Leah Hudson-Smith
Interior stylist Leah Hudson-Smith believes a home should adapt from season to season with equal measures of practical and ‘a bit of fun’.
Words: Lauren Camilleri & Sophia Kaplan | Photography: Lilli Thompson
One of Leah Hudson-Smith’s self-built ‘mini houses’ sits within the walls of their rented warehouse home. This design feature, along with their plant collection, adds warmth and cosiness to the otherwise industrial space. Photo - Lilli Thompson.
You live in an amazing warehouse space. How do the plants impact the dynamic of your home?
The plants in our warehouse are my medicine, and taking care of them is a relaxing ritual that encourages me to slow down from my (often too busy) life. While they also serve as a functional air-cleaning service, for me, the benefit of living with plants is directly connected to a sense of wellbeing. Living and working in the city, I have always tried to escape to nature in some capacity every other weekend. But with the long hours of my work and the stress it inevitably brings, I realised this wasn’t enough, so I started introducing indoor plants to my home as a remedy and never looked back!
How do you choose your plants?
The plants I select are always about colour and form. I certainly don’t claim to be a plant nerd and I couldn’t tell you their scientific names, but together they create a composition that works for me and my home aesthetic. I try to balance height with density, and I am always moving the plants around the warehouse in order to capture different light conditions and stimulate new growth.
Leah Hudson-Smith her partner Wally in their warehouse in Melbourne’s inner north. Photo - Lilli Thompson.
The glossy green leaves of a Bird’s Nest fern perfectly complement the neutral tones of Leah Hudson Smith’s home. Photo - Lilli Thompson.
“I’ve always been encouraged to respect and explore nature, listen closely and notice the details.”
What was the inspiration behind building ‘mini houses’ in your rented space?
I was tired of renting places that were inflexible. I found the traditional rental house to be too restrictive for the way I wanted to live, so I started looking for an alternative. The warehouse is perfect; I can chop and change things whenever I want, and the space is transformed dramatically with the seasons as we use it quite differently come winter. The ‘mini houses’ are both very practical and a bit of fun. Why build a regular room when you don’t live in a regular house?
Leah Hudson-Smith has a minimalist approach to design and indoor planting. White walls and light-hued timbers reign supreme and provide the perfect backdrop for their collection of Dracaena, Rhipsalis, Monstera and Spathiphyllum. Photo - Lilli Thompson.
As an interior designer, do you encourage your clients to use plants?
Yes, as often as possible. I’m a huge believer in integrating natural forms within our built environment. However, it is certainly project specific; if a client has no intention of taking care of plants, then there is no point in supplying them. You need to understand each individual and how they maintain or operate in their space from day to day, not to mention access to natural light and ventilation. It’s always depressing to see a shopping mall with a bunch of sad-looking plants in a dimly lit corner, which someone has clearly just drawn on the floorplan without really thinking about how it’s going to work.
You’re also a woodworker creating beautiful pieces for your brand By.PONO. How do you juggle this with your interior design work?
I’m a busy lady! I started making things with timber and experimenting with woodwork in the evenings and on the weekends for fun. I haven’t mademuch lately though, as I was pregnant with little Sonny and that definitely slowed me down for the first time in years. I’m kind of liking the new pace, so the woodwork is on hold for now!
“The plants in our warehouse are my medicine, and taking care of them is a relaxing ritual that encourages me to slow down from my (often too busy) life,” shares Leah Hudson-Smith. Photo - Lilli Thompson.
Plants pair beautifully with organic elements and neutral tones, such as these woven baskets and hats. Photo - Lilli Thompson.