When an interior designer is given the freedom to "go wild" with a project, it's a rare and exciting opportunity. This was the case for Ruby Shields, an Australian designer who embarked on a unique journey with one of her earliest clients. Tucked away in the coastal haven of Mount Eliza, Ruby was tasked with transforming a home into a vibrant and joyful space.
Ruby, the creative mind behind Studio Shields, approached this project with a storyteller's eye. She sought to find the "thread" that would weave through every design decision, a concept she calls "Joy Haus." This thread, she explains, is the one idea or trait that ties everything together, and in this case, it was joy itself.
"Joy wasn't just an emotion we wanted the home to evoke; it became our design methodology," Ruby shares. Every detail, from color pairings to unexpected materials, was chosen with the intention of bringing delight and a smile to the family's everyday moments.
With a simple checklist and a request for cork flooring and a two-toned exterior, Ruby crafted a narrative that unfolded organically. The result? A home that exudes happiness and personality.
What makes this project particularly fascinating is the way Ruby utilized color as architecture. She carefully choreographed over 15 hues, each responding to the light, orientation, and purpose of its space. Powder blue represented the sky and the mother's dreams, while burgundy grounded the home with the father's energy. It was a design focused on the family's personalities, not just trends.
As you journey through Joy Haus, the experience is cinematic. The bold and playful exterior gives way to a considered and neutral interior, with color acting as the organizing principle. Each room has its own unique energy, yet they all speak the same language, creating a cohesive and unmistakable atmosphere.
The reconfigured floor plan opens up the home, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living. Large stacker doors allow the kitchen, dining, and living areas to flow seamlessly into the sun-filled garden, providing a visually connected space for the young family.
Ruby emphasizes that this design goes beyond the absence of walls. Color, materials, and joinery work together to delineate rooms, creating subtle transitions that borrow from and overlap with previous spaces. Every view and vignette is intentional, from the glimpse of checked cork flooring to pockets of color framed by doorways.
Visual creativity extends to the furniture and objects, representing a diverse collection of Australian artistic voices. Ruby ensured that the pieces spanned aesthetics and decades, creating a blended style that the family can carry forward. Vintage finds were elevated with new hardware, and handcrafted artisan pieces shared space with the children's ceramics.
Despite its beauty, Joy Haus is highly functional. Integrated storage and durable finishes ensure it can withstand the demands of a lively family. Ruby believes that function and beauty are not opposing ideas; the best materials enhance family life, becoming more beautiful through use.
In Ruby's words, Joy Haus is an ode to her love of design and the power of color. But it's more than that; it's a deeply personal home where every detail tells a story unique to this family. It's a space that embodies the essence of joy and the art of thoughtful curation.
"The best interiors are never purchased all at once; they're collected over time," Ruby reflects. "It's about layering emerging designers, vintage finds, and iconic pieces to create something truly one-of-a-kind."
Joy Haus is a testament to the power of design to create spaces that are not only visually stunning but also deeply meaningful and functional. It's a reminder that when given the freedom to "go wild," the results can be truly extraordinary.
