5 minute read
by Samantha Choyce, DMN State Manager
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Changing the order of design
Samantha Choyce, DMN WA State Manager
I had the honour of sitting down with one of Perth’s rising stars in interior design and to say she impressed me is definitely an understatement. Leah Bennet is carving a path in the industry for Indigenous artists and designers with such grace and a deep love for the Australian land and its people, it’s hard not to feel immense pride when you listen to her story.
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What’s In 02
Above: The “Land” room in the “Applecross Residence” interior project by Design Umbrella & Leah Paige Designs, featuring artwork “Emu Feathers” by Whadjuk Noongar Artist Yondee Shane Hansen. Photo by Carlia Knowles from Studio CK
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I had the honour of sitting down with one of Perth’s rising stars in interior design and to say she impressed me is definitely an understatement. Leah Bennet is carving a path in the industry for Indigenous artists and designers with such grace and a deep love for the Australian land and its people, it’s hard not to feel immense pride as you listen to her story.
Leah’s tertiary education started at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts where she set out on her dreams of becoming an actor. However, Leah found herself passionate about creating the performing space even more than the acting itself and soon enrolled in a Bachelor of Design at Billy Blue College of Design where it seems destiny was waiting for her.
Leah is a proud Wudjari Noongar woman with family ties to the Ravensthorpe region in WA. Growing up, Leah didn’t know her family was Aboriginal until her grandfather reconnected with his family in his last few years who shared letters and stories of their history, prompting Leah to learn as much as possible about her Aboriginal culture from then on. She shares what she’s learned with incredible respect for her family’s story and her heritage has become a beautiful driving force behind her career in design. When Leah began her career in interiors, she found there were not enough people doing design influenced by culture. Even when cultural engagement was in the plan of a project, it seemed to be an afterthought or obligation and most of the time ended up being an Aboriginal art piece hung in an insignificant place just to ‘tick a box’. This experience gave Leah a clear vision – to change the order of design.
“It’s a wasted opportunity for all projects not to take into consideration the land they are on and the stories of the area, because when real life experiences are reflected through design, it changes a room or building from being beautiful to look at, and connects you to how the space makes you feel,” said Leah.
When taking on a new project, Leah researches the area and how Indigenous communities lived, worked and enjoyed the land and its natural resources. She often consults with Aboriginal leaders and incorporates the stories into her planning.
Below: LDP Karlup Raindrops Smoke cushions shown in the small, medium & large, photo by Carlia Knowles from Studio CK Right: LDP Karlup Raindrops cushion large featured in the “Applecross Residence” by interior designer Design Umbrella & Leah Paige Designs, photo by Carlia Knowles from Studio CK
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A current project Leah is working on will be drawing inspiration from the six Noongar seasons. Unlike the European calendar, there are six Noongar seasons in Western Australia’s South West region, which are indicated by changes in local plants and animals. I’ve asked Leah to keep us posted on a commercial project with two boardrooms where one has been styled as a traditional boardroom and the other as a yarning circle – a safe space to learn from a collective group, build respectful relationships, and preserve and pass on cultural knowledge. I’d love to know, after 12 months, which boardroom the employees gravitated to and how it’s affected their working environment and culture – what a fantastic case study!
Leah’s interior empire is well on its way starting with the launch of LPD.Karlup, a luxury homewares range connecting home to Country. The artwork on her cushions is truly beautiful and not what you might expect. Leah didn’t want to make cushions that would be used for the short term, but rather permanent pieces, made of durable fabric, that are featured for the same duration as the furniture in the space.
Many West Australian Indigenous artists tend to use longer brush strokes and neutral earthy tones and Leah has incorporated a stunning print for her Raindrops range by Noongar Whadjuk Ballardong artist, Yondee Shane Hansen.
Her vision for the homewares range is that each piece is immediately aesthetic and the story follows after, the subtle, natural artwork means any style from Hamptons to Art Deco or classically corporate can feature Leah’s cushions and they’ll never feel out of place. Leah gave me a lot to think about. What she’s managed to achieve in such a short time already, and her huge goals for the future are inspirational, but the message that keeps her grounded is my favourite take-away; “Just because things are done a certain way and always have been, doesn’t mean we can’t change them”.
For more information about Leah’s projects and to view a gallery of her designs go to leahpagedesigns.com.au.
Right: Leah Bennet standing with LDP. Karlup Raindrops Spinifex small cushion, photo by Carlia Knowles from Studio CK
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