Ginger Foust-Home Stager Oakhurst CA Dream Interior Redesign & Staging Calif

Many of you helped me out with decisions I had to make on our renovation of our 2nd home/vacation rental in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Here's how it started. I wanted the colors of the ocean for accents with a pop of orange as the complement for the blues. Here the silk taffeta panels are aqua. Since I had to plan the entire project from California, before I purchased any furnishings or artwork this color seemed fine to me.

However they were a BI%$H to hem and I wasn't at all happy with them, but since fabric is limited on the Big Island (unless you want a tropical print) I had to settle. Once that we bought the art I knew that the aqua was all wrong.

So here's what I did for the next trip. It's another silk taffeta but a full panel width (54") and in this much bolder color to bring out the colors in the glicee over the sofa. The green seats cushions on the ottomans and chairs also have a fleck of this blue in them.

Overall I'm much happier with the results. Here's a link to our website to see more. And I'm pleased to report that rentals have been going great!

Mahalo for taking a look, Awapuhe

Ever been frustrated when trying to hang art that has two keyholes on the back? Many shelves, plaster pieces and corbels have them and they have been a problem for me. Here is a great solution.

The Black and Decker BSDL 36 inch Level with Accu Mark . You may have seen it advertised on TV around Christmas, 2008. That was when I went hunting for it and couldn't find it anywhere. Even online it was a back ordered item. When I spoke to a sales person at Home Depot he said that they sold so many over the holidays that Black and Decker couldn't keep up with the demand.

Today I found it several places on-line, just google the name or click on the link above. I think that I paid around $25 for it at Home Depot but found it on several sites for less...plus shipping of course, Be forewarned that I read several on-line reviews that said it was damaged (the level vials) in shipment so maybe buying it local would be best.

I originally had no intention of getting a 36 inch level...too big and bulky, but it's the 36 incher that has these clever holes (accu marks) that slide for marking the keyhole, sawtooth hooks, and other hangers on your art. Place the level on the back of the art, place the sliding holes over them, then place the level on the wall at the desired height, level and mark. YES it really does work. I just hung a mirror for a client with no problems. Just make sure to have a sharpened pen with you.

The sliders, (accu marks) adjust for art with hangers from 10 apart to 28 1/2 inches apart. Wide enough for most art that I hang. No more measuring from the floor or ceiling, then across the art between the holes and then hoping your aren't OFF by 1/8 of an inch.

CHECK IT OUT!

This blog post was inspired by a recent post by Abby Reilly, Another Home Staging Tool Worth Checking Out.

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Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service professional staging and redesign company serving the California foothill and mountain communities of Oakhurst, North Fork, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Wawona and Mariposa. Click here to see a short slideshow with examples of our staging work. Also, visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com or www.oakhurststaging.com for more information or call 559-877-2442.

Years ago designer Christopher Lowell coined this term and I've found it very useful. Design and staging clients, seem to like it, understand it and will often implement it.

"CROSS POLLINIZATION" basically means to use color, design & style elements repeatedly throughout a room and a home to make it feel pulled-together and to help keep the eye moving throughout the space.

I particularly like to use this terminology when teaching clients and classes about COLOR. With a whole-house color palette of 3-4 colors cross pollinating means that those colors are repeated in any one room and in other rooms.

This is a home where Dream Interior Redesign and Staging helped the sellers put cross pollinization to good use. Shades of burgundy and berry were the recurring accent color throughout this occupied staging. I know that those colors aren't hot in today's trends BUT with an occupied staging we use what the owner has.

We started with the front door.

This color set the tone for what was to follow inside.

The burgundy and berry colors are carried into the family room where navy and forest green formerly predominated.

This is the guest bathroom which was also formerly dark blue and mauve, small print wallpaper but now has neutrally painted walls with burgundy artwork and accents.

These savvy clients not only removed the dark and dated wallpaper they also retextured the walls, added a new light fixture, new plumbing fixtures and framed the large plate glass mirror.

Here is the master bedroom. The walls are neutral but the burgundy color is also carried into this space.

Naturally the master bath has the same color accents. It's primarily neutral for staging but the colors cross pollinate as they do in most of the rooms of this lovely home.

Here is what these home sellers had to say after the staging process:

"We anguished over all the changes we had to make to have our house staged, but it all paid off with a sold sign in a two week time. It was really worth all the hard work!!! People needed to envision their treasures in the house, not ours, Ginger really knows her business. Kudos to you Ginger!!"

TWO WEEKS to SOLD (with a backup offer) during this tough market. IF your home is languishing on the market, please realize that today it takes more than a sign and a listing agreement to get the job done.

Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service professional real estate home staging and redesign company serving the California foothill and mountain communities of Oakhurst, North Fork, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Wawona and Mariposa. Click here to see a short slideshow with examples of our real estate home staging work. Also, visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com or www.oakhurststaging.com for more information or call 559-877-2442.

Headed for Yosemite, Bass Lake or points north off of Highway 41.

Next time take the road less traveled...Road 200. It is less congested than Highway 41, more scenic and a breath of fresh air. The recent construction of the roadway and straighten out some curvy sections and it's in great condition.

Be forewarned however, if you are headed to Yosemite the gas stations are few and far between if you travel this route. Fill up your tank in Fresno before you head for the mountains. There are two gas stations in North Fork and their rates are usually about 20-25 cents per gallons more expensive than in Fresno or Madera.

As you travel east on Road 200 you will pass through the very small town of North Fork. Once a very vibrant lumber town it is now just a drive through spot on the map. You can get a good deli sandwich at Gas & Stuff while you top off your gas tank. Drive all of the way through town until you come to the totem pole at Highway 274 then turn left. A steady uphill road will take you past Bass Lake on the left. Drive into the Village of the Pines for a snack or just a break.

Back on Road 274 (which turns into Road 222) you will eventually come back to Highway 41 just north of Oakhurst. Turn left to get back into town or turn right to head to Yosemite's southern entrance.

By the way, you may see signs suggesting the Scenic Byway Route out of North Fork but that is a full-day excursion on a less than great road AND is not advised except in the summer months. Snow on many of our high-country roads sometimes lasts through May.

Come on up and experience a slower pace in a beautiful area.

Most Californians are accustomed to our "golden" landscapes from lack of precipitation. BUT when it's green, WOW it's gorgeous. Right now is the perfect time to take a drive and see the green fields, hills and mountain sides.

Take a drive up Highway 41, headed north out of Fresno and discover the beauty that our area holds.

Notice the snowcapped peaks in the background

Drive through farm lands, vineyards, pasture lands, rolling hills, and then into the Sierra Mountain Range.

Highway 41 will take you through the small town of Coarsegold and into Oakhurst where Highway 49 intersects or you can stay on Hwy 41 and drive through forests of Ponderosa Pines and Redwoods to the southern entrance to Yosemite. Be sure to get gas in the valley and/or in Oakhurst as the only other station beyond Oakhurst are in Yosemite (Wawona) and quite spendy.

Stop at one of the many restaurants or grocery stores in Oakhurst and pack a lunch to enjoy along a creek or overlook as you head north.

The fresh, crisp mountain air is invigorating and rejuvenating! Enjoy the GREEN while it lasts.