Blackband Design

Orange County Interior Design, Renovations, New Builds.

Weekend Getaway // Road Trip to Ojai

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Ojai is a charming little town an hour and a half north of Los Angeles. It’s a perfect destination for a weekend getaway or a spontaneous day trip!

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SEE 

Friends Ranches: There are so many great places to check out in Ojai, but one of our favorites has to be Friend’s Ranches where they grow their infamous pixie tangerines! They offer springtime orchard tours taking you through the history of their family and farm. Meditation Mountain: a sacred site on 32 acres, this is a perfect spot to escape the hustle of city life and soak in the zen vibes. Ojai Olive Oil: surrounded by mountains and trees, this hidden gem offers free tours twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can learn about the process of making the olive oil, hear about the history of the ranch and sample different oils. 

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SHOP

Barts Books: the worlds greatest outdoor bookstore! This is a quaint little bookstore downtown Ojai that is worth checking out. Quick tip: If you take a stroll down the street towards town you’ll stumble upon the most charming Spanish bungalow you will ever lay eyes on (pictured below)!  Summer Camp: A husband and wife reimagined this midcentury gas station and turned it into a unique shop with a big personality. The owner gave us this awesome map pinpointing what to check out in Ojai and we shared it down below! A few of our other favorites include Modern Folk Living, an eco-boutique for hand selected products; Into The Field, a desert inspired lifestyle boutique; DeKor & Co, where they carry an eclectic selection of vintage and custom made pieces. 

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EAT

Almost everything in Ojai is locally sourced and finding a spot to grab lunch can be difficult with so many great options! Based off our own experiences, we recommend grabbing brunch at Knead Baking Company and stopping in for lunch at Hip Vegan or Farmer and the Cook. If you’re looking to indulge in a little wine tasting, stop by The Ojai Vineyard or Tipple & Ramble. You can also take an “All Around Ojai” tour on a jeep with Cloud Climbers that ends up stopping at a local winery.

The Right White, Blackband Designs GO-TO White Paints!

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We are constantly asked what white paint we use so we decided to do one big blog post to try and answer as many questions as we could! The right white (in our opinion) is a neutral true white and we wanted to let you know what shades we turn to first when we are looking for a clean crisp white. Our best suggestion is to test, test, test! Pick up small cans of your favorites and sample the paints on your wall near each other, then observe at various times of the day to see how they reflect different light in the room. We just painted our showroom and offices in Dunn Edwards White (DEW380) and it made a huge difference, everything feels so bright and airy! If you have any other questions, please leave them in the comments section!

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Happy Halloween!

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Happy Halloween from Blackband Design!

Halloween only comes once a year so we couldn’t resist the opportunity to dress up at the office for a little costume contest! Scroll through to see what our team came up with this year. Tory won best costume for her version of a Kravet Fabric book (Interior Design jokes). We hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween! 

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blackband_design_halloween_wendyWendy dressed up as Steampunk! 

blackband_design_halloween_ashleyAshley DIY-ed a Jellyfish costume!

blackband_design_halloween_toryOur costume contest winner! Tory dressed as a kravet fabric book (so creative!). 

blackband_design_halloween_brooke_and_amandaBrooke and Amanda dressed up as hippies! (p.s. how cute is that new pouf we just got in?)

blackband_design_halloween_whitneyWhitney dressed as Tinkerbell!

blackband_design_halloween_rachelRachel dressed up as Michael Jackson!

blackband_design_halloween_ashley_and_maryAshley dressed as Where’s Waldo and Mary dressed up as a pirate!

blackband_design_halloween_laurenLauren channeled her inner granny and dressed old lady chic!

blackband_design_halloween_jamesJames dressed up as Clark Kent aka Superman!

Houzz Feature on Project West Bay

by Filed Under: Behind The Scenes 9 Comments

We were recently featured in a Houzz Editorial titled “5 Fully Decorated Living Rooms That Don’t Go Overboard”you can see the whole article by clicking here. We wanted to share our portion of the interview below to give you some behind the scene details from our latest Project West Bay!

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5. Coastal Farmhouse

Designer: Wendy Blackband
Location: Newport Beach, California
Year built: 2015 
Homeowners’ request: A space for entertaining with a contemporary coastal farmhouse feel. A large seating arrangement inside, as well as on the front patio to which the living room opens through folding doors, helped achieve this. 
Plan of attack: The house was a new build, so designer Wendy Blackband visited the site several times during construction to better understand how things should flow, how the layout should take shape and how the materials and finishes would come together before she selected furnishings. Maintaining open pathways became a challenge once the furniture filled the room. But proper space planning and a few minor adjustments allowed Blackband to create two adequate walkways through the space. 
Why the design works: “What immediately stood out to our design team was the huge open floor plan encompassing the kitchen, dining room, living room and bifolding doors leading out to the patio,” Blackband says. “With one large seating arrangement focused on the fireplace, it helped break up the open layout. The large folding doors to the front patio help bring the outdoors in, allowing extra seating and table space.”
Designer secret: Keeping the furnishings and accessories muted using grounded neutrals and bright whites. “Because sometimes understated is best,” Blackband says. She also used soft and tonal furnishings so they wouldn’t distract from the architectural details inside the home. “One thing that makes this home tricky is that the entire home can be viewed from the street or from people walking by,” she says. “So by having two chairs back up to the folding doors, it makes the space feel more open versus putting a sofa there that would have blocked off the view of the interiors.”
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 “Uh-oh” moment: The main entrance and garage open to the kitchen, but the way the house is positioned, it’s more convenient to enter the home through the bifolding doors. “Creating an arrangement that was welcoming but functional for the space was our biggest challenge,” Blackband says. “By leaving space behind the sofas with the sofa table, we were able to create a makeshift walkway that gave the impression of an entry.”
Splurges and savings: Blackband saved on the area rug, which is carpet that she had bound. She then used the savings to splurge on accessories.

Take-away: “You don’t have to go overboard with color to make a bold statement, and never be afraid of white sofas,” Blackband says. “A good fabric protectant can be a lifesaver.”

The nitty-gritty: Sofas, coffee table and pillows: custom made by Blackband Design; sofa table: cFc 

Team involved: Chris Brigandi of Arbor Real Estate (home design and build)

SHOP. SAVE. SUPPORT.

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Get your holiday shopping done early with 20% off at more than 100 participating stores at South Coast Plaza! By donating $60 to Angelitos de Oro, you will receive an Angelitos Shopping Card giving the card holder a 20% discount at all participating stores and restaurants for the entire week of October 7th through October 13th.  All proceeds go directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, a one-to-one mentoring program for at-risk children. (Fun fact: Angelitos de Oro has raised OVER $5,000,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County!!)

You can purchase these cards by calling us at 949.872.2234, emailing us at hello@blackbanddesign.com or stopping in our showroom (17971 Skypark Circle, Irvine CA 92618)! You can pay with cash, credit, or mail in a check. If you can’t make it into our showroom we would be more than happy to mail your Angelitos Card to you in time for the sale.

With the purchase of the Angelitos Card, you are also invited to the Launch Day Celebration on October 6th which includes a trend presentation, light lunch, a gift bag with samples, and early 20% shopping at exclusive launch stores. In addition, on this day only, 10% of the proceeds from the launch stores will be donated to Angelitos de Oro in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County.

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Designer Tips to Score Big at the Flea Market

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In honor of National Thrift Shop Day (shoutout to our ShopBando planners for pointing that out!) we’re sharing 5 tips to help you score big at the next flea market. Thrifting for vintage pieces and one of a kind items is one of our favorite things to do on the weekends.

1. Get there EARLY! We can’t stress this one enough, the earlier you get there the better the chances are of finding something you really want! The best stuff goes right away so beat the crowds by getting there when they open. Research the market before you go as some of them offer early admittance for a small fee.

2. Be prepared to barter. Start by asking for half the price you are willing to pay, and let the seller come back with a negotiated price. Be careful not to haggle too low that you insult the seller, you could end up ruining your chances for a better deal! If you are still unhappy with the price, let the vendor know you will think about it, they may end up offering a price you are happy with before they let you walk away.

3. Bring cash in small denominations, and bring more than you think you will need (incase you find that can’t-live-without item). This is important when it comes to bartering with the seller, you shouldn’t say you only have $20 dollars and then hand them a $50 bill and ask for change. Some sellers allow you to use credit cards or checks, but to be safe we suggest carrying cash.

4. Figure out what you are looking for before you visit! Write down a list of things you want to find so you aren’t overwhelmed in the moment. If you are looking for specific pieces, write down the dimensions and bring them with you, don’t forget a measuring tape so you can double check the size before buying! There is nothing worse than buying something only to find out it doesn’t fit when you get home.

5. Ask the vendor for more information on additional products or offsite facilities, they usually have an inventory of hidden treasures in storage! Some of the vendors run small shops or online stores as well, so always ask for business cards and more information! We’ve found some of our favorite vendors that we work with regularly through connections at flea markets.

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing a few shopping bags or a small cart if you have one. Check the weather ahead of time so you can dress accordingly. Most importantly be creative and keep an open mind to pieces that could use a little elbow grease, think about what you could repurpose for your next DIY project!

 

Weekend Road Trip

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Desert Fever: Salvation Mountain

This free standing art installment has been on our bucket list for as long as we can remember. Last weekend we decided to hit the road and check this one off! Salvation Mountain resides in the lower desert of Southern California, east of the Salton Sea and an hour and a half from Palm Springs (perfect excuse for a weekend at The Parker).

It’s fascinating to think this was made by one man with the intention of spreading the message of love, Lenoard Knight spent nearly 30 years building this one of a kind art piece. Over 50 feet tall and 150 feet wide, this mountain is made from local adobe clay and thousands of gallons of paint. In 2002 the United States Congress even declared Salvation Mountain as a national treasure! Unfortunately Leonard passed away in 2014, but many people volunteer to maintain the installment to this day. 

If you’re ever in the area or looking for a weekend road trip, we definitely recommend making your way out to Salvation Mountain. It’s something everyone should see in person at least once, we felt like we were in a scene straight out of Dr. Seuss!  

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4 Last Minute Ideas for Mothers Day

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(Photo via Silver and Lemon)

1. Go Treasure Hunting!

1. OC Gem Faire: One of the largest gem, jewelry and bead shows in the United States. May 8-10th at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.

2. Echo Park Craft Fair: A Pinterest lovers paradise. This event joins together some of LA’s best designers and creators to bring you handmade, one-of-a-kind goods. May 9th and 10th in Silver Lake.

3. Rosebowl Flea Market: Widely known as one of the best flea markets in Southern California, this is the one market you can’t miss. May 10th at the Rosebowl Stadium in Pasadena.

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(Photo via Pinterest)

2. Brunch (hello bottomless mimosas)

LA// Perch: Rooftop brunch downtown Los Angeles. If you can get reservations- this is a unique dining experience that will take mothers day to the next level.

OC// Plum’s Cafe: A quaint little cafe in Costa Mesa, the coconut french toast is the best.

SD// Snooze Eatery: A bright and cheery restaurant in Hillcrest, San Diego. Don’t let the wait scare you away, this place is popular for a reason!

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(Photo taken from our last hike at Crystal Cove) 

3. Take a hike

1. Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach: With four different trails to take, this hike has options for everyone. Moro Canyon Trail is the easiest of them all. Bonus- walk the oceanfront trails across the street before you begin your hike! // Level: Easy // Distance: 3.0 miles //

2. Murphys Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains: A hike that takes you through the remains of an old Nazi structure in the heart of Santa Monica. // Level: Moderate // Distance: 3.8 Miles //

3. Sandstone Peak in Malibu: You can hike Mishe Mokwa trail to Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. The views are breathtaking, making it one of my absolute favorite hikes in California. //Level: Hard // Distance: 7.1 miles //

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(Photo Via Malibu Wine Safaris)

4. Wine Safaris

1. Malibu Wine Safari: Tour the 1,000 acre vineyard and ranch in Malibu aboard this open top safari jeep. The tour stops at various locations throughout the vineyard to sample wine. The safari jeep also takes you up close and personal with exotic animals, including an adorable giraffe named Stanley.

2. Temecula Sunrider Tours: 4.5 hours of fun on this unforgettable wine safari in Temecula. Cruise around in a jeep that takes you to visit 3 wineries as well as a Barrel Room and Production Tour, Grape Tasting Vineyard Tour, and the Scienic Oak Mountain Lookout and Photo Tour.

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