Thirty Under 30: Leah Turner, CKBD

By Donna Heiderstadt

Asked to pick one word to describe herself, Leah Turner CKBD chose “diligent.” She says it best captures her analytical nature and her desire to consider every option so that her decisions are informed and balanced. “This approach extends to my work, where clients consistently discover thoughtful details in their renovated spaces, all carefully designed to complement their daily lives,” says the 28 year old, who earned her degree in Interior Design in 2019 and was promoted to Senior Designer at London, Ontario-based Clay DCC in early 2024.

Leah typically manages 10-15 remodel projects simultaneously, collaborating with Clay DCC’s team to keep them running smoothly through planning and construction. The company has a full cabinetry shop and carpenters on site, so Leah gets to fine tune every aspect of a project from start to finish. “Given the custom nature of our construction and millwork projects, each one presents a unique challenge,” she says. “I work alongside talented craftspeople who bring innovative design ideas to life, allowing us to experiment with new solutions.” While the process is demanding, she admits, it’s also incredibly rewarding. “Hearing directly from homeowners about how their new space has enhanced their daily lives is truly the most fulfilling aspect of my work,” she says.

One of Leah’s top achievements this past year was meticulously overseeing a three-story, two-unit new build designed with full accessibility in mind for potential wheelchair users and those with visual impairment. “To future-proof the space, I incorporated features like a framed and roughed-in shaft for a future elevator, which currently serves as stacked closet storage space,” Leah says. She also included intuitive design elements for vision-impaired residents, such as zero-threshold doors, seamless transitions between flooring materials, strategic lighting, wall blocking for future grab bars, and a gently sloped sidewalk at the entry.

Leah is especially proud to have earned her CKBD certification through the NKBA in 2024 and to have completed an Adaptiv Home Renovation course with the Canadian Home Builders Association, which focused on designing for current or potential physical disabilities. “Having the foundation to assure clients that their designs will be functional not just for now but in 10 to 20 years is important for the confidence in their renovation investment,” she explains. 

As a child, Leah says she spent hours sketching floor plans, creating mood boards, and building things — from forts to LEGO kits. “I was constantly experimenting with space, color, and texture in my own way,” she recalls. “That curiosity and love for creating definitely shaped the path I’m on now.” In her spare time, Leah is a voracious reader (she’s finished 63 books so far this year) and she and her boyfriend, Miguel, recently bought their first home, which they share with Eva, a five-year-old pug, and Simon, a red-eared slider turtle. She has decorated it with “cool mid-century modern furniture” sourced from thrift stores and estate sales, as well as a collection of houseplants. Her ultimate dream, she says, is to have an integrated greenhouse seamlessly attached to her home — and to adopt more dogs in need of a loving family.