Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Ladd.
Isabel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
A Brazilian native, I moved with my family to raise horses in Kentucky. After Fashion School, I found my footing in the Los Angeles fashion world and the maximalist in me was born. My work in the fashion and textile industry instilled a love of fabrics and prints, which segued into a love of interiors.
My interior design business came from humble beginnings. I started my business when I had two young boys – then ages 1 and 2 – and I hosted plenty of playdates in my home. Friends were always complimenting me on my well-decorated home, and I also told them that I strongly believe that you shouldn’t need to sacrifice style just because of young kids bopping about. There’s a beautiful way to mingle everyone’s things about; kitchen cabinets store kids’ toys when not in use, the coffee tables host both my favorite design books and my kids’ favorite storybooks, and colorful rugs and wallpapers mask traffic and fingerprints. Friends with young kids started asking me for design guidance, so this is all to say that my business started by saying “yes!” to one friend at a time. Nine years – and a lot of lessons you can’t learn in school later – here I am!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Challenges and obstacles arise every day, especially when working in a construction zone. However, I have a really good mindset when it comes to handling these straight on. For starters, I try to handle as much as possible behind the scenes and I only get my clients involved when I absolutely have to, and by that time, I have an option or two to offer them to turn it around. I often remind myself (and this takes work!) that problems are not problems, they are opportunities to trust that there is a solution to uncover, a lesson to learn for now, and a lesson to help prevent this from happening in the future. Renovations, construction, and design work is absolutely challenging and comes with a host of obstacles to overcome. But with an open mindset, patience, kindness, and teamwork, you’ll find a solution… even if it’s not the plan you had all along. So instead of getting to work and thinking “what problems am I going to deal with today,” I try to think, “I’m excited to see what magic I’ll create when a challenge creeps up.”
As you know, we’re big fans of Isabel Ladd Interiors. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Isabel Ladd Interiors is a full service interior design studio located in Lexington, Kentucky, but with projects throughout the United States. I’m a self-proclaimed Maximalist; my love of color, patterns, and unexpected combinations is Over-The-Top, but I have an innate sense of when to keep going, and when to reign it in. I am the Queen of the Mix. I mix Old/New, Vibrant/Organic, Traditional/Modern, High/Low. I bring good energy + vibes to my work and it’s super duper important to me that my clients and I vibe. I’m proudest of my ability to work efficiently and at record speed, while remembering a lot. I’m also very proud of my ability to pivot and my open, creative mindset to finding solutions.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am always looking for information to make me better in life and in my business! Podcasts: The Business of Being Creative, The Business of Home, Trade Tales
Books: Rocketfuel is a recent favorite
Contact Info:
- Website: isabelladdinteriors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabel_ladd_interiors/
Image Credits
Isabel Ladd Interiors