Our Esteemed Guest, Cobi Ladner

For those of you who aren’t magazine junkies like I am and haven’t catalogues years and years of House & Home Magazine, memorizing the staff and playing detective with each prop or room set you see, I thought I’d let you know a little more about our esteemed guest Cobi Ladner, who is going to Penney & Co to meet YOU on Thursday.

Cobi’s gorgeous designs all available through cobistyle.com

Cobi Ladner has worked at publishing institutions such as Chatelaine and Canadian Living but it was her move to Canadian House & Home in 1990 that would make the biggest impact on Canada’s design scene.  Under her leadership as editor in chief, House & Home’s readership exploded from 619, 000 to 2.5 MILLION readers!  Along with owner and publisher, Lynda Reeves, Cobi built House & Home into the brand it is today forging many amazing brand-extensions along the way including books, television and nation-wide product lines available at The Bay and Zellers.  I will always remember watching Cobi and Lynda chat on their daily HGTV program over the years and absorbing each tidbit!

Cobi’s famous Editor’s Letters in House & Home

Cobi may have accomplished a lot in terms of numbers and sales and prestige, but many people think of her as the heart and soul of House & Home and would flip eagerly to her editor’s letter at the beginning of each thick and glossy issue.  Cobi would warmly welcome us into her life – her real life – with it’s many decorating adventures, personal stories and the joy of raising her family.  She would put all of the glitz and glam of design into perspective and bring it down to earth for us all to enjoy together.

Cobi’s own warm kitchen shared in the magazine

Cobi’s kitchen, which I have been privileged to stand in! So gorgeous.

Since her years at House & Home (where she was my first real boss!) Cobi has gone on to create a brand with heart and soul all it’s own called cobistyle.  It includes upholstered furniture, fabric, draperies, accessories, lighting and much more.  And she’s not done yet – Cobi is always coming out with something new and fresh to dazzle us!

Cobi with friends Steven & Chris on their show

Cobi and Lynda Reeves at the 20th anniversary of H&H

Cobi with Marilyn on The Marilyn Denis Show

I hope many of you will be able to join me at Penney & Company in welcoming Cobi and meeting this warm and wonderful decorating icon in person.  I saw her yesterday and I know she’s eager to meet you too!  So come on out to Penney & Co, this Thursday January 31st at 6 pm and say hello.  You won’t be sorry!

For more on Cobi’s impressive career click here.

For Cobi’s thoughts on decorating with pride click here.

For cobistyle products and details, click here.