•T R E E H O L L O W• Happy hump day! Continuing the theme & inspiration of my beloved dead tree, here’s “Tree Hollow” curated interior. Taking inspiration from the marbled bark, the water stains, and the organic formations the disease has created through the trunk, the pieces chosen for this interior all have a slight quirk. From the vintage @tigmitrading elm table, that takes on the literal bark formations to the Moroccan Beni Sud Rug from @loomrugs which symbolises the water stains rippling down the trunk. There’s a relaxed nature to this interior, a softness and sense of nostalgia, maybe through the warmth & form. Iconic pieces, such as the @livingdivani extra soft, composed with the conceptual chair by @jcrossstudio from @thefutureperfect . The colour palette of noir and burnt ochre, anchored with warm greige with timber accents. Along with soften metals such as “Echo” by @furnobject and STOŁEK ALUMINIOWY by @brud.studia . I couldn’t decide between 2 sofas ~ so here’s where I landed!

•P E E P• Less than a week to go & install on Tuesday - ahh!! Our lil Peep will be out in the world! We’re so excited to be launching into lighting and product design with something we’re both so proud of! A huge thank you to @friends.associates for including us in the 100 Lights Exhibition. We can’t wait to see the amazing designs of the talented people who are showcasing on Saturday! Thank you to the @ngvmelbourne for recognising the significance Melbourne Design Week has ~ it is an amazing space to launch small businesses and connect with the industry. To see new designers, new ideas and be filled with inspiration. A huge thank you to @jay_jermyn for testing & tagging Peep - we appreciate you & your much abused license number! An even bigger thank you to my creative partner in crime @patrick_shields_ who continues to learn new things and never says no to wild ideas! Now, just a little about our dear friend Peep ~ Peep by Studio Shields is a sculptural light that celebrates the quiet poetry of craft. Hand-carved from solid red gum and paired with vintage rippled glass, Peep blends nostalgia with contemporary form. By day, it’s contemplative. By night, it glows, casting dappled light that reveals the curves of its making. Inspired by window panes, Peep is a study in memory, material, and the beauty of imperfection. Because we’ve used reclaimed materials, Peep is an edition of 2 ~ however, we will be taking orders in the near future for one off friends of Peep. Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday night 6pm at 2 Wreckyn Street, North Melbourne.

•T R E E H O L L O W• Not sure if you folks remember, but last month I came across a dead tree on my morning walk and became a little enchanted. The texture, the tones, the story etched into its bark, something about it just hit the spot. Naturally, I messaged the neighbour to see if I could haul it home… and now it’s still sitting pretty in our driveway, waiting to become a sculpture. Soon, I promise. This week’s #fridayflatlay is an ode to that tree (last image if you’re curious). The marbled bark, the water stains, the way disease has created such hauntingly beautiful movement through the trunk, there’s something so powerful in how nature breaks down with grace. The material palette pulls from this, the noir and burnt ochre, anchored with warm greige and softened metals. Every element has a patina, a curated history, a sense of organic depth. Together, they speak to the raw beauty that inspires so much of what we create. Mother Nature, honestly, you’re the original muse.

•HOT OFF THE PRESS• Today on @thedesignfiles the “how to” colour drench with your fave colour lover, me! It was @kellywearstler who threw me headfirst into the world of colour-drenching with her Farrow & Ball collab (image 2). I stumbled upon this almost six years ago, and it felt like tumbling down the most delicious rabbit hole. From there I’ve continued to refine and practice the art of adding colour to interiors, a delicate touch to the full “push you off the cliff” approach. This article delves into ways to colour drench your interior. From setting the mood, how to add layers and added tips to make your space feel more spacious. Yes, I feel like a 80s informercial, “wait! There’s more!” I can’t help but continue to be amazed at the ways colour can improve a space. And yes, I couldn’t help but do a burgundy red collage, you guys know me! ❤️ Read the full article linked in my bio or head over to @thedesignfiles Image 1 - The Burg Collage by @_studio.shields for @thedesignfiles Image 2 - “Faded Terracotta” by @kellywearstler for @farrowandball Image 3 - “St-Kilda Residence” by @studio.doherty | photo @derek_swalwell Image 4 - “Weeroona House” Architecture & interiors - @neilarchitecture | Curation @simonehaag | Photo Tom Blanchford Image 5 - Henne Fiveways/ Paddington by @bremperera | photo @lillie_thompson RS 🤎

•S S P R O J E C T S• Hot off the press ~ some exciting updates from the studio! There is no rest for the wicked! As we hit May we’re absolutely bustling with some really exciting projects in the making⚡️ First up, some fab snaps from our Château Randwick project. A small kitchen renovation that packs a punch! This one was a tight turn around working with the existing floor plan. As you already know, I’m a sucker for blue & burgundy combo, so this palette was a treat! Then we have our OG clients, we’ve been working on this project since 2023 and it is so exciting to see our first ever design baby come to life. Rich hues add drama to the Victorian home, soft tonal sheers and lighting moments add extra sparkle. A whiskey room that’s tonal goodness with aged mesh brass and a main bedroom fit for queens & kings! I’m looking forward to shooting this home soon. Next up, a major warehouse renovation is keeping me busy! This one is being divided into 2 offices for each client and a photo studio to hire along with a 4th tenancy. It’s a biggie but super rewarding. My wonderful clients at Mount Eliza are keeping me updated with exterior colour testing on the fence, construction snaps and cute street numbers. This project is in full swing with some beautiful colours and interior details. Lastly, a new curation project in Northcote which I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into. The concept “jewels amongst the desert”, I honestly can’t wait to share more of this one with you all! I had real big doubts when deciding to take the leap with starting Studio Shields. That inner saboteur was causing all those nasty thoughts. But I just can’t believe the response I’ve had & the support from everyone. I have such gratitude to the people who want to work with me. Like ME… I keep pinching myself because it feels like a dream. I can’t wait to continue to grow, learn and develop as a designer ~ a big EEEK HELL YEAH coming from me!!

•R O U G E C I G A R S• Smoke it up and sit back, this render is hitting the spot for Sunday Scaries. Completing the vision for an uptown NYC townhouse cigar lounge, this interior is seriously giiivvvinngg. An intimate moody space with ambient lighting that just makes you want to sit back and relax! Richly hued textiles alongside sculpted pieces of organic curves and angular forms creates a dynamic space. Materials that catch your eyes, textures that make you go “yuuumm”. Deep reds and warm tans envelop the space, evoking the timeless allure of a cigar lounge. Order up, cognac & martini please! The stand out cocktail cabinet was a must have, made by the talented @rossthompson_furniture Sitting beside the 20.01 armchair, that I have a serious crush on by @studiohaos . A touch of blue provides a cool contrast, grounding the warmth and I could look no further than “Dub Dee Dark” by Clare Milledge from @stationgalleryaustralia . This is a space designed not just to be seen, but to be felt, it’s where materiality and mood are in perfect conversation. So sit back, let’s put on some electro jazz and make a few cocktails. It’s going to be a long night to wash away those Sunday Scaries.