Known for their custom style and divinely decorated 5,000 square foot Irvine showroom, Wendy and Greg Blackband have a stellar track record of transforming blank areas into one-of-a-kind living spaces. Their Blackband Design (blackbanddesign.com) firm is so in demand that the pair is now hitting the road with their new mobile design service, Concierge. Whether it’s a room refresh (they call it Snap), a moderate redesign (Crackle) or a grand-scale makeover (Pop), the team can give singular spaces an updated motif. And they’ll do all the heavy lifting, including shopping for the perfect accent pillows and setting up your revitalized area, through a one-time installation process. (Prices range from $2,500 to 7,500 plus an hourly design fee). We pulled up a chair to find out how it all comes together. Room service for your home- that’s original.
Riviera: How does it work?
GB: Concierge gives you all the benefits of a full scale design project, but on a budget that fits your needs. It’s not as overwhelming as some jobs. It’s a great way to get a fresh feel for you house. It’s convenient. The customer doesn’t have to spend hours looking for the right accessories.
WB: It’s a nice alternative to hiring a full-time designer if you know your home has potential, but you don’t quite know how to make it happen. We’ll visit your home, talk things over and come up with some ideas. Within a few weeks, we’ll come back and Snap, Crackle or Pop until your home is complete.
Riviera: Tell us about those service tiers.
WB: The first tier, Snap is a quick turnaround. We’re talking pillows, artwork, those sorts of things. For Pop, the more accessories a person wants, the more Pop they’re going to get and the more bang for their buck. And Crackle is just fun. We do a lot of mercury glass that has that crackle feel. I thought it was catchy.
Riviera: How do you two split up your Concierge roles?
GB: Wendy is head of design, and I’m responsible for the production, installation, delivery and procurement of products.
Riviera: Now let’s talk trends. What’s blooming this spring?
WB: There are so many fun colors: plum, deep indigo and gray. We’re seeing a trend to a more modern style along the coast. Builders are constructing more contemporary homes. People are updating their homes with a modern vibe.
GB: The buzz phrase for the last few years has been transitional furniture and design, but midcentury modern is becoming the mainstream.
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