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Leanne Abrahams finally follows her interiors calling after 3 kids

October 22, 2015 2 Comments

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Motherhood is what led interior designer, Leanne Abrahams to embrace her undying passion for interiors and turn it into a career. A former copywriter with a media degree, Leanne sunk her teeth into her own renovation projects on the side, completely redesigning each of her three homes with gorgeous results.

Leanne and her kids
Leanne and her kids

โ€œMy builder suggested that I consider a career interior design, but I never thought about it seriously.โ€ Leanneโ€™s eye for detail and passion for interiors soon became evident, and she began giving renovation and colour advice to friends and family on their own projects. It wasnโ€™t until she was pregnant with her third baby that the penny finally dropped. โ€œI have never been as passionate about anything as I am about motherhood and raising my kids. I want to be present from the minute they wake up to the minute they go to bed. Having my three kids ignited an undeniable passion in me, and I couldnโ€™t imagine doing anything without feeling that same passion. I liked writing but I wasnโ€™t crazy mad about doing it every day. Whereas my own design projects gave me such immense joy that becoming an interior designer was all I could think about. And I knew Iโ€™d discovered my calling.โ€

One of Leanne's recent projects
One of Leanne’s recent projects

Heavily pregnant, Leanne started a Diploma of Interior Design online and continued to study and complete assessments well after her son was born. โ€œI studied while Bailey slept and when the girls were at school. I handed in assessments at night after the kids went to sleep, and literally did my readings at any free minute I had, and there werenโ€™t many!โ€ After almost two years of juggling and studying, Leanne was qualified. โ€œIt was a feeling of a huge relief and mass excitement when I held my diploma in my hands. I had achieved my greatest dream and unleashed a passion that had been burning inside me since I was a young girl. It felt amazing!โ€

Earlier this year, she launched her business Lily Rose Interiors and itโ€™s no surprise that her business is named after the middle names of her daughters, Sienna and Tyler. โ€œTheyโ€™re the reason I followed my dream. The passion I felt for them as a mother made me want to discover that passion in my career. I could never do anything I wasnโ€™t in love with. It just wasnโ€™t possible anymore.”

Sienna room 1 web

Lily Rose Interiors specialises in childrenโ€™s interiors and is based on Sydneyโ€™s North Shore. Leanne focuses entirely on her little clients’ interests, personality and favourite things to bring to life gorgeous, vibrant, beautiful and functional spaces that ooze style. โ€œMy little Sienna is such a playful, fun, energetic little girl with an adoration for the colour green. This led me to create a vibrant space that completely reflected her personality and that she would absolutely love. My daughter Tyler on the other hand, is a very girly, sweet, soft princess and her room is just that.โ€

Daughter Tyler's room
Daughter Tyler’s room

Leanne believes that a childโ€™s room should be more than just a place to rest. It should be a space that sparks imaginative play, harnesses creativity and encourages little minds to explore. And it should change as your kids go from baby, to a toddler, to child, to a teenager. โ€œIโ€™ve recently changed my sonโ€™s nursery into a toddler room. It has shelves to display his trains with tracks that clip on to transform it into an instant play space. I just love coming up with creative ideas that tap into a childโ€™s interest.โ€

But the buck definitely does not stop at childrenโ€™s interiors. Leanne extends her love for interior design into every room in the house, and has just completed a project redesigning a modern apartment in the Gazebo in Sydney. โ€œI just love creating spaces that are unique and meaningful. It gives me great pleasure to take a project from concept to set-up, and see the amazing results come to life. And I especially see my lovely clientsโ€™ smiling faces. Itโ€™s an absolute joy.โ€

Now that the passion for Leanneโ€™s interior design career has been fully ignited, it is apparent that this creative road was always going to find her, it just took her three kids to show her the way.

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The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital ๐Ÿ˜œ

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
The unluckiest girl or the luckiest? Day 6 in int The unluckiest girl or the luckiest?

Day 6 in intensive care after suddenly coming down with a very serious necrotising fasciitis in my elbow on Sunday. Four operations later (with more to come) I'm out of the woods, alive and have my arm. But I won't be going home until after Christmas. Also picked up a bonus bit of pneumonia to keep things interesting.

I won't lie. This has been super super hard but I feel extremely lucky nonetheless. Have come across some exceptional surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses who have been incredibly kind at my most vulnerable as well as great at their jobs. I'm really grateful. Huge thank you to my amazing husband who is holding down the fort with the help and cooking of our wonderful friends. And to friends who check in, send love, flowers, snacks and sushi, I will never forget it.

Of course I will be sad tomorrow but my boys can visit and we will have another Christmas next month.

I'll leave you with this. Never ever ignore those health niggles. @healthdirectaus is always a great starting point.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and will enjoy everyone else's celebrations on here with only a hint of bitterness ๐Ÿ˜‰

PS. Does this win the most unflattering photo of me ever published? I think so! No lippy for a WEEK.
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Comments

  1. AvatarPenny White says

    October 26, 2015 at 9:33 am

    Great story about Leanne Abrahams, Jen. It just goes to show you how you can change your route in life anytime you want. You are your own driver. Take the wheel and go at your own speed…

    Reply
  2. AvatarAlana says

    February 29, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    Love to know what online course Leanne undertook? Thanks so much, Alana

    Reply

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