Cake Design News: Sneak Peek: Phil & Ruth de Vos

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Phil and Ruth de Vos spent two years designing this home in Perth, Australia, and then another two and a half years building it before they finally moved just a year and a half ago with their growing family: Aaron (9), Hannah (8), Caleb (4), Daniel (2) and Marcus (two months). To keep costs down, Phil drew up the plans and did most of the building work together with his father. Phil and Ruth had renovated their first home, and while it was lovely, they wanted to design something more sustainable and energy efficient. When it came to the finishing touches, the couple was inspired by the rustic industrial style and wanted to achieve that look without investing in too many new furniture pieces. They wanted raw timber finishes, metal and concrete. Using these raw finishes had the added benefit of keeping the decorating simple and affordable. Ruth is a textile designer, so she was able to add a little warmth to the space by displaying her work. Thanks, Phil & Ruth! And thanks to Arlene Bax for the lovely photographs! — Amy Azzarito

Image above: The master bedroom feels so luxurious! I am still completely in love with our feature wall. Phil made it with salvaged floor boards. Our bed was previously a honey-coloured timber. Its new coat of paint makes it feel like a completely new piece of furniture (we painted a whole host of existing furniture pieces white when we moved, to fit in with the new décor). The covers of the throw cushions where made by screen-printing through a paper-cut stencil. The bedside "tables" are IKEA Helmer drawer units. All seven of us have one of these for keeping various treasures.

Image above: Installing the bookshelf was a nerve-racking experience. I love the fact that it's at the center of our home and all our family activities. (I also love the fact that there is still room for more books!) We're still intending to install a library ladder — for now, the books on the top shelves don't get looked at very often.