Lana Wilkinson started designing shoes from her north-west Melbourne home in 2019, segueing from A-list stylist to the stars and red-carpet events – emerging with a new spring in her step.
Now, the married mother of two has expanded into the US market and secured a major department store placement in Australia – with David Jones stocking an exclusive capsule of her LW brand.
When it came to renovating her home, she worked with Melbourne interior designer Nicole Rosenberg who brings a playful contemporary mood to the double storey home.
Ms Rosenberg took on the project five years ago; bringing in curved archways, swapping high gloss floors for muted striped back natural tones, and tiling a backyard pool to give it a chic Mediterranean glow-up.
“We began by updating the pool and it expanded to include the entire downstairs area,” Ms Wilkinson told realestate.com.au.
Lana Wilkinson sits in the room where she started designing shoes from her north-west Melbourne home in 2019. Picture: Melissa Cowan
“The contemporary upgrade to the pool begged for the next steps which included an outdoor sitting area that was modernised and inviting to hang around,” she said.
Ms Rosenberg helped transform the pool house to become a family gathering point – illuminated in pink and filled with Italian Amalfi Coast imagery.
It’s a playful nod to Ms Wilkinson’s bubbly personality; and those prints serve as a reminder of the first European family holiday she took with her husband Liam and their two daughters in 2023.
The bright pink feature wall in the renovated pool house – Ms Wilkinson’s favourite space in the house. Picture: realestate.com.au
As for the pink wall, Wilkinson wasn’t initially sold on the idea.
“I thought it would be daunting, a little too much, but in the end, I realised it actually was a nice touch. There’s a bit of a moment in every room you go into the home that Nicole has helped curate. It’s like a red-carpet moment is found in each area of the home; a chance to pause and feel energised and happy,” Ms Wilkinson said.
A fashion photography print by Brent Rosenberg hangs on the living room wall – its surrounded by lush furniture items including the King Living couch. The print itself was more than Ms Wilkinson has ever forked out on a dress or handbag – but she says the $4500 was worth every dollar.
The statement print by Brent Rosenberg. Picture: realestate.com.au
The dark grey and white palette exterior of the home is contrasted by the light and bright energy within. Ms Rosenberg introduced key features like a welcoming hallway arch, an iron steel door and a selfie mirror which made perfect sense for Ms Wilkinson who posts from this vantage point on most days.
“Nicole really helped make the home feel more welcoming and the arch is now a strong feature as you walk in,” Ms Wilkinson said. “I really trusted Nicole’s aesthetic.”
“We felt quite in tune with one another and she knows my love of colour – she didn’t want to bring in neutral tones everywhere and came up with a design concept that really spoke to me,” she said.
Lana Wilkinson has expanded into the US market and secured a major department store placement in Australia for her LW brand. Picture: Melissa Cowan
The home has plenty of fashion moments throughout – from the Toni Maticevski coffee table fashion book which catches your eye, to a GlobeWest dining room table and Jardan chairs in the lounge room.
Upstairs, there’s racks filled with Australian designer Christopher Esber pieces; some vintage YSL and Givenchy and for our video shoot, Ms Wilkinson is wearing a Balenciaga hourglass jacket; a quiet power move that her hard work is paying off.
The tranquil lounge room. Picture: realestate.com.au
There’s an abundance of family photos over the years that steep the home in memory, while a Bayliss rug warms the living room; and a Dina Broadhurst artwork oozes confidence in the upstairs part of the home.
Ms Wilkinson runs her business away from home these days, but it’s certainly a reminder of where it all began. Being able to separate work from home was important for her.
She’s also just launched a new podcast with social media influencer Rozalia Russian called The Archive – the two A-list friends [who began as frenemies] dive deep into what really goes on behind the scenes of their busy curated lives.
They’re filming the podcast at Ms Russian’s home in Richmond; Ms Wilkinson wearing her favourite Maticevski pieces – her wardrobes filled with the Melbourne designer’s garment.
“I told Toni the other day that god forbid when I die, I want to buried in a Maticevski dress,” she smiled.
She assures The Archive dissects the tough topics of social media hype, stereotypes and the pressure to be it all and more.
“Rozalia and I have both been in the fashion industry for 15 years and we have plenty to share about our experiences and hope to empower other women to chase their dreams,” she said.
Italian Amalfi Coast imagery serves as a reminder of their first European family holiday. Picture: realestate.com.au
“We pull back the veil on the good, the bad and all that happens in between – because it isn’t all pretty.
“Instagram is very much a highlight reel of what is really happening in our lives and we talk candidly about the challenges that come with being in the spotlight,” she said.
At home, her high heel shoes are in abundance. It makes you wonder whether she ever wears anything but a towering stiletto. From gold to black and neon pink heels, she captures the essence of runway trends and brings her own shimmery gaze to the high street with aplomb.
“My whole approach with my business and brand is you have to keep moving.
“When you’re growing the business and expanding, there’s always going to be roadblocks. You can’t jump over them; you have to deal with everything that comes your way. I think starting the brand at home really reinforced where it all began and what we have become in the last five years,” she said.
The designer has experienced strong growth in five years, with a new store about to open in Chadstone. Picture: Melissa Cowan
“The back part of this house is where I developed the first collection and that was a big part of my life,” she said.
“I’ve just come back from New York where we showed our collection and are doing well in Australia with a new retail store to come in Chadstone next weekend.
“There’s no final destination with shoe designer, you get up and keep going because to maintain momentum you have to be a step ahead.”