Tags
australia, Design by Leona, design garden with feng shui, design your garden, feng shui, feng shui NZ, LAndscape architect, Leona de Ridder, Leona deRidder, Nelson NZ, New Zealand, roseline deleu, South island NZ
Roseline Deleu (Feng Shui Steps.com.au) interviews Leona de Ridder (Design by Leona.com)
1. Please Leona, tell our readers briefly WHEN, HOW, WHERE or in WHICH circumstances we met?
I met Roseline in Canberra, Australia, 1998, where Roseline was teaching a night class in Feng Shui. I remember thinking, this is a fascinating woman of the world who has many stories to tell, and I am still enjoying hearing the stories of Roseline’s life of adventure!
2. Since then, could you share what is the most interesting Feng Shui result that you have experienced?
I have seen life changing situations evolve, reactions that have affected health and wellbeing in a positive way. And a privileged experience being part of life in a terminal phase of illness, we created a peaceful place to rest and pass.
3. Let’s talk more about you now Leona… Tell us a little about yourself and your business.
I can say studying Feng Shui with Roseline cemented my decision to attend University in 2000, to study a Bachelor Landscape Architecture. It soon became obvious the broader Landscape Planning discipline was a serious consideration, so returned back into the fold of University to study Masters Landscape Architecture (Landscape Planning) in 2004.
A short stint practicing in Australia 2007-2009 gave me a broader understanding of landscape scale and another approach to landscape assessment.
My current practice, Design by Leona, was born in the last decade, along with two children. I needed a family friendly practice, so returned to residential design and volunteer work with community groups.
In more recent times, I’ve delved back into the world of landscape planning, focusing on Integrated Farm Plans and indigenous cultural decision making process.
This is where Roseline and I have reconnected once again, always evolving. I have observed Roseline integrating what she has learned during her extensive work with Aboriginal people in 24 remote communities around Australia. Roseline has shared with me how she evolved to respect culture and a more connected practice integrating Oneness, Language Ancestors, Land and Nature Elements within our landscape and homes.
To me, Feng Shui is really creating harmony in our landscape and buildings; after all, the first impression you give to your visitors is the harmony of your garden, your landscape, your front entrance and only then your interior. Practising Feng Shui regularly has helped me strengthen my connection with the Land and clearly understand that we belong to nature.
4. What are the five words that people would use to describe you?
1. thoughtful
2. caring
3. interested
4. a wee bit controlling
5. fun
5. What was the purpose for starting your business?
To find my purpose in life really, and that is healing of the land and the people. To leave something in a better state than before (preferably).
6. What are the most common reasons people contact you?
Some are wanting elegance in their life, some are wanting to find more peace, some are just bored and want a change, it is all so varied. Usually it is a form of crisis or trauma that instigates change, and wanting to seek help towards change.
7. Tell us more about your services that you provide to your clients?
Mostly my service is centred around landscape design at both the residential scale and the broader scale. Some clients don’t want to hear about Feng Shui principles, this is ok and I respect this. I can still incorporate Feng Shui principles into the design without the client necessarily knowing about it, or feeling the need to listen to the explanation, but they can feel it when the end product is built. Others that come into the space can feel it too.
8. Tell us about your process for working with clients?
The initial meeting is so important, this when the essence of the vision or the desire is shared by the client. As the design process unfolds into budget discussions, it is important to hold onto that first conversation, to hold onto what is important, to retain the integrity.
9. What advice can you offer to people who are just discovering “Design by Leona”?
There is no time like the present to make change, life is too short to procrastinate, to hold onto fears and old patterns. Let’s create those changes together in a safe and supportive way.
10. Do you have a book/s that you would like to recommend?
“The Gardeners Garden” by Cox and Musgrave
The study spans seven centuries to spotlight more than 250 of the globe’s finest permanent gardens by leading garden designers, horticulturalists, and landscape architects, brought to life via more than 1,000 sumptuous photographs and in descriptive texts by leading garden writers.
“Your first easy steps to Feng Shui” by Roseline Deleu
Simple, easy to understand for all, this little red book has gone everywhere with me.
11. Where do we find your services?
http://www.designbyleona.com
Linked In Leona deRidder
Feng Shui Steps 