TDS Designer in the Spotlight: Ruth van Overbeek

Ruth is featured in this month’s issue of Real Living as she shares a glimpse inside her impeccably stylish and warmly collected home. She shares advice on living with treasured objects on display and trusting yourself when it comes to creating a space that you’ll love for years to come. Oh, and that time when she spilt a margarita on her marble benchtop! 

This is the first time that Ruth has been published and what a beautiful debut. The story features her home over three double page spreads and the images are stunning.

Kaamer has also had a recent rebrand too. The new branding reflects the unexpected colour combinations and bold forms that this practice is recognised for. 

Ruth is known on the Mornington Peninsula for creating highly personalized interiors. She is a client-centric designer that seeks to find out how people want to live in their home and then creates a space tailored precisely to them. Basically, it’s not about Ruth instead it’s all about her clients. Plus, her clients have a great time working with her. 

Ruth brings her Belgian style that captures a homey, lived-in feel while keeping things clean, simple, and orderly, with an element of the unexpected.

Ruth is a founding member of The Design Society and she generously shares her wealth of experience, as well as a few LOLs with us each week. I can’t wait to see what is next for Kaamer.

Q1. Do you have a dream project you’d love to work on one day?

I would love to renovate a Mid-Century house because I’ve always admired this style for it’s playful and coulorful approach to architecture. To have the opportunity to refresh rather than gut such a home would be incredible. 

MCM houses are now very much ‘on trend’ that’s why I feel it’s an art to keep the original features while incorporating modern day living and materiality within keeping of it’s original aesthetics.

Another dream project would be to convert an old Warehouse into a New York style Loft. The scale of these old factories and warehouses are the perfect backdrop for an eclectic interior. The freedom to re-invent an open space like this would be a dream come true.

Q.2 How did the photoshoot come together? Have you worked with this photographer before?

This was the first time I worked with Fi Storey. I selected her for my shoot based on her work with Simone Haag, I loved the drama she incorporates in her pictures and the way she shoots a vignette. (and Fi has the kindest personality, bonus)

Q3. Do you have any advice for getting your work published?

Commission the best photographer and editorial stylist you can afford. Look into their previous work and see if it is inline with your design aesthetics.

Q4. What’s in store for Kaamer in 2023?

I have some incredible new projects in the pipeline and I can’t wait to share them with you. 

The Fast 5

1. What is your ‘desert island’ chair? (your very favorite chair)  

I personally own a Womb Chair by Saarinen, it’s classic in design, sculptural and super comfortable. It ticks all my boxes as I’m drawn to the aesthetics but it also creates drama into a room by it’s scale and shape, inclusive of a comfy factor, you simply can’t beat it.

2.  Is there one trend that you will be glad to see pass? 

All white interiors: As much as it is a clean and crisp look, it’s just not practical. Great on pictures, but not children-friendly. (And do I dare to say ‘boring’?)

3.  What’s your favorite material? 

I love natural materials like marble, timber, linen and silk. You just can’t beat the beauty of what mother nature produces.

4.  If you weren’t a designer you would be… 

An event planner! It’s no secret I love to party and like to set a scene.

5.  What’s on your playlist?  

With my European upbringing I have so many sweet memories that are linked to French music like Jean-Jacques Goldman, St Germain and Zaz.

You can follow Ruth’s journey on her website or via the social media links below.