Home Improvement Magazine Emma Mason Fall 2017 | Page 30

JUMPING ON
THE DESIGN
BANDWAGON
ADVICE FROM STYLE
PRO COBI LADNER
I
f you’ve had second thoughts about how your home is
decorated, take heart—you are not alone! According
to a Houzz survey of 1,700 people, an astounding 98
percent felt that they had not achieved their ultimate
design vision for their home. Design maven Cobi Ladner
of Ontario has felt this frustration firsthand. She has made
a second career out of designing “fun” fabrics, accessories,
drapes, lighting, and furniture that are produced by a variety
of manufacturers and promoted on her website, cobistyle.com.
(We’ll get into exactly what “fun” means a bit further on.) 1) GET OUT AND EXPLORE
Design decor has become much more accessible and affordable
over the years since Ladner started her own line of lifestyle
collections. Back then, there were a lot of neutral tones, and
many florals and patterns were considered too feminine to be
widely used. These days, you can change up the look of a room
just by replacing the accessories—and it doesn’t need to be
expensive. Interesting, colorful, attractive items are available at all
quality levels and price points. Choose what suits you and what
you can easily afford.
Prior to 2008, Ladner worked as editor of Canadian House
& Home Magazine for fifteen years, growing the magazine’s
readership from 619,000 to 2.5 million during her tenure and
spearheading its leap into Canada’s top five publications. After
her hectic career as an editor, she shifted gears to create her own
brand and style philosophy, which she has popularized through
her website and product lines. She continues to be an influential
force in home decor, often appearing in Canadian publications
and speaking before various audiences. 2) BE BRAVE
Granted, it’s not easy to dive into changing a room’s decor.
The Houzz study reinforces what Ladner has seen repeatedly
throughout her design career: people fear taking the first step
toward change, a fear that they will do something wrong. Since
the vast array of options—from fabrics to colors to styles—can
feel so overwhelming, it can be hard to make confident choices.
But once you do commit to changing your decor, the steps below
will help you feel more assured in moving forward.
Ladner is quick to assure people that although their home may
not be “house beautiful,” nor are they Martha Stewart, they can
still embrace design and make their home the welcome haven
they deserve to retire to at the end of a long day. She offers wide-
ranging advice on how to jump into the design world without
fear and without regrets. Here we share her most helpful ideas to
get you started:
3) CHECK OUT YOUR CLOSET
Start with the simple step of opening your closet door and taking
a peek inside. What colors do you gravitate toward? Ladner
herself is a redhead, so no pink in her closet. Instead you will find
bold red, gold, and orange tones. These colors are her preferred
choice when choosing home decor items as well. Sure, she uses
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