A collaborative force of experience and energy
Levine Vokaberg has evolved from 35 years of award-winning interior design experience, ingenuity and expertise. Comprising Ruth Levine, Lisa Falvo, Jessica Heneka and Debbie Freedberg, this unique partnership encompasses all four interior design directors involved across all projects.
The distinctive signature style of Levine Vokaberg is a curated, modern design approach, drawing from the rich Australian landscape with influences from the global community. This is achieved by the layering of texture, colour, and form to create warm, considered and luxurious interiors that are tailored to their Client’s needs.
Levine Vokaberg will work collaboratively with their Clients and the project consultants throughout the design process to incorporate sustainable practices and where possible repurpose existing furniture, fittings and considered building materials into the new design.
RUTH LEVINE
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I love this fourth incarnation of my design career.
Sharing similar beliefs, values and humour, we work seamlessly, bouncing ideas off one another without the barriers of egos hindering the success of the ultimate design.
Our beautiful partnership began when Lisa, Jess and Deb were employed by one of my previous entities, Ruth Levine Design {RLD).
And about me? I bring experience and Client relationships having designed countless high end private residences and many of the high profile Sydney developments over my 40 year career, commencing with the first $1m apartment sale in Australia at Kincoppal for Mirvac, a great start for a newly hatched designer!
I'm also an artist/sculptor @studiolevine2022, creating vessels and totems out of canvas and recycled materials. Yes I'm a keen recycler and hate the waste in our industry which spurred on my artistic ventures. All the work is textural, tactile and intriguing.
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When I was growing up, we weren't aware of the term interior design. People inherited their houses and furniture and that was that.
I think design came from within.
The weekly changing of the wallpaper in my doll's house and the construction of their furniture out of cardboard boxes, progressing as a teenager to collecting Italian Design magazines and bags of fabric scraps, meeting with the formidable Florence Broadhurst, designing my bedroom, constantly rearranging the furniture and the design and construction of a giant telephone chair/ soft sculpture which was selected for Art Express, and was a ‘neon sign’ as to what the future held for me!!
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Self proclaimed Japanophile before it was a popular destination. I travelled to Japan as a student and the aesthetics, proportions, textures, patterns, traditions, green tea, respect for design and artisans has remained with me.
I love the work and design philosophy of Charlotte Perriand and her work with le Corbusier of the 1920s and 30s.
And balanced with that is the love for the colour and texture of the Australian bush and the wonderful art of textiles.
In design, I must have a design hierarchy, like a great painting, the eye needs to focus, study, appreciate then rest.
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I love meeting with people, visualising the brief and the finished project.
Designing as a team is elating along with space planning and problem solving, the selections of finishes and fittings and nutting out details.
I think I love all of it! Especially when the Client is knocked out with the final hand over
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Interesting question. I think artefacts and art are more treasured by me than furniture. It's the story behind the object I treasure, who owned it, who held it. I think if that is the criteria , it's my Kawai upright baby grand piano, hardly touched now but a symbol of home.
A big regret is having given away my original Alanda B+B Italia coffee table I bought in the early 80s!
LISA FALVO
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Born to Italian parents, one of three siblings, I have a rich Italian heritage with very strong family values. My Italian heritage fuels my passion for entertaining loved ones and I have a strong appreciation for fashion, delicious food and wine.
Levine Vokaberg is a collaborative force. Our design methodology layers texture, colour and form to create warm, considered and luxurious interiors that are tailor made for the needs of our Clients.
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Contemporary and minimalist interiors truly captivate my senses. I appreciate the light-filled spaces, open layouts, monochrome colour schemes and uncluttered designs. I also have a deep admiration for New York interiors, with their oversized windows, soaring ceiling, and a blend of timeless and bespoke elements.
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I thoroughly enjoy the furnishings and decorating process. My business partners refer to me as “The Furnishings Queen” with my keen attention to detail. Sourcing textiles and furniture, as well as exploring art galleries for unique artwork and sculptural pieces, truly excites me. The decorating stage is where all the magic happens, transforming the vision into reality.
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Designer and Architect, Patricia Urquiola, I mean can she do any wrong? Her poetic and playful style that translates into endless feminine forms and bold colour use is to be admired. I particularly love her collaboration with Louis Vuitton for the Swing Chair.
I admire the architectural legacy of Harry Seidler, the beauty of modern mid century residential design, that Seidler introduced to Australia is key to shifting the Australian style into the modern era. The intelligence and courage in the simplicity of colour, form, texture and planning still stands today. To sit by the open fireplace in Rose Seidler House is pure joy.
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For me, it has to be my B&B Papilio dining chairs. The back resembles butterfly wings, a design that truly captures the spirit of elegance and nature.
JESSICA HENEKA
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Growing up on fresh mountain air, with a good dose of “loving healthy neglect”, the bush was my backyard. With my bundle of siblings we spent endless hours exploring outdoors and having to adapt to find our place amongst the tribe(I’m the funny one).
This affinity with nature, still holds true today and is where I am grounded; surrounded by eucalypts, ochre clay and waterfalls running over sandstone ledges.
Raised with a strong compass to leave things better than I found them. I have taken this into my philosophy for design, when creating environments fit for the specific end user. A key part of what we do at Levine Vokaberg, leave it better.
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When not outside in the bush and waterfalls, I would be building countless lego houses, manipulating cereal boxes and stealing my mothers fabric offcuts to create spaces for Barbies, I always knew I would be doing something creative.
Having studied theatre, I was drawn to the field of Interior Design. This seemed like a natural progression, as I could take the love of sculpting space to tell a story, challenging people to react to that positive environment and bringing people together through shared memories and experiences.
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I am drawn to very clean balanced designs, often minimal in forms and material palettes. Design that allows the mind to rest and take pause from the hectic pace of the outside world. Functional design, that is clever and adapts with the end users, details that are so clever you shouldn’t even notice them.
The thinking and design methodologies of the Bauhaus period, Midcentury, and I am particularly drawn to modern Japanese design and architecture. The way the designs play with geometry in simple understated ways to create a new experience, in often incredibly small footprints, yet the function is always at the forefront.
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To know the Client is grounded in their space, to me, is what it is all about. Accolades are always nice, but my reason is to make space better, make living better; so to hear “you got me, you made my home” - that is more than enough.
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My Grandparents 1960’s Melbourne made teak cocktail cabinet, filled with their original crystal. It’s a reminder of how powerful objects can be to our connection with memory and people. To me, it takes me back to being a child in their “good living room” and the key being turned to open up the mirrored, brass sparkling treasure chest of magic, where the good sweets were kept. They didn’t drink spirits, the cocktail cabinet was bought to go with their Parker suite of furniture and was a sign of elegance and style (never mind the plastic on the hallway carpet).
It has pride of place in my home and in a small way I feel a connection to them, when I now turn the key.
DEBBIE FREEDBERG
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I am an Australian born, beach loving family girl.
My design journey started in top tier Architectural firms and years later I found myself searching for a residential design aesthetic on a more bespoke and personal level. Which is how I found and connected with the Levine Vokaberg team. We have been growing our connection now for over 15 years together. Our firm is a collaboration of design and fun with each project being tailored to each Client’s brief
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Modernism is what resonates the most with me. That is not as rigorous as traditional architectural modernism, but the elements that it represents. Minimal lines and materials, clear spaces, high ceilings, thoughtful details, all the parts that emulate a feeling of calm and sanctuary which is what I think a home should imbue.
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My favourite part of the design process has to be the space planning and developing the concept, the idea behind what we will create. It is the stage where we learn the most about our Clients and create a design response to their brief. Always fun and rewarding.
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Having ups and downs, is how you learn and evolve. I have worked under many well established Interior Designers and Architects(both male and female), learning a great deal along the way about design, people and the environments they inhabit. Establishing Client trust is a fundamental base on which to build an outstanding design.
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I am currently enjoying entertaining around my custom organic concrete dining table with my loved and anticipated, Emporium navy rattan dining chairs.
