Architectural Digest: Did you have a budget?
Bobby Trendz: The short answer: No, I never considered a budget. As a creative, I always think of aesthetics first.
What was your biggest splurge?
My biggest splurge was the artwork above my desk, which I paid $8,000 for. I take art investment very seriously, because it’s something that increases in value as years go on, but it’s also a keepsake. You’ll always remember the owner, you’ll always remember the purpose that it served and the place that it was in. I imagine it as something I can pass down to my children one day or my even children’s children.
Before I decided to covert this space into an office, there was a different piece that hung in the same place. But it didn’t fit with the new direction, so I knew I needed something new. I decided to reach out to Jay West, an artist from Harlem, New York, because he’d created a piece for my first home, featuring Popeye, and I loved the theme of that one.
Most importantly, I didn’t want it to blend in with the space. I wanted it to stand on its own, so I asked for a bold color. Most of my home is black, white, and gray, with some woods tones thrown in there. But when it comes to art, I allow it to take precedence. I love that art is the color in my home. I asked for green with a pop of the harsh white and gray tones and a little bit of yellow. I didn’t give any other instructions, and he came up with that beautiful piece.
Overall, art has always been where I’ve splurged my dollars, because it’s just so sentimental. And like I said, it’s something that we can keep in our heritage and our family forever. In fact, I call my home Trendz Gallery because there is so much beautiful art in it.
