Current obsession: Driftwood

Anyone who knows me has probably noticed my obsession for driftwood seems to be never ending at the moment!
Inspired by some gorgeous lamps I had kept noticing on the net, my weekend project was to create some bedside lamps with organic shaped driftwood bases.
I have a close friend who recently complained about TV-DIY-hosts chiming “It’s soooo easy!”. And I hate to say it, but in this case it was…


1. Started with a standard wood lamp base (already wired!). These ones from target for around $16 each.
2. Sanded back the deep lacquer to reveal a beautiful unvanished surface (almost like driftwood itself – tempted to leave them exposed like this at this point!)
3. Simply hot glued driftwood lengths onto existing base. For a clean finish jigsaw the bottom edges, or leave as nature intended for a raw finish.

Finally, I wrapped a piece of string (another current obsession) around the twigs as if they had been freshly gathered from the beach.
Topped off with textured lamp shade from K-mart for around $16 each.
I love that the finished look is raw chic rather than overtly ‘beachy’. V. Happy!
‘Summer Zest’ Modern Home Magazine Cover Feature – Out Now!
Summer comes alive on the latest cover of Modern Home magazine – out now!
Story & Styling Tim Neve
Photography Johan Palsson
Location The Vintage
It’s easy being green… invite Summer into your interior by injecting zesty shades of green into homewares and fabrics. Funky curved leaf motifs carry through in the season’s cushions and tableware, creating a colourful yet lush oasis. Not only that, we’ve managed to mix middle range options with budget buys you wont believe!
View online here.
‘A Rustic Welcome’ Cover Feature in Country Home Ideas – Out Now!
Really pleased with this wonderfully rustic cover feature for the latest issue of Country Home Ideas magazine – out now!
Story & Styling Tim Neve
Photography Johan Palsson
Location Auld & Grey
Capture the romance of a country cottage lifestyle by mixing one of a kind vintage furniture that tells the story of rural days of yesteryear with new season vintage-inspired homewares. Mix fresh neutrals, crisp linens and shabby-chic whites against the earthy tones of rustic wares to keep the look soft and inviting. Embrace the farmhouse aesthetic and bring elements of the cottage garden indoors – an overhanging wild floral arrangement in classic greens sets the mood of this welcoming table setting, laid out for a casual yet chic feast.
Blogging in the New Year… Decor8 and more!
Happy 2010 peoples! While I’ve been sunning myself and recharging over the Summer break some very nice bloggers worldwide have been spreading the word about my home feature in the latest issue of Real Living magazine. Thank you so much everybody!! All of your websites are full of so much inspiration and beautiful imagery and are obviously created with much passion, dedication and love. Here’s a selection of some lovely mentions:
You simply must see this apartment, decorated under $1,000 Australian dollars which is just incredible. The talent who pulled this cottage together is editorial stylist and publisher Tim Neve who happens to have a great blog too. I bet the whole of Australia will want to hire Tim after reading this article, I think his approach is creative and fresh but in this economy, everyone is looking for creative solutions that won’t put them in debt.
http://decor8blog.com/2009/12/29/budget-apartment-by-tim-neve/
I just saw that my favourite Aussie stylist Tim Neve is featured in this months edition. After seeing how Tim has decked his place out in beautiful beige I am totally inspired. I am loving that Tim’s decorating is all on a budget too!
http://littlemissemmadesign.blogspot.com/2009/12/tim-neve-in-real-living.html
Tim has ‘gotten beige right.’ Indeed! Its mix with white is one I’ve never seen before, making beige stunning ~ if you even thought that was possible!
http://serenehomeideas.blogspot.com/2009/12/budget-apartment-by-tim-neve.html
Have you heard of Tim Neve? Well both are worth checking out if you have not yet done so. Last week Decor 8 featured some of Tim Neve’s work, and I just had to pass it on. Brilliant!
http://jessekpeak.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-04T12%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7
Neutral Bliss. ahhhhhhhhhhhh in the latest issue of Real Living Magazine, Tim Neve has created a neutral schemed beach side apartment that I am drooling over.
http://justimaginedesign.blogspot.com/2010/01/neutral-bliss.html
The amazing redecoration by Australian stylist, Tim Neve. Tim does a fabulous job of turning his apartment into a chic haven by using a neutral palette of taupes, beige and white and selecting stylish accessories that really brighten up the space.
http://littlebitsoflovely.blogspot.com/2010/01/fabulous-redecorations-on-budget.html
I could spend all day getting lost in a ‘blog cycle’ but it’s back to work for me now, with many exciting projects in the pipeline for the new year, so stay tuned here….
Tim Neve @ Home: in Real Living Magazine – Out Now!
Absolutely ecstatic to have my own home featured in Real Living Magazine – out now!
Titled ‘Room by Room: Get beige right!’ the nine page story is filled with the typically beautiful photography from the Real Living team, as well as some style tips from myself:
Stylist Tim Neve used an all-neutral palette to transform his rundown apartment into a stylish and sophisticated space. He used everyday items and nature to develop the natural palette… inspired by the textures and shades of bleached driftwood, vintage papers and fabrics.
“Layers of interest can be created in neutral tones by using tactile fabrics that contrast and mingle against each other such as cushions and throws,” Tim says… “Mix new season pieces with vintage items to give the space a sense of history and heart.”
Story Amanda Hemmings-Barbezat
Photography Chris Warnes
Styling Tim Neve
Pick up a copy from news stands now, or flick through online here…
Darby + The Junction ‘Summertime’ – Out Now!
Flick through online here.
Cover Feature ‘Effortlessly Chic’ in Country Home Ideas Magazine – Out Now!
A gorgeous feature of a fresh take on Shabby Chic entertaining graces the cover of the latest issue of Country Home Ideas magazine:
Lay the table with trimmed linens in a simple palette of muted tones to create an effortlessly chic afternoon tea spread. Gather your nearest and dearest and sip tea (or champagne!) from ornate china and glass, and while away the afternoon in good company…
Shot on location at the beautiful Shabby Sheilas store in Newcastle.
View the full story here…
Story & Styling Tim Neve
Photography Johan Palsson
‘We Love Summer’ TVC – now on air!
Summer is finally here – and this first TVC in a series is now screening on NBN to get us in the mood!
Home office set design by Tim Neve, directed by Stuart McBratney.
Visit welovesummer.com.au
Save the Date! Dec 21 – My home in Real Living Magazine
Before the year gets away from us – remember to hit the news stands December 21 and pick up the latest issue of Real Living Magazine.
Inside you’ll find a wonderful feature on my own home! I’m thrilled to be gracing the pages of one of my favourite mags – a ’before and after’ transformation story, it includes tips on decorating on a budget, and how-to’s when using a neutral colour palette to freshen up your interiors.
Behind-The-Scenes: Summertime TV Campaign

Mood board: Summertime TVC
A sneak-peek today at the studio filming just completed for am upcoming Summertime TV Campaign.
The studio required a home office set – so I decided to create a space Martha Stewart would envy, with a fresh Summer air to it.
Beach-shack style wood panelling (in Taubman’s ‘Marine Angel’) and a gorgeous set of louvered French doors, with furniture, shelving and storage in clean whites, crafty pinboards, completed with natural texture rugs an organic shaped pendant and hanging mobile.
Really pleased with the final result – stay tuned for the full set of commercials when they start airing next week…




















