Our Vision
At Studio Shields, we believe the most compelling interiors are those that truly reflect the people who live within them. Our vision is to create layered, bespoke spaces that enhance daily life while celebrating individuality, craft and personal narrative.
Every project is approached with curiosity and care. There is no copy and paste at Studio Shields. Each project begins again ~ with new people, a new story and a new opportunity to create something entirely their own.
And then, we sprinkle in a little Studio Shields magic.
An unexpected colour combination, a piece you never knew you needed, a material used in a way you hadn’t imagined, or something completely bespoke, dreamt up just for you. It’s our creative lens woven through your story ~ pushing ideas a little further, finding the unexpected and creating moments of joy along the way.
Through thoughtful design, curated objects and bespoke pieces, collaboration with local makers & artists, we create homes that hold character, memory and meaning ~ unmistakably yours, with a little Studio Shields magic woven in.
Our Process
Every Studio Shields project begins with people.
We take the time to understand how you live, how you want to feel, what inspires you and the story you want your space to tell.
From there, the design unfolds through careful spatial planning and a concept driven by narrative, colour and materiality. Ideas are developed into detailed schemes that consider architecture, bespoke joinery, environment & place, furnishings and lighting, ensuring every element belongs to the same story rather than simply being applied to a space.
Then comes the hunt.
We go to great lengths to find pieces with character, history and meaning. We source internationally and locally, trawl vintage stores, auction houses, op shops and Marketplace, discover independent artists and makers, and commission bespoke pieces when what we’re searching for simply doesn’t exist yet.
It’s not about filling a room with beautiful things. It’s about finding the right things. An artwork that speaks to the people who live there. A vintage chair with a life before this one. A piece made specifically for a particular corner, person or ritual. Objects collected over time sitting alongside something entirely new.
Each layer is considered in relation to the next, building an interior that feels cohesive without feeling overly composed. Personal, expressive and full of stories.
Ruby Shields
Principal & Founder
Background
Ruby Shields is the founder and principal of Studio Shields, a Naarm/Melbourne-based interior design and decoration practice recognised for its expressive use of colour, materiality and storytelling.
An award-winning interior designer with a background as an Art Director in advertising, Ruby brings a concept-driven lens to interiors. Her work begins with an idea, but is ultimately shaped by the people who will inhabit it ~ their personalities, rituals, histories and the things they love.
Since establishing Studio Shields, Ruby’s work has received national and international recognition across design awards and publications, yet her approach remains deeply personal and hands-on. She works closely with clients, artists, craftspeople and makers to create interiors layered with original, vintage and bespoke pieces, where no two projects speak the same language.
Her husband Patrick Shields, a carpenter and maker, is an integral part of this process. Together they design and make custom furniture, lighting and joinery, allowing ideas to move beyond what can be sourced and into pieces created specifically for a person, place or story.
Ruby’s own home, The View, perhaps captures this philosophy most personally. Built and evolved alongside Patrick over seven years, it became a testing ground for colour, craft and experimentation ~ and ultimately helped Ruby find her own voice as a designer.
Ruby's Philosophy
Ruby believes a home should tell you something about the people who live there.
Not what is trending. Not what everyone else has. Them.
This belief sits at the heart of Studio Shields. Ruby takes the time to understand how her clients live, what they are drawn to, what they collect, where they have been and how they want to feel within their space. Those details become the threads from which an interior is built.
Colour, material, art, vintage finds and bespoke pieces are layered together with purpose. Ruby works closely with artists, artisans and makers to create elements that can't simply be selected from a catalogue ~ pieces with character, craft and a story of their own.
At the heart of my philosophy is collaboration. I believe the best interiors aren’t created in isolation, but through bringing together clients, trades, artists, designers and makers ~ each contributing their knowledge, craft and ideas to create something with a little more magic than any one person could achieve alone.
The aim isn't to create a recognisable Studio Shields aesthetic repeated from project to project. It's to create something far more personal: an interior with its own identity, unmistakably connected to the people who call it home.
Patrick Shields
Maker
Background
With over a decade of experience as a skilled carpenter, Patrick has worked alongside some of Melbourne’s most respected architects, including Kennedy Nolan, Maddison Architects and Winwood McKenzie. Known for his ingenuity on site, trade coordination and collaborative approach, he has built a reputation for bringing complex design visions to life with precision and creativity.
Beyond his professional work, Patrick contributes to Studio Shields’ personal renovation project, The View, where he collaborates with Ruby to design and craft bespoke furniture, lighting and objects. Their work has been recognised within the design community, including features in Vogue Living and Est Living, and participation in Melbourne Design Week exhibitions - first in 100 Lights and again this year in 100 Chairs. His passion for furniture and lighting design continues to grow, grounded in a deep commitment to craftsmanship.
Pat's Philosophy
Patrick’s approach to design is rooted in respect for sustainability, materiality and the relationship between form and function. With a strong affinity for timber, its longevity, beauty and timeless appeal, he crafts pieces that honour the integrity of the material while exploring its potential for reinvention.
Committed to breathing new life into the old, Patrick specialises in transforming recycled materials into thoughtful, enduring pieces. His work balances innovation with tradition, ensuring each creation enriches the spaces it inhabits with warmth, character and longevity.