Colourful home has bright ideas on inside too

IF YOU live in Cardiff you may have often passed this very colourful house, but have you ever wondered what it’s like inside?

Earlier this week Wales Online reported about the giant egg that can be seen on the rooftop of a property on Ty Glas Avenue, in Llanishen.

It was later discovered that the egg has been constructed by the owner of the house as part of a promotion campaign.

But the man behind the house, Chris von Ruhland, explained the property is just as vibrant inside as it is on the exterior.

Chris, 55, has lived at the property for around 10 years and he said he painted the house in colourful tones within a year of moving in.

The design was inspired after he saw another house painted in a similar way.

He said: “When I first painted it I hoped other people in the street would follow suit, but that didn’t really happen.

“I think it was on Elm Street – where Cerys Matthews used to live – that someone painted their house a different colour, then other people started doing it too.”

To add to the wonderfully wacky walls, Dr von Ruhland also has an eye-catching camper van parked outside the property. It’s multicoloured, like a rainbow, and was inspired by the concept of night and day.

He also added some flames to the design “just because it’s silly”.

The van, which he considers to be an extra decoration, is a further attempt by the research technician to brighten up the street.

“There is a different theme in every room of the house,” he added. “The lounge is desert-themed. “I went to Jordan once and the idea was that it would reflect the colours.

“The thought was the whole room would light up with the tones.”

With its orange and red walls, the room has a definite warmth to it and is very different to the other rooms in the house.

The dining room is currently transformed into what can only be described as a temporary workshop.

It’s filled with the wooden frame of a dragon that Dr von Ruhland is constructing as part of a promotion campaign for a film he’s making with Time & Space Production CIC.

Parts of the materials for the rather large dragon are also currently being stored in his son Zac’s room, who is studying at university.

The Slayer-themed bedroom that’s painted black and blood-red is currently home to part of the soonto-be-created dragon.

His daughter Oska also has quite a unique room.

The 22-year-old is a big fan of anime, which can be instantly seen as you walk into the bedroom.

“My room is full of flags,” added Chris.

“Years ago when I was in Arizona I saw the flag and it’s something I kept going with. “I started collecting them then. “I bought a UK one during the 2012 Olympics and I rotate the flags outside the house.”

Dr von Ruhland has a flagpole outside his house and you’ll often see a different flag flying above the front door.

But, for now, we can safely say he is flying the flag for happiness – with his colourful house and jolly outlook on life.