Design Inspiration....it's everywhere.

I recently had the pleasure in spending some down time in San Francisco and the Marin Valley...the designer in me seems to be always pulled to areas loaded with unique architecture, lighting, landscaping.  Here are some of my findings....

I lived in San Francisco for 2 years going to design school.  At the time, I didn't have full appreciation for the architecture and culture there.  When I visit now, I have my favorite spots to visit...Haight and Ashbury has been the go to street.  The vintage shops there carry really unique home decor finds. My personal design style at home is a combination of antiques, new, and used furniture, so this area inspires me greatly.

My most recent trip in December, found me spending some time at the Japanese Tea Garden.  I hadn't been there since I was a kid.  It had recently rained, leaving the ground patterned with shades of grey, the colors in the buildings seemed extremely vibrant with their recent cleanse.

San Rafael, home of Terrapin Crossroads.  Uniquely situated at the end of a short road lined with car dealerships, this hidden gem is a must to visit.  The food is some of the best I've had, service has always been top notch, and the music never disappoints. 

I was lucky enough to catch a New Years Eve show here, and fell in love with the rustic feel of the music venue combined with elegant gems like this chandelier.  Several of these adorned the music venue, reminded me of the SF Fillmore, another favorite of mine.

 Although my husband and I have frequented the downstairs restaurant and bar area, we've never had the pleasure of dining upstairs.  I've always been curious what the curved staircase lead you to. At the top of the stairs, you reach this gorgeous dining experience.  The balance of inviting spaces to linger are outlined by windows overlooking a water channel...boats passing by as you dine.  

Born a Pisces, I'm always drawn to the water.  I love the North Coast for it's miles of colors and textures.  Wanting to explore this area more, I was referred to the Tennessee Valley Trail just off HWY 101 a few miles.  The 4 mile loop trail, was easy and ended at the photo below.  

Writing this blog and looking at the interior paint colors of my home, I can definitely see where at some point I've drawn my inspiration colors from coastal hues.  Shades of sandy grey, black, charcoal blue are all represented here.

If you are in the process of wanting a new space, I encourage you to get out and about.  Explore new areas, take photos, engage with your surroundings.  Inspiration is everywhere....

What's your color for 2017?

As 2016 winds down, we find this tendency to make our resolutions or changes to improve our current existance.  Although most of us consider this to be getting ourselves healthier, we join gyms, start new diets, stop smoking, etc.  These are great resolutions; however, there are also ways of improving our daily mindset by improving the spaces we live in.  Refreshing your home or office with new colors can definitely make an impact on our productivity and mindset.

I've always been intrigued after new paint in a space. It's easy to get comfortable in our home or office, neglecting the idea that a simple change of paint color can dramatically enhance our day to day routines.  The effect color has on our moods has been proven over and over.  Are you feeling the need for a change?  Dunn Edwards, one of my favorite paint color palette's, has inspiring forecasts for 2017.

One of my favorite 2017 trends pulls from this amazing Peacock Feather palette.  From the dark green jewel tones to the cool neutral based greens noted below.

Check out these colors from Dunn Edwards:

Meek Moss Green DET606 

Endive DE5618 

Wilderness DE6236

Wanting to gold a little more bold?  Some inspiration from Arizona...

Incorporatng warm hues of Copper, Orange, Rust paired with grey neutrals.

Bonfire Flame DEA109 

OK Coral DET436 

Russet Leather DET440 

Keep in mind, these bold colors can be a simple accent wall, pillow colors, inspiration for artwork colors, and tabletop accessories throughout your room. For those of you that still like to keep a very neutral palette, here are some great choices that make a big impact on your space.

Kiln Dried DET692  

Reclaimed Wood DET625

Silver Bullet DE6381

Whatever your current space holds for you, if you're looking for a change we can help.  Altering your existing room with new paint is the MOST affordable and biggest impact you can implement for a new look.  Essential Home Staging is confident we can help select the perfect shade for your room, interior or exterior.  We are experts in color selection, connect with us today! 

Michelle Kaspari

(916) 402-6098

essentialstaging@gmail.com

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Looking forward to a great year working with these guys, and bringing Home Owners more helpful tips on decorating and staging!

Stage it Now... More Than Ever.

There seems to be a certain urgency in the air. Now more than ever we are finding clients not willing and/or unable to let their properties sit on the market for extended periods of time. This is why they call us. Professional Home Staging will help your property stand apart from the competition. Let us help you turn your vacant listing into a staged a sold one.
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Red, White, and Blue Decorating...

Every year our family celebrates 4th of July with a different twist on decorating! My mother-in-law started a tradition over 10 years ago of Waffle Decorating! I know you’re thinking how does this relate to 4th of July? We decorate with strawberries (red), blueberries (blue), and whip cream (white).

Competition gets tougher every year to come up with an original idea! We’ve had everything from the Statue of Liberty to Elmo. Days, even weeks ahead, the phone calls start coming in with family asking ‘have you thought of what you’re decorating this year?’…but I know a good artist never tells reveals their masterpiece until it’s complete.

Prizes are awarded, and range from the most creative, best overall, and most delicious! I must say before we had kids, my husband and I thought the idea was a little strange. After having children, they cannot wait to get to grandma’s and get their groove on!

Here are some of this year’s entries, can you guess what they are?

Just a little fun to share and a reminder to have fun and enjoy the little things in life!

Interior Painting Tips

Often times we walk into a home that’s been freshly painted before entering the market. New paint is one of the most recommended upgrades for home sellers. A fresh coat of paint showcases the home in a ‘newer’ condition even if the home is older.

Before selecting the obvious WHITE for your wall color, consider painting an alternate neutral color throughout the home to give warmth to the space. Remember neutral colors extend past the obvious white and tan.

Here are some of our favorite colors we’ve recommended to realtors.

Trim, Woodwork, Ceilings - Swiss Coffee BEHR Paint #1812, This creamy white is our all time favorite.

Wall Colors -

Gallery Taupe, BEHR Paint, #ICC-89

Navajo White, BEHR Paint, #1822

Oyster, Kelly Moore Paint, #26

Don’t be afraid to go neutral with something other than tan. We recently consulted on a property and used a light sage green throughout the home as our neutral. The results were beautiful. Color trends are recommending lighter versions of green, yellow, and blue as the ‘new neutrals’.

Once you’ve chosen your color, you’ll need to decide on the proper finish. Satin, Semi-Gloss, High Gloss, Eggshell, Flat, how do I choose? Here are some basic rules to follow:

Flat - Its matte appearance softens a room and helps hide surface blemishes, making walls look smooth. Ideal for: Adult bedrooms, Dining rooms, Formal living rooms, Ceilings.

Satin - With its slight gloss, this finish offers the benefits of a flat finish with added cleanability. It works best for high-traffic areas such as: Halls, Woodwork, Children's bedrooms, Family rooms. This is our finish of choice in most cases, when in doubt go Satin!

Semi-Gloss - This lustrous, durable finish is perfect for areas that get cleaned frequently, such as: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Utility area, Closet doors, Trim

Gloss - This extremely hard and shiny finish provides a rich, smooth luster and is excellent for: Wood trim, Cabinets, Doors, Furniture

Companies like BEHR, Kelly Moore, and Sherwin Williams offer lots of tips and techniques on their websites. ‘Finish Selection’ was shared from the Sherwin Williams website. When in doubt about the color you are selecting, feel free to contact us for a quick and affordable paint color consultation. Your clients will thank you!