge room, do you ban art from your walls as it has no other function than colour and texture?
Meanwhile, great work Tim Neve. I'd normally like to see more colour but I think this has a sun bleached feel that works perfectly for beachside living.
view pinky speedway's profile
Bravo to you..... and dont worry about "most" i bet there are a couple of dust bunnies on her floor too, she just doesn't see them under all of her hyper functional furniture! ;)
view E.M.H's profile
It used to look awful. Now it looks like the set for a Calvin Klein commercial. I kept expecting to see a beautiful woman in a light cotton dress and a stubbly man in an unbuttoned white shirt lounging around.
view Blandwagon's profile
BEACHY KEEN!
view aychihuahua's profile
More please!
There was no "after the jump" or tour, only the initial pics. Love, love this.
Would like to see more of the bathroom (what did you do with the slider, is it still floating our there?) and the elusive kitchen (which is not pictured).
Thanks for sharing. Gorgeous!
view MomlovesMod's profile
Ah, brown swirly carpet. You've got to love it. I had that in my first rental place, and I had no idea just how much coffee I can spill on any one day until I moved into a place with pale cream carpets. That was a rude shock. Now, I kind of want the swirls back.
view AussieBird's profile
I WANT THAT COUCH!!! ANY SUGGESTIONS ON SOMETHING SIMILAR HERE IN US? It's a beautiful and inspiring make-over...starting mine today, i swear! if anyone can think of a great place to get a similar couch - white leather especially in LA, please post. thanks! m
view pugluv's profile
Which toilet is it? I WANT IT!!
view NewYorker's profile