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As an interior designer, when your client is an architect, it makes for a special kind of symbiotic relationship, like the one between Studio Shields principal Ruby Shields and her architect client Mitch — a pairing Ruby dubs ‘the A-Team’.
Mitch and his wife Clare engaged Studio Shields to transform their Mount Eliza dwelling, alongside the couple’s long-standing builder friend, Tait Paulding from Inner Urban Group.
‘The whole project carried that feeling of community and momentum,’ Ruby says. ‘Mitch even hosted Friday site lunches to keep morale high, and made a point of sourcing food that reflected the different cultures on site. It was generous, thoughtful, and honestly set the tone for how much heart went into the home.’
Warmth and joy are a ubiquitous theme throughout the project, from its embryonic stages to completion, hence the name: ‘Joy Haus’. But the bold, colourful finished result is a far cry from the house first presented to the design team last January.
With two boisterous young boys in tow, Clare and Mitch were eager to hit the ground running and move back into their home as soon as possible. By October, the build was complete — but it was no easy feat.
To create a more functional layout that better suited family living and hosting, the entire orientation of the home was flipped. While the original roof line was retained for planning, the internal layout was gutted to create a fresh foundation that allowed for a complete floor plan rotation, plus a seven-metre extension into the rear garden.
Previously, the bedrooms were found at the back. The new layout replaces them with an open-plan kitchen and living zone flowing directly through to the cobblestoned patio and adjacent garden, through large stacking doors.
‘It’s essentially a new build wearing an old roofline,’ Ruby explains. ‘It was one of those rare projects where we could choreograph the entire home — merging the clients’ adored ideas with a bold new design direction.’
Now, the bedrooms all sit at the front of the home, accessed via an entrance hallway connecting to the bathroom and laundry.
With the exception of two non-negotiables — checked cork flooring in the living and kitchen zones, and cobblestones in the entryway and outdoor entertaining area — the brief was relatively open.
In lieu of specifics, it focused on how life would look for the young family: dinner parties, muddy shoes, chaotic mornings, and the everyday bustle of family life, while still feeling elevated.
For Ruby, it was clear their mission was to create something layered, expressive and liveable.
A considered melange of materials and colours is seen throughout, from the two-toned burgundy and powder blue facade to the stainless steel, blue veneer, walnut, and red marble within. Even with such a diverse colour palette, every element makes sense and speaks to the energy of the family inside.
‘This home didn’t need a timid palette,’ Ruby says. ‘The colours formed naturally out of who the family are: expressive, warm, bold, and a bit cheeky.’
More than 15 colours are found across the home, a challenge that was met while adhering to cohesion.
Ruby says the complex palette looked like a ‘fever dream’ on paper, but in person, it’s complete. ‘There is a sense of discovery and delight as you walk through the house. It feels joyful and elevated, not random and misplaced.’
The kitchen and living areas exude warmth with yellow tones and pops of bright orange, while the rumpus room is rich with deep browns, burnt orange upholstery and blue accents.
The bathroom is entirely tiled in baby blue, while the main en suite is imbued with terracotta tones and marbled stone.
‘It’s hard to truly capture the energy of being inside,’ Ruby adds. ‘It’s a home that feels like it’s buzzing with personality.’
Finishing the renovation and extension before the year’s end allowed Mitch and Clare, both partial to entertaining, to host friends and family in the new space during summer.
‘[They] told us guests kept saying they “didn’t want to leave” because the home felt so warm and comfortable,’ says Ruby. ‘That’s the best feedback you can get.’
An edited version of this story originally appeared in The Design Files Magazine Issue 04. Subscribe to the biannual print magazine here.
