Aug 21, 2025

Leonie’s Story: Independence and Elegance at 82 with Bcompact

Leonie’s Story: Independence and Elegance at 82 with Bcompact

At 82 years old, Leonie is living proof that smart design empowers independence — no matter your age. After downsizing from a large home in central Sydney to a much smaller space, Leonie faced a challenge many can relate to: how to make the most of her compact living area without compromising safety, accessibility, or style.

Her new home had a beautifully built mezzanine, perfect for storage. But the question was — how would she access it easily, and safely, on her own?

That’s when she discovered Bcompact.

“It was just too hard to get up to the mezzanine floor for storage,” Leonie recalls. “Someone showed me a ladder Bcompact had, and it was just amazing."

What makes Leonie’s story so powerful is not just her age — it’s her confidence, her independence, and her joy in reclaiming control of her space thanks to one small but mighty design innovation.

Design That Empowers

The Bcompact foldable staircase and ladder systems are unlike anything else on the market. Compact, ergonomic, and sustainable, they’re designed to fit beautifully into modern, smaller homes — while offering easy functionality for all ages.

“You have one finger — there it is, done. One click and it’s back. Unbelievable.”

Leonie isn’t exaggerating. Bcompact’s design allows the staircase to fold away with the lightest touch — reducing floor footprint while offering total ease of use. The carefully engineered handrails, tread spacing, and balance all contribute to a feeling of security that Leonie describes as “completely safe.”

“I’ve packed and unpacked this mezzanine so many times. Taken chairs up and down. I moved boxes — six chairs! — by myself. And I’m 82.”

A Testament to Ergonomic Innovation

Ergonomics play a major role in every Bcompact product. The ladder Leonie uses was designed with precise angles and grip points, placing every element exactly where the body naturally needs it. This isn’t just convenient — it’s empowering. Especially for someone who lives alone.

“I don’t even have to look where I’m going — the handle is exactly in the right place.”

This level of thoughtfulness in design is part of Bcompact’s broader mission: to create beautiful, sustainable, space-saving solutions that serve everyone — young, old, and everyone in between.

Bcompact’s solutions aren’t just functional — they’re also environmentally conscious. All products are made from fast-growing, sustainably harvested bamboo, which is stronger than steel by weight, naturally anti-microbial, and extremely durable.

This choice of material aligns with our vision to build a local bamboo industry in Australia, reducing reliance on high-emission materials and providing beautiful, eco-friendly solutions for modern living.

Leonie’s story is more than a customer testimonial — it’s a message of possibility. At 82, she’s not slowing down. She’s lifting boxes, organizing her space, and living fully — all thanks to thoughtful, elegant design.

“I live alone, so I haven’t got time to ask people to help me.”

With Bcompact, she doesn’t have to.


Watch Leoni's video here!: