The Interview: Lara Banker
The Interview is a monthly post that explores serene spaces and the people who create them.
I couldn't have asked for a better person to begin The Interview series than Lara Banker. As Creative Director at Achieve, Lara just came off of a wildly successful week in Chicago hosting The MCON14 conference. Basically Lara is making the world a better place.
Upon stepping foot inside Lara's Old Northside apartment one can't help but swoon. With a background in visual arts (she was a sculpture major, guys) and a keen eye for style, her home is the essence of a serene space. Whether she built her own pieces (her handcrafted bookshelves & coffee table are made of poplar and ash, respectively) or reclaimed found objects from demolition sites, Lara put thought into every detail of her home. The only question left unanswered is when will she open her own shop so I can have handcrafted Lara Banker bookshelves in my serene space? Let a girl dream.
Enjoy her answers below.
A couch & a cowboy hat. But also Lara's toolkit & a flour sack repurposed into a pillow.
Describe your home's style.
The best way to describe the style of my home would be minimalist contemporary meets industrial. I love white, negative space, and tidiness, but I also accent the space with rough and rustic industrial pieces that bring some rawness to the space. I am very attracted to real materials; things that have been touched by nature. When I first walked into my apartment, I had an immediate connection with it. I could see all of the potential, but I was also attracted to the querks and flaws of the space. I had two criteria for an apartment when I was moving – big windows and hardwood floors. I was moving from a 1000 square foot two bedroom house with a basement and garage into a 600 square foot studio apartment, so I had to get rid of 3⁄4 of my stuff and I could not be happier with the simplicity of my new home.
What is serene about your space?
I take great pride in making my home beautiful, comfortable and welcoming to anyone who walks in my door. Throughout my life, my mom always made a point that anyone was welcome at our house and we always invited “lone rangers” to family get togethers such as Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. That value is something that I carry with me to this day and I love to host people, make them feel welcomed and provide nourishment. Without the love of friends and interesting people in my space, it would not feel like a home. The other component that makes my space serene is being extremely intentional. I am not afraid to get rid of something that does not belong. When you choose to live simply, you have to come to terms with the fact that just because you like an item or you think it is beautiful, doesn’t mean that you need it in your home. You have to be choosy with what you decide belongs in order to create a good balance in your space. Lastly, I have two pets, a cat and a dog, and they bring both light and joy to my space that I could not imagine being without.
Artwork above the skillets repurposed from pieces found at demolition sites; pantry shelving made from poplar.
Share with us one tip on how you keep your home serene.
If you have not used it in a year, get rid of it. As humans, we are reluctant to change and it can be difficult to get rid of things, especially if they have memories or sentimental value. We love to attribute meaning to possessions, but at the end of the day, will you be happier that you kept that one thing or will you be happier with a simple and welcoming home? How often do you think of that “one thing” and what it means to you? How often do you pull it out and commemorate its value? Chances are that your answer is not very often. Take photos or scan the things that are meaningful to you and just get rid of the rest. You will learn to love the few things that you keep more because they were specifically chosen and have a purpose in your home.
Tell us about your favorite possession. How did you acquire it? What makes it so special?
Without a doubt I have to say artwork. In particular, I have one piece that I created several years back that encompasses so much about me, my life, my style and my home and it has always hung in the living room space of my home as the primary artwork that will be seen by everyone who visits. The piece was created out of natural materials – clay pieces, dirt, paper, and ink – which is my medium of choice. I love using natural materials in my art and in my home. It brings some of the beauty of nature into the indoors. One of the things that I love most about the piece is that it is very fragile. The clay pieces can be easily broken off, it is heavy and meticulous to transport. But I think that the fragility of it is what makes it so special. It is precious and needs to cared for delicately. It is sort of a metaphor for my life – everything is fragile and precarious. Be gentle. Be loving. Be careful. Be intentional. Be aware that things can break, so be soft.
Lara's favorite possession: the piece of art hanging on the wall.
What influences your personal sense of style?
Since I come from an art background, I am highly influenced by artists. Andy Goldsworthy, Robert Rauschenberg, and Agnes Martin are the primary influences to my style. Goldsworthy and Rauschenberg bring the organic, industrial and natural material influence, where Agnes Martin is extremely subtle and minimal and creates pieces with delicacy and grace. I am also influenced by minimalist Japanese architecture. Shinto temples were built without any screws or bolts – they instead cut grooves into the wood to make everything fit perfectly together. The way that they problem solved to create the simplest solution to architecture is very inspiring to me and my style.
Five favorite websites and/ blogs.
Favorite Indianapolis local.
There are four places that fit my style and are my go-tos for new pieces in my space. The Inventorialist in Cottage Home, Flux in Fountain Square, Society of Salvage and Midland. You will find reclaimed, vintage, industrial, steel, wood, mid century modern, and other treasures at these places. One of my favorite finds was these old flour sacks at Flux that I purchased for $7 each and then made into pillows for my couch. You will find amazing things at these stores, it just takes a little bit of creativity to make them come to life.
*Images courtesy of Lara Banker, Leslie Lewis & A Serene Space.
