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WRITTEN BY: SOPHIE MAE PHOTOGRAPHED BY: TRICIA METEER
f you know anything about interior design, or if you are a sucker for an amazing HGTV-style before-and-after, chances are you’ve heard of Rebecca Robeson. She is the creative force behind Robeson Design, located in San Diego, CA. Rebecca began her business in 1994 and is known for her uncanny ability to turn any ho-hum space into a luxurious work of art. From the moment we walked into her studio, Rebecca’s energy and passion for her craft was infectious. “I just got off a call with from Switzerland!” she says as she welcomes us into her studio, which reflects her impeccable taste in every decor detail. After being greeted by her two adorable pups, Sugar and Roxie, we find ourselves transported into Rebecca’s world of elegant decor and inspiring out-of-the-box design ideas. As her phone call suggests, Robeson Design is internationally known due to Rebecca’s highly successful YouTube channel. Her channel, robesondesign, has over 82,000 subscribers who tune in for her insider design tips and home makeovers. Rebecca also has another popular channel, robesondesignstudios, where she chooses one lucky teenager to win a room makeover every Monday. “It’s been my way to give
Q: What is the history of Robeson Design? How did you begin your career? REBECCA ROBESON: Robeson Design started in 1994 as Ugly Duckling Interiors, because I had a passion for designing my own home, but I didn’t have the money for anything other than what I could find at garage sales. I found the symbolism of the ugly duck turning into a beautiful swan applicable to my ability to see possibilities in all things - to see things for what they could be, not what they are. In 1995, I got my business license and started with clients. Being in a family that entertained on a regular basis, I constantly had people in and out of my home and everyone who walked in had the same reaction—a resounding, “wow!” Then, they always asked the same question, “Can you take me with you to the next garage sale?” I decided to charge $17/hr an hour for my first job and called myself an interior designer. Why $17? Well, because it allowed me to pay a babysitter $2/hr and still walk away with a $15/hr profit - wahoo! The word started spreading from friend to friend until one day the phone rang and a girl asked me if I would design her home with a $50,000 budget. At the time, that was like winning the lottery. There was one little caveat: there was purple carpet that had to stay. With all the creative muster I had in me, I went about designing the most beautiful home in her neighborhood, making the purple carpet
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back. I’ve been very blessed in my work, so this is just my way of spreading the love!” Though she is talented in many areas, Rebecca is especially known for her home transformations. Her approach is very similar to what you would see on popular design shows like Trading Spaces or Extreme Home Makeover. She moves her clients out of their homes until she has worked her magic. “I literally buy everything for them, from the artwork on the walls to their bedding. I mean, how amazing to slip into fresh sheets the first night you’re in your newly remodeled home? It’s a client’s dream come true,” Robeson said. Rebecca wants to ensure her clients are well taken care of and feel right at home from the moment they walk in the doors of their freshly renovated homes. This sets her apart, because most interior designers stop when they complete the renovation and don’t ever even touch the homeowners’ belongings. I sat down with Rebecca to talk about how her design career began, how she became an international YouTube star, and her favorite home design trends for 2013.
the perfect accent rather than the elephant in the room. I am so proud of my accomplishment, I had professional photos taken and showed them to a group of friends at a birthday party. Unbeknownst to me, in attendance was the wife of the man who owned Jack-in-the- Box. The rest is history.
a show we produce called Makeover Mondays where subscribers from around the world send in their photos, measures and answers about their bedroom. Every week we select a winner, design a 3D virtual bedroom and surprise the world with what creative ideas we’ve come up with.
Q: Tell us about your YouTube channel. RR: In 2008, when the economy depleted and my list of clients along with it, I picked myself up by the bootstraps and geared myself up for a comeback. In 2009, Robeson Design was published four times in magazines, our website was complete, and I started my YouTube journey. Looking back, my intent was to teach the younger generation all the things my mother taught me, but I had missed teaching my own kids as a working mom: things like how to wrap a present, tie a bow, set the table or sew on a button. I poised myself for great success only to find my videos virtually unnoticed. Five months into my journey, I was given an opportunity to decorate a young man’s bedroom in 11 days with $5,000. With permission from the clients, I uploaded the journey to YouTube and BAM! That was my golden ticket. I had no idea people would go to YouTube looking for ideas on how to decorate. Four years later, that first decorating video, “Joey’s Room,” boasts over 1,300,000 views and climbing. The newest chapter to our YouTube journey is
Q: What are some of the hottest design trends for 2013? RR: We’re seeing a lot of found pieces, Edison light bulbs, reclaimed wood, sustainable pieces and repurposed old materials. Houzz.com and the Design Network have made a huge difference in allowing clients to see what is out there and what the newest trends are. My most recent venture is founding a content provider for the The Design Network, a video-based interior and home fashion design website. I’ve partnered with TDN to create exclusive design videos, beginning with a kitchen series that’s intended to bridge the gap between the myriad of choices available and arriving at your design destination. Q: What is your favorite type of decor? RR: I don’t favor a specific style, per se. I like to focus on what my client is wanting and that’s how I get inspired. It used to all be about specific styles: French country, Mediterranean, Colonial, etc., but today it’s all about mixing styles and aesthetics to create your own style. My personal