EcoChic

New Car Labels Provide Opportunities to Save Money and the Environment!

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:00:32 -0800

Starting with the new 2012 crop of vehicles coming out now, some will have the EPA’s new Fuel Economy and Environment labels in their windows. This year the program is voluntary so likely will only be in windows of the most fuel efficient models. It will be mandatory for all 2013 vehicles.

The labels are slightly different depending on type of vehicle:

1. Gas powered vehicles

2. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

3. Electric Vehicle

4. Some sources indicate labels exist for the following additional types of vehicles, but I have been unable to find them:

a. Diesel Vehicle

b. b. Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle

c. c. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

d. Flexible-Fuel Vehicle: Gasoline-Ethanol(E85)

We will concentrate here on the labels for gas powered vehicles, currently the most widely owned type of vehicle in North America and the least sustainable choice.

These labels include some great information important to eco-conscious car buyers:

Starting with a single, independently verified number that is the combined city/highway miles-per-gallon for that vehicle paired with the range of miles-per-gallon for all new vehicles in that class for easy comparison. You are also provided with individual numbers for city and highway driving, as well as an estimate of gallons used per 100 miles.

Second, you get an estimate of annual fuel costs for this vehicle based on certain assumptions – “15,000 miles per year at $3.70 per gallon” (not sure if this is the assumption used for all vehicles, but the assumption used is clearly stated in the black area at the bottom of the sticker.)

Third, they provide an estimate of dollars saved or lost over 5 years in comparison to the average vehicle. Figures based on the same miles per year and per gallon as in the earlier assumption, combined with the estimate that new vehicles average 22.5 MPG and cost $12,500 to fuel over 5 years.

Next they provide ratings on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 signifying the worst and 10 being the best) that combines fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. There are two ratings that apply to each vehicle—one for fuel economy and one for greenhouse gas emissions—but gasoline vehicles will display only one rating. This is because carbon dioxide emissions are directly related to the amount of fuel consumed. This relationship varies from fuel to fuel, but since these labels are for gasoline vehicles only, they get the same rating for fuel economy and for greenhouse gas emissions.

There is a second 1 to 10 rating for smog. This scale is based on the U.S. vehicle emissions standards, which incorporate specific thresholds for nitrogen oxide, non-methane organic gas, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and formaldehyde. As a comparison, vehicles that run on electricity have a tailpipe emission score of zero.

They have even included a QR Code that can be scanned by a smart phone (provided you have downloaded the appropriate application) to give customizable information!

While many eco-labels—from USDA Organic to the Forest Stewardship Council—have rigorous standards and third party auditing, the labels themselves are only emblems of the certification scheme, providing consumers little information and requiring that everyone conduct their own research. With so many labels out there, even the environmentally conscious shopper can become easily confused. When buying a ream of paper, for example, how many of us can remember that the Forest Stewardship Council demands that every log be tracked and every firm in the supply chain be independently audited while the Sustainable Forestry Initiative is a rubberstamp handed out by the forest products industry?

Enter the EPA’s new fuel economy label with all relevant information right on the product. Even better, it emphasizes what buying a greener product means to your wallet—a characteristic that is essential when marketing to a consumer base that has remained largely apathetic to sustainability. Car buyers can directly compare the long-term fuel cost expense or savings of each car they’re looking at.

Of course, nothing’s perfect. A potential problem with an EPA label is that it is vulnerable to Congress, and therefore could be effected by lobbyists of the oil and car manufacturing industries who will undoubtedly ask lawmakers to redefine “average new vehicle” to lower this hypothetical car’s miles per gallon. That would effectively increase the amount of money that consumers will “save,” even when buying a gas-guzzler.

Unfortunately, there are few alternative sources of certification providers. The options for eco-label sponsors are government agencies—such as the EPA—which administer standards that can be influenced by Congress, or corporations, whose attempts to greenwash their products instigate the very need for government-sponsored labels. Consequently, if consumers must choose between corporate sponsored and government sponsored labels, they should go with Uncle Sam every time.

Such an easy-to-understand and useful label needs to be replicated. Not all products would work, but there are plenty with the right criteria to allow for a similar labeling system to be successful. The system would need to be based on factors that are easily measurable and readily comparable, like fuel consumption. It would need to be a product that carries a cost associated with its use, e.g. something that consumes energy and there would need to have meaningful cost differences over a relatively short timeframe. After all, the EPA’s new labels would be less consequential if gas was still under $1 per gallon, since saving $500 on fuel over five years isn’t going to have much impact on the purchase of even a $10,000 car.

It seems that this kind of label could be immediately expanded to electronics, particularly refrigerators, clothes dryers and other high-energy use appliances that already have a somewhat less effective labeling system. It would be easy for the Energy Star labels to emulate the EPA’s fuel label, all they need to do is start putting their collected information directly onto the products, calculate the energy use of “average new appliances,” and report on the 5-year cost differences between the two. Imagine if an energy efficient washing machine costing an extra $100 had a label that told you the machine will save you $300 over 5 years, would that affect your purchasing decision?

Save the Planet while Supporting Our Troops

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:28:35 -0700

Cell Phones for Soldiers, a program started by 2 teenagers has expanded to provide over a half million pre-paid phone cards to soldiers serving overseas. Now both Canadians and Americans can contribute to saving the planet at the same time we support our overseas troops.

How Does It Work? Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization that Collects your old cell phones, sells them to a recycling company and turns the profit into useable minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. and Canadian soldiers stationed overseas. Sacrificing their lives and giving up their time with their families, our troops deserve to be provided with the means to stay in contact with their loved ones.

Ø Donate your cell phone by mail in the USA with printable, postage paid shipping label. In Canada, request a prepaid FedEx label or donate even more by supplying your own postage.

Ø Find a drop off site for your cell phone in the USA and Canada

Ø Donated cell phones are sold to ReCellular, a company that repairs and resells used cell phones. ReCellular itself has an exemplary record and policy on sustainability, keeping more than 1.6 million pounds of toxic waste out of landfills, and preventing enough green house gases to equal taking 1,676 cars off our roads.

Ø Money made selling the phones is used to provide prepaid phone cards to US troops and needed supplies to Canadian troops such as clothing, laptops, and video cameras so troops can send messages home to their loved ones and other basic necessities.

Ø You can help a needy soldier or an entire unit by supplying contact information and requesting calling cards for them. Without your help on this step they have no way to locate service people needing assistance calling home due to DOD privacy policy.

The story behind this valuable program is inspiring and can serve as a road map for making a difference. A brother and sister began their journey after hearing a news story about one soldier with an unexpectedly huge cell phone bill for calls home from Iraq. We all should look for small and large ways to follow in their footsteps, look for ways to make a difference and incorporate sustainable principles throughout the process. The old adage of business - “find a need and fill it”, can be updated to read “find a social need and fill it with a sustainable solution”.

Social Media - Is it Truely for Everyone?

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:01:13 -0700

In the past, I have tried to be a good blogger, facebooker, linkedin buddy, etc... Maybe I didn't try hard enough but honestly I don't get some of it and think there is so much out there that no one could possibly be interested in, and I don't want to be part of that. It seems to me that in order to be the kind of tweeter, blogger, etc. who actually compels folks to want to follow them - not just because they are reciprocating but because they are fascinating to read or follow - that takes not only a lot of research and time and attention, but it takes talent. If I was that interesting, I'd be writing for The Daily Show...

Anyway, I got tired of making the effort and feeling like I never would be one of the ones folks clamoured to see what they say next and so pretty much stopped entirely… That is not right either and so I am going to go back to making some effort, writing when I actually have something to say and not when I don’t. Meantime this article from The New York Times is interesting and speaks to the subject with an interesting take on whether blogging, and social media in general is really all things to all people (companies, organizations…) as many purport it to be…

Broker's Open Today - Secluded Charmer in Oakland Hills - Join Us for Brunch and Get 10% off Your next Staging Project!

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:43:22 -0700

Broker's Open Today
10-3

Beautiful Secluded
Oakland Hills Home
4321 Oak Hill Road, Oakland, CA

2BR/2BA,
1452 sq. ft.
Lot Size: 0.18 acres
Built In 1955
Single Family House
$499,000

Brunch Catered by Chic Home Interiors, come join us and receive a 10% discount for your client's next staging project.

This is a Single-Family Home located at 4321 Oak Hill Road, Oakland CA. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and approximately 1,452 square feet. The property was built in 1955.

Great views from this super clean and stylish home on a wooded hillside lot. Spacious yards, updated kitchen & bathrooms, cozy den with fireplace, family/dining room, master suite, 2 car attached garage, handsome living room with fireplace, & expansive front yard deck are just some of the features of this wonderful home. The carpeting, interior paint, linoleum, and some of the dual paned windows were redone in 2011

MLS # : 40515097

Bedrooms: Two

Bathrooms: Two

Professionally staged by Chic Home Interiors. Listed by Gregg Fujita of Harbor Bay Realty. For more information and additional photos, check out this link .

Front Deck

Back Yard

Living Room Fireplace

Den Fireplace

Master Bath

Fabulous Family Room Fireplace

Guest/Child's Bathroom

Enjoy gracious living in Antioch!

Chic Home Interiors

has been professionally staging quality homes in the San Francisco Bay Area since early 2002 and their staging work was prominently featured in "Home Staging for Dummies" in 2008. For home staging and consulting services in the Bay Area contact them at info@chichomeinteriors.com .

Oakley Home Ready for Viewing!

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:46:45 -0700

Come See!

Lovely Oakley Home
5515 Teresa Court, Oakley, CA

3BR/2BA,
1167 sq. ft.
Lot Size: 0.14 acres
Built In 1983
Single Family House
$179,900

This is a Single-Family Home located at 5215 Teresa Court, Oakley CA. 5215 Teresa Ct has 3 beds, 2 baths, and approximately 1,167 square feet. The property was built in 1983.

The average list price for similar homes for sale is $201,338 and the average sales price for similar recently sold homes is $173,792. 5215 Teresa Ct is in the 94561 ZIP code in Oakley, CA. The average list price for ZIP code 94561 is $248,358.

This is "NOT" a Short sale or REO. Remodeled home in nice neighborhood with remodeled baths, new carpet and paint. Great curb appeal. Fireplace in family room.

MLS # : 40510972

Bedrooms: Three

Bathrooms: Two

Professionally staged by Chic Home Interiors. Listed by Kurt Byer of Ready Realty LLC. For more information and additional photos, check out this link .

Master Bathroom

Guest Bathroom

Backyard Deck

Large Picture Window in Living Room

Open Entry with Excellent Flow

Family Room Fireplace

Come and enjoy relaxed living in Oakley!

Do You Need a Vacation?

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:08:09 -0800

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> Tahoe Totem Mountain Home

Anyone Need a Break?
Gorgeous Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental!

Photo to the right was taken from the front door. this is an idlylic setting that backs up to the national forest on one side and has a fabulous view of Lake Tahoe on the other.

Every window has a great view and there are lots of windows and two decks totalling 2000 square feet, half of which is covered!

Views Everywhere!

Stunning panoramic Lake Tahoe view, casino night lights, amazing Sierra Vistas! Set on a boulder studded secluded Heavenly cul-de-sac location, this uniquely designed modern mountain home set on over a third of an acre which backs to Tahoe National Forest. This expansive 3,432 sq. ft. designer home includes:
• 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
• Party size family room with fireplace, lake and sierra views, pool table, sound system, TV, DVD and full wet bar
• Living room with fireplace, sound system, TV, DVD, and unbelievable views
• Formal dining room with great views
• Chefs' eat-in gourmet kitchen complete with all the bells and whistles, including: Wolf range, Bosch dishwasher, Sub-Zero refrigerator, double oven, bun warmer, microwave, coffee pot, electric tea kettle, blender , electric can opener, 2000 ft of decking, ½ is covered and lots of parking!

Check out the view from the deck!

Click Here to see the Rental Listing Now!

I have recently taken on the project of doing vacation rentals for the owner and was talking to one of the Realtors I work with who mentioned that her office had just been asking if anyone knew of a great cabin at Tahoe. I, of course, sent her the listing right away but it got me to thinking that others on active rain might also be interested and need a great place to relax after this crazy real estate year. And we would love to have Real Estate professionals as guests because we know they appreciate a beautiful house and this is a beautiful house in an amazing setting! I am renting it through Vacation Rentals by Owner, check out the listing here. If you are interested or need more info there are links on that page to send me an email - don't forget to mention you saw it first on ActiveRain - I;'d love to see what response this gets. This is really a great place and has never been rented before, they just bought the place this year and only decided to rent in the last month, so you can be one of the first. I spent the first week in December up there and it was amazing - comfortable, beautiful, relaxing and so close to everything - I even walked down to town for lunch a couple times and Heavenly Ski Resort is about 10-15 minute walk (or 2 minutes by car). If you like to cook you will love the gourmet kitchen with a Wolfe range, Sub-Zero fridge, double oven, bun warmer and a great assortment of pots, pans, etc... Below are some photos of the inside.

Front of the House
-
Plenty of
off-street parking plus garage!

More views all taken from inside house, deck or front door!

Chic Home Interiors has been professionally staging quality homes in the San Francisco Bay Area since early 2002 and their staging work was prominently featured in "Home Staging for Dummies" in 2008. For home staging and consulting services in the Bay Area contact them at info@chichomeinteriors.com .

Staging for the Holidays

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 07:58:05 -0800

Amid a rough real estate market, you are probably looking to increase home values and speed up sales. Newspaper stories continue to write about staging, and even Oprah did a segment on staging with her favorite decorator, Nate. With all the publicity around staging, more homes are going to be staged; making sure that your properties are done properly and to the best effect is to your definite advantage.

While your home should say something about who you are, a house on the market should say something about, and to, the potential buyers. Family homes should say they are “family-friendly”; high end condos should really say they are “sleek, chic and modern - an “it” pad. With the holidays imminent, now is the time to see Staging for the Holidays as a way to keep homes in showing-ready style.

The basic steps of staging apply even when adding in holiday pieces. Start with a checklist: Clean It, Fix It, Move It, Remove It and Add It. Guests or buyers’ reaction to embarrassing unfinished projects is a great motivator for the Fix It and Clean It steps. Take this opportunity to go through every room and address nagging issues – don’t leave undone projects that will cause buyers to chip away at the price. Bringing in a tree and holiday colors means that you clear out more pieces than you normally would.

Creating and keeping a sense of consistency of style in the house is important even when adding holiday decor. If it is “cute”, it stays packed. “Cute” is not a universally appreciated concept, and the surest way to avoid trouble is to keep it simple and elegant. Keeping it secular will allow all buyers to feel welcome, regardless of religious beliefs or holiday traditions. Using greenery, wreaths, and holiday sparkle creates holiday warmth in a PC and Staging-Safe way. And don't forget the outside!

When bringing in your holiday colors, be cautious not to create a clashing color palette. As you purchase and unpack the decorative pieces, take special effort to be picky about what is on display. All ornaments do not have to be used every holiday and certainly not when a home is on the market. Creating themes can be a fun way to change things up, and create some consistency in the look of the house. Ornaments of one basic color palette with “show piece” ornaments adding style can be a great way to create a chic tree without turning off potential buyers with a too-homey (and often homely) holiday look. Glass bulb ornaments (all in one or two tones), and non-blinking white tree lights add sophistication to a tree. An elegant and staging-safe choice would be to keep all ornaments in white and matallic colors. Simple touches throughout the home also help, a fresh wreath on the door (sans Santa - here again, leave out the cute stuff). As you unpack your holiday treats, take a breath and really inspect and organize your decorations. Items do not need to go out just because it has a holiday look; it should go out if it works with the style and color of your décor. Keep the living room tree a show-stopper: white lights, coordinated ornaments that work with the space as a whole. Want some simple touches to turn a bland room festive without going holiday kitsch crazy? Adding simple pieces of greenery to fireplace mantels and as a base for dining room table centerpieces (similarly styled ornaments strewn along the branches make for a stylish horizontal tree) can be a great way to add style and extend the season to other rooms. Small branches placed on trays or in bowls add instant holiday appeal. What’s more, the house quickly smells like winter. Adding a pot of mulling spices or cider completes the sensory experience, equating your home with warm friendly, holiday cheer. Whatever you do, remember in a staged home, less can often be more – keep your décor simple, elegant and spare.

Happy Holidays
Joanne O'Donnell
CEO and Founder, Chic Home Interiors
Certified Staging Professional
Treasurer, Real Estate Staging Association

joanne@chichomeinteriors.com
www.chichomeinteriors.com

Realtors - Get 8 hours CEU and help save the planet!

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:27:37 -0700

Certified EcoProfessional™ Training

at the Contra Costa Green Business Program Offices in Martinez, CA, August 31, 2010

8 Clock Hours for REALTORS®

Join Joanne O'Donnell, Certified EcoProfessional™ Instructor and founder of EcoChic Partners as she shares her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for sustainable living and green practices.

The 8 hour program is the most advanced green build training program in North America. Help your clients save up to 30 percent on energy costs, while setting yourself apart from the competition. Expand your business opportunities by taking advantage of program benefits, including:

• How to make a difference, in your home, in the homes of your clients • How to add green to your business • How to relate and inform your client on this critical topic • How to save your client’s $$$ with tax incentives and rebates • Provide green build strategies for all budgets • Green building science best practices and green terminology • About the state of the planet and why going green is crucial • Why building certification programs (such as LEED) are important • Marketing advantages to promote your business as green .

Investment in your future is $395. For more information about the Certified EcoProfessional™ training program or to visit Joanne's website please follow the links below OR CALL TOLL-FREE 1-888-782-4464.

Contact Information

Joanne@EcoChicPartners.com

Links

Live Green Live Smart Institute

Certified EcoProfessional™ Website

EcoChic Partners Website

Fabulous Charmer in Alameda, Open House Sunday July 18th

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:23:49 -0700

Open House
Coming Up
Sunday, 7/18/10

Lovely Alameda Home
1321 Court Street, Alameda, CA

Open Sunday, July 11 and 18, 2-4p. www.1321Court.com (for more photos and info) This wonderfully updated Arts & Craft bungalow offers the best of both worlds charm and modern conveniences. Wood floors, high, coved ceilings and wood trim throughout. In the Dining room, a lovely built-in cabinet sits next to a beautiful, brick fireplace, all original. The Kitchen has been updated and is perfect for preparing meals for formal dinners in the Dining room or casual al fresco dining in the convenient and private rear yard. Afterwards, relax in the totally updated, spa-like Bath or rejuvenate in the outdoor Jacuzzi. Also located on the desirable

island of Alameda, this East End home offers access to a rewarding lifestyle around town. Stroll along the tree-lined street of Central Avenue and head for shopping or one of the many dining options on popular Park Street. Catch the latest movie at the beautiful and historic Art Deco Alameda Theater (originally opened in 1932). Bike to Alameda Beach for a sunny picnic on the Bay. Call for a private appointment: Robert 510.813.3406 "Helping Nice People Like You... Buy and Sell Wonderful Homes".

Size: 968 sq.ft.

Year Built: 1905

Address: 900 Terra California, #7, Walnut Creek, CA

Price: $579,000

MLS # : 40470780

Bedrooms: Two

Bathrooms: One

Association Amenities:

Professionally staged by Chic Home Interiors. Listed by Robert Hickey of PBG Real Estate, Berkeley, CA. For more information and additional photos, check out the MLS Listing.

Rossmoor Gem Having Broker's Open Today, July 13

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:04:24 -0700

Broker's Open Today -
Tuesday, 7/13/10

Beautiful Rossmoor Home
900 Terra California, #7, Walnut Creek, CA

Experience the best in Rossmoor living in this modern condo home. Wonderfully private, upper-end unit is a stunning verdant gem with 2010 tastefully updated kitchen & baths. Super crisp & clean with SS pro appliances, vaulted ceiling (no popcorn), fireplace, plantation shutters & more. Carport+storage. Close to main gate.

Size: 1,364 sq.ft.

Year Built: 1974

Address: 900 Terra California, #7, Walnut Creek, CA

Price: $388,000

MLS # : 40475005

Bedrooms: Two

Bathrooms: Two

Association Amenities:

Club Houses
Gof Courses
Freebelt
Gym/Exercise Facility
Pool
Spa
Tennis
Security Gate

Professionally staged by Chic Home Interiors. Listed by Desiree Felger of Red Oak Realty, Oakland. For more information and additional photos, check out the MLS Listing.

Open House Sunday, 100 Buckeye, Oakland, CA

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:44:30 -0700

Open House Sunday 2-4:30	Beautiful Upper Rockridge Home
Experience the best of Upper Rockridge living in this modern home. Perfect for a large family, this three-bedroom, two and a half bath home boasts separation of space for privacy and serenity as well as large common spaces for entertaining and everyday living. The spacious, sunny deck boasts views of Oakland, the San Francisco Bay and beyond. A private terraced garden is located off the master bedroom. An in-law unit with separate entry adds to the home's appealing options. Size: 1,992 sq.ft. living space; 5300 sq.ft. lot (per public records, does not include in-law) Additional Rooms: 1 bed, 1 bath in-law with separate entry Garage: Carport, additional off-street parking Yard: Fenced & terraced yard and gardens; large deck with views Year Built: 1968 Address: 100 Buckeye Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618 Price: $899,000 MLS # : 40458730 Bedrooms: Three Bathrooms: Two & one half Additional Features: Open floor plan in common living areas for today's modern lifestyles Updated chef's kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and wine fridge Updated bathrooms in main house Double-paned windows throughout Fresh paint throughout One bedroom, one bath in-law unit with separate entrance Ample storage One block from Hillcrest School (K-8)
Professionally staged by Joanne O'Donnell and Chic Home Interiors. Listed by Cameron Platt of Platt, Inc., Oakland. For more information and additional photos, check out the listing website.	Chic Home Interiors
	Joanne O'Donnell has been professionally staging quality homes in the San Francisco Bay Area since early 2002 and her staging work was prominently featured in "Home Staging for Dummies" in 2008. Joanne does training and consulting in home staging, design and green business practices throughout North America. For home staging and consulting services in the Bay Area contact her at joanne@chichomeinteriors.com.

Open House Sunday, 100 Buckeye, Oakland, CA

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:20:51 -0700

Open House Sunday 2-4:30	Beautiful Upper Rockridge Home
Experience the best of Upper Rockridge living in this modern home. Perfect for a large family, this three-bedroom, two and a half bath home boasts separation of space for privacy and serenity as well as large common spaces for entertaining and everyday living. The spacious, sunny deck boasts views of Oakland, the San Francisco Bay and beyond. A private terraced garden is located off the master bedroom. An in-law unit with separate entry adds to the home's appealing options. Size: 1,992 sq.ft. living space; 5300 sq.ft. lot (per public records, does not include in-law) Additional Rooms: 1 bed, 1 bath in-law with separate entry Garage: Carport, additional off-street parking Yard: Fenced & terraced yard and gardens; large deck with views Year Built: 1968
Address: 100 Buckeye Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618 Price: $899,000 MLS # : 40458730 Bedrooms: Three Bathrooms: Two & one half	Additional Features: Open floor plan in common living areas for today's modern lifestyles Updated chef's kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and wine fridge Updated bathrooms in main house Double-paned windows throughout Fresh paint throughout One bedroom, one bath in-law unit with separate entrance Ample storage One block from Hillcrest School (K-8)
	Professionally staged by Joanne O'Donnell and Chic Home Interiors. Listed by Cameron Platt of Platt, Inc., Oakland. For more information and additional photos, check out the listing website. Joanne O'Donnell has been professionally staging quality homes in the San Francisco Bay Area since early 2002 and her staging work was prominently featured in "Home Staging for Dummies" in 2008. Joanne does training and consulting in home staging, design and green business practices throughout North America. For home staging and consulting services in the Bay Area contact her at joanne@chichomeinteriors.com.

RainCamp 2009 - Home Staging Photosynth

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:53:54 -0800

I had the privilege of attending the San Francisco RainCamp yesterday and came away with a cramped hand from trying to write faster than I could even take in all the information. But I am energized to try and incorporate all that I learned from these amazing people into my business. I am inspired and so day by day, I intend to open myself to doing things outside of my comfort zone because "what got me here, won't get me there" (I think this is a quote from Ben Kinney but may have been from Bob Stewart... like I said, I was like a deer in headlights trying to keep up - no matter, they were both amazing!)

I am a Bay Area Home Stager and Staging Trainer who always takes multiple photos of my work and after almost eight years of business have so many photos that most of them never get on my website. So, I decided to make good use of one of the tools ActiveBob (follow him on twitter) shared with us - Photosynth.

This great software allows you to take a bunch of photos of the same object, room or scene and stitch them together into an interactive 3D viewing experience, which can be shared on the web. Now, this is my initial experiment with the software and I used photos I took last month of the Certified Staging Professional course final project from my Dallas, Texas class. Since I used existing photos I obviously wasn't following the easy instructions they provide when I took the original photos and so I know results will be even better when I do new projects following their guidelines.

Click on the photo to follow the link to my photosynth - I haven't yet learned to imbed a video in ActiveRain... so this is the next best thing... Hope you enjoy my efforts and it gives you an idea of the power of this application and the breadth of the information we got at San Francisco RainCamp - I had a ball!

I can definitely see how I could use this great tool in my business, thanks again to all the staff and presenters - you were amazing! Thank you to presenters Brad Andersohn (and family), Ben Kinney, Bob Stewart, panelists Nick Cameron, Janet Guilbault, and Jeanean Gendron and all the great staff - Joel, Steven, Kerrie, Doug, Aaron (hope I got everyone and got them spelled correctly..., I apologize for any and all missing, misspelled or incorrect names)

Do you know someone who would like to be a stager?

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:42:52 -0700

Are you a Realtor who has worked with a client whose home looked like a professional stager had already been hired?
Do you work with an agent that has more passion for assisting the client with the preparation to sell then they do for actually closing the sale?
Do you have an assistant who could be trained to handle this aspect of working with clients, who you would like have trained professionally?

If your answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then do them a favor and let them know about the upcoming Certified Staging Professional courses being offered in 2009. Training and affiliation with North America’s fastest growing network of home staging professionals provides opportunity to people who want to start a business with minimum capital investment. The CSP Program is the most advanced program in the staging industry! The differences make us better! Finally a staging designation and training, that truly are unique, packed with valuable, measurable content, practical knowledge, best practices, advanced tools and techniques to set you apart. The first and only staging training company to measure and test retention, and staging abilities of their delegates (important because this is an unregulated industry and we intend to be counted!) Trainees must achieve a minimum 75% pass to be placed in the staging directory and to earn their certification.

Course Description: The CSP workshop is a comprehensive program taught through hands-on interaction, group exercises, role-plays and in-depth practical application of work samples, geared to prepare its participants to enter the Staging industry with confidence and experience necessary to succeed. You will begin your staging portfolio with pictures from our classproject.

Trainer: Joanne O’Do nnell , founder of Chic Home Interiors, is one of the top stagers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work has been prominently featured in the new Home Staging for Dummies book; she is on the Board of Directors for the Real Estate Staging Association, the Advisory Board for Dewey Color Consultants and is the Director of Training for the Certified Staging Professionals. Joanne is eager to share her expertise and experience with you as your trainer for the upcoming classes in:

Dallas, TX October 22-24, 2009

Dublin, CA November 5-7, 2009

Seattle, WA November 19-21, 2009

Click on this link to get all details about the class and to register.

Staging Class Coming to Dallas

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:59:42 -0700

Certified Home Staging Training in Dallas Oct 22 - 24, 2009

Join Joanne O'Donnell, Certified Staging Professional Instructor and founder of Chic Home Interiors as she shares her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the home staging industry.

The 3 day, 30 hour CSP program is the most advanced entry level training program in the staging industry. Unlike most staging training, students actually stage a home currently on the market!

More than 2000 students across North America have taken the Certified Staging Professionals program. Training and affiliation with the fastest growing network of home staging professionals provides students with the opportunity to enter the home staging field with minimal capital investment and maximum confidence.

For more information about the CSP training program or to visit Joanne's website please follow the links below.

Contact Information

Joanne@ChicHomeInteriors.com

Links

Request A Free Information Package

Joanne's Website

Certified Staging Professionals

All information in this site is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and is subject to change

Live Green Live Smart Course Coming to Austin

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:04:02 -0700

Live Green Live Smart Certified Professional Training

in Austin, Oct 14, 2009

Join Joanne O'Donnell, Certified LGLS Instructor and founder of EcoChic Partners as she shares her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for sustainable living and green practices.

The 8 hour LGLS program is the most advanced green build training program in North America. Help your clients save up to 30 percent on energy costs, while setting yourself apart from the competition. Expand your business opportunities by taking advantage of program benefits, including:

• How to make a difference, in your home, in the homes of your clients • How to add green to your business • How to relate and inform your client on this critical topic • How to save your client’s $$$ with tax incentives and rebates • Provide green build strategies for all budgets • Green building science best practices and green terminology • About the state of the planet and why going green is crucial • Why building certification programs (such as LEEDs) are important • Marketing advantages to promote your business as green .

For more information about the LGLS training program or to visit Joanne's website please follow the links below.

Contact Information

Joanne@ChicHomeInteriors.com

Links

Live Green Live Smart Institute

LGLS Training's Website

All information in this site is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and is subject to change

Become a Certified Staging Professional Dallas Class October 8-10

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:35:02 -0700

Certified Home Staging Training in Dallas Oct 8 - 10, 2009

Contact Information

Joanne@ChicHomeInteriors.com

Links

Request A Free Information Package

Joanne's Website

Certified Staging Professionals

All information in this site is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and is subject to change

Don't Make Me Talk To Myself for 3 Hours!

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:52:42 -0700

I am so excited, I am on my way to Dallas to speak at the Texas Association of REALTORS® Convention. My subject is "Staging is not Decorating - Maximize Results Through Home Staging!" and it is approved for 3 hours CE Credit, which is great because it is 3 hours long...

I am giving the course 2 times - morning and afternoon on Monday, September 14th. I hope some of you will come see me, I'd hate to be up there for 6 hours talking to myself!

I promise it will not only be informative and fun, but actually useful, covering ideas on using staging to market yourself and your client's property, as well as, staging tips and techniques! I hope to see you there - please introduce yourself and let me know you are an activerainer.

Could your client's furnished house need a FREE staging???

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:24:07 -0700

I am teaching a 3 day staging class this week and need a house for the final project. It must be furnished as we use what is their only. We will amaze you with what we are able to do with client's existing stuff. Class is in Dublin, CA and the final project is done on Tuesday, August 11th. Please call if you have a project or think you know someone who does - what did you see this week on tour? Any house that needed some help? this is a great opportunity you can give as a gift to you client. Call me at 510-STAGING (782-4464

Realtors - Know anyone who would make a great real estate stager?

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:27:45 -0700

Have you worked with a client whose home looked like a professional stager had already been hired?

Do you work with an agent that has more passion for assisting the client with the preparation to sell then they do for actually closing the sale?

Do you have an assistant who could be trained to handle this aspect of working with clients, who you would like have trained professionally?

If your answer to any of these questions is "yes", then do them a favor and let them know about the upcoming Certified Staging Professional courses being offered in March.

Training and affiliation with North America's fastest growing network of home staging professionals provides opportunity to people who want to start a business with minimum capital investment. The CSP Program is the most advanced program in the staging industry! The differences make us better! Finally a staging designation and training, that truly are unique, packed with valuable, measurable content, practical knowledge, best practices, advanced tools and techniques to set you apart. The first and only staging training company to measure and test retention, and staging abilities of their delegates (important because this is an unregulated industry and we intend to be counted!) Trainees must achieve a minimum 75% pass to be placed in the staging directory and to earn their certification.

Course Description: The CSP workshop is a comprehensive program taught through hands-on interaction, group exercises, role-plays and in-depth practical application of work samples, geared to prepare its participants to enter the Staging industry with confidence and experience necessary to succeed. You will begin your staging portfolio with pictures from our class project.

Trainer: Joanne O'Donnell , founder of Chic Home Interiors, is one of the top stagers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work has been prominently featured in the new Home Staging for Dummies book; she is on the Board of Directors for the Real Estate Staging Association, the Advisory Board for Dewey Color Consultants and is a Trainer for the Certified Staging Professionals. Joanne is eager to share her expertise and experience with you as your trainer for the upcoming classes in:

Dublin, CA August 9-11, 2009
San Diego, CA September 10-12,2009
Portland, OR Sepember 24-26, 2009
Dallas, TX, October 8-10
Vancouver, BC, October 15-17, 2009
Seattle, WA, November 5-7, 2009
Halifax, NS, November 12-14, 2009
Sacramento, CA, December 3-5, 2009
Calgary, AB, December 10-12, 2009

Click on this link to get all details about the class and to register.

Master Bedroom, 4100 Reinhardt Drive, Oakland, CA

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:21:19 -0700

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> Kelly House Active Rain
Master Bedroom Retreat.
Two open houses, three offers - all over list...

Welcome to 4100 Reinhardt Drive in the Redwood Heights neighborhood of Oakland. You'll find this lovingly updated home sited between two beautiful oaks on a large
10,000+ sqft lot with a level fenced yard and patio that's open yet private--perfect for entertaining. With the living space all on one-level, this private residence boasts a wonderful, family-friendly floor plan featuring a large upgraded cook's kitchen as its centerpiece. Top-of-the-line Viking/Miele/Bosch/Thermador/Dacor SS appliances stand proud on hardwood floors amidst custom African Obeche solid wood cabinets overlooking Brazilian granite counters. A substantial and eating-friendly center island glows beneath a bright and breezy, remote-controlled skylight above.

From under cabinet lighting, prep sink, and recessed lighting, to the Miele in-cabinet coffee/espresso maker, U-Line beverage refrigerator, and lots of pull-out shelving,
you'll find it hard to take yourself away from this warm and inviting kitchen that opens to a family room with raised hearth and stone fireplace surrounded by bookshelves.
Sunshine glistens in this open great room through windows and sliding doors which provide inviting access to an outdoor entertainer’s dream with fruit trees and plenty of nature nurture beyond. Inviting marble foyer opens to spacious living room with verdant views. Magnificent cook’s kitchen with stainless steel Dacor/Bosch/Viking/Miele/ Thermador appliances. Two gas fireplaces: brick in living room and marble surround in family room. Dual pane windows, recessed lighting, crown molding, and light dimmer controls throughout. Gleaming hardwood floors in family room and kitchen with remote-controlled skylight. Three spacious bedrooms including a master suite with his & her closets and bathroom with step-in shower

1880 square feet of living space per public records

1880 2-car garage with ample storage

Beautifully upgraded guest bath with jetted tub and separate shower

Large level backyard slopes down beyond fence to adjacent creek

Just blocks to Redwood Heights Elementary, casting pools on Carson, Safeway, Sparky’s Burger, Red Boy Pizza and easy access to Hwy 13, 24 and 580.

Professionally staged by Joanne O'Donnell and Chic Home Interiors. Listed by Desiree Felger of Keller Williams, Oakland. Check out the listing.

Joanne O'Donnell has been professionally staging quality homes in the San Francisco Bay Area since early 2002 and her staging work was prominently featured in "Home Staging for Dummies" in 2008. Joanne does training and consulting in home staging, design and green business practices throughout North America. She will be speaking on “Maximizing Results through Home Staging” at the 2009 Texas Association of Realtors Convention in September. For home staging, training and consulting services contact her at joanne@chichomeinteriors.com.

Living Room, 4100 Reinhardt Drive, Oakland, CA

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:50:42 -0700

Here is the living room of this fabulous property, very spacious, gracious living at it's best. Hope you like it as much as buyers did. Two open houses, three offers - all over list...

Welcome to 4100 Reinhardt Drive in the Redwood Heights neighborhood of Oakland. You'll find this lovingly updated home sited between two beautiful oaks on a large
10,000+ sqft lot with a level fenced yard and patio that's open yet private--perfect for entertaining. With the living space all on one-level, this private residence boasts a wonderful, family-friendly floor plan featuring a large upgraded cook's kitchen as its centerpiece. Top-of-the-line Viking/Miele/Bosch/Thermador/Dacor SS appliances stand proud on hardwood floors amidst custom African Obeche solid wood cabinets overlooking Brazilian granite counters. A substantial and eating-friendly center island glows beneath a bright and breezy, remote-controlled skylight above.

From under cabinet lighting, prep sink, and recessed lighting, to the Miele in-cabinet coffee/espresso maker, U-Line beverage refrigerator, and lots of pull-out shelving,
you'll find it hard to take yourself away from this warm and inviting kitchen that opens to a family room with raised hearth and stone fireplace surrounded by bookshelves.
Sunshine glistens in this open great room through windows and sliding doors which provide inviting access to an outdoor entertainer’s dream with fruit trees and plenty of nature nurture beyond. Inviting marble foyer opens to spacious living room with verdant views. Magnificent cook’s kitchen with stainless steel Dacor/Bosch/Viking/Miele/ Thermador appliances. Two gas fireplaces: brick in living room and marble surround in family room. Dual pane windows, recessed lighting, crown molding, and light dimmer controls throughout. Gleaming hardwood floors in family room and kitchen with remote-controlled skylight. Three spacious bedrooms including a master suite with his & her closets and bathroom with step-in shower

1880 square feet of living space per public records

1880 2-car garage with ample storage

Beautifully upgraded guest bath with jetted tub and separate shower

Large level backyard slopes down beyond fence to adjacent creek

Just blocks to Redwood Heights Elementary, casting pools on Carson, Safeway, Sparky’s Burger, Red Boy Pizza and easy access to Hwy 13, 24 and 580.

Kitchen, 4100 Reinhardt Drive, Oakland, CA

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:28:56 -0700

Kelly House Active Rain This is such a great house, we dicided it deserved several blogs, here is the kitchen. Hope you like it as much as buyers did. Two open houses, three offers - all over list...

Welcome to 4100 Reinhardt Drive in the Redwood Heights neighborhood of Oakland. You'll find this lovingly updated home sited between two beautiful oaks on a large
10,000+ sqft lot with a level fenced yard and patio that's open yet private--perfect for entertaining. With the living space all on one-level, this private residence boasts a wonderful, family-friendly floor plan featuring a large upgraded cook's kitchen as its centerpiece. Top-of-the-line Viking/Miele/Bosch/Thermador/Dacor SS appliances stand proud on hardwood floors amidst custom African Obeche solid wood cabinets overlooking Brazilian granite counters. A substantial and eating-friendly center island glows beneath a bright and breezy, remote-controlled skylight above.

From under cabinet lighting, prep sink, and recessed lighting, to the Miele in-cabinet coffee/espresso maker, U-Line beverage refrigerator, and lots of pull-out shelving,
you'll find it hard to take yourself away from this warm and inviting kitchen that opens to a family room with raised hearth and stone fireplace surrounded by bookshelves.
Sunshine glistens in this open great room through windows and sliding doors which provide inviting access to an outdoor entertainer’s dream with fruit trees and plenty of nature nurture beyond. Inviting marble foyer opens to spacious living room with verdant views. Magnificent cook’s kitchen with stainless steel Dacor/Bosch/Viking/Miele/ Thermador appliances. Two gas fireplaces: brick in living room and marble surround in family room. Dual pane windows, recessed lighting, crown molding, and light dimmer controls throughout. Gleaming hardwood floors in family room and kitchen with remote-controlled skylight. Three spacious bedrooms including a master suite with his & her closets and bathroom with step-in shower

1880 square feet of living space per public records

1880 2-car garage with ample storage

Beautifully upgraded guest bath with jetted tub and separate shower

Large level backyard slopes down beyond fence to adjacent creek

Just blocks to Redwood Heights Elementary, casting pools on Carson, Safeway, Sparky’s Burger, Red Boy Pizza and easy access to Hwy 13, 24 and 580.

Neutralize the Competition!

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:59:24 -0700

Staging is not decorating or design; staging is a marketing tool for selling a house and, as such, should be a part of every real estate professional's toolkit. As in all marketing we want to target our audience and appeal to the largest potential base of that buying demographic. That is where a professional home stager comes in. Today's professional stager continually educates themselves in what the market trends are and in-depth marketing knowhow. A stager has to understand the psychology of the buyer and have an understanding of scale, design, and color. Today's market requires a more sophisticated approach to preparing a home for market and so the staging industry is in even more demand.

Interior design caters to the individual client, their likes and dislikes, their life choices, their personal style. Staging neutralizes the home and accentuates its selling features and flow while maximizing space. The goal is securing a more favorable offer, more quickly, from a buyer. Price or location don't matter, all homes can benefit from professional staging. Staging is about universal style, neutralizing and showcasing the space so a future owner can emotionally connect with the property. Style that is too personal or too specific to a particular homeowner or type of homeowner will greatly limit potential buyers. When the home remains too personal, buyers often feel they are intruding. Here are some practical tips for what to consider and how to make it happen.

Color: Neutral colors are the first thing that comes to mind, but some go too far with "realtor beige" on all walls, etc... This does not create that warm, fuzzy feeling in potential buyers that bring those offers rolling in. Paint choices should be Staging Safe^® without being boring and uninviting. Sophisticated taupes, rich tans, soft moss greens and warm creamy yellows can create a welcoming ambiance without making a design statement that will eliminated large portions of the target market.

Gender: Another area where the principal of neutrality should be applied in staging is gender. Homes and the rooms in them should not be so gender specific as to make half the population not comfortable in them. As a professional stager I see this all the time. Usually since the female tends to be the decorator in many traditional couples, the home has too much pink, lace and flowers on fabric... Décor should be androgynous - not too masculine nor too feminine. So if you love pink, combine it with charcoal grey or black and confine it to bathrooms or children's rooms... lace should be relegated to the baby or little girl's room... and replace flowered fabric with leaves, geometric or abstract patterns. On the other hand, men need to repurpose their trophy rooms, take down the motorcycle and car calendars (you guys know what I'm talking about here...) from their garages, and turn that hanging-out-with-my-buddies-poker-palace back into the wholesome family room the builder intended and most buyers want...

Religion: Religion is a very personal thing and therefore, by definition, it needs to remain out of a home that is on the market. This is a touchy subject with clients that needs to be handled with kid gloves. I think it is hardest to broach this subject with homeowners with whom we do not share a belief system, we don't want to offend. As the professional, you have to take your own beliefs and feelings out of the discussion, even out of your thoughts as you have the discussion with your sellers. Remember, it is about selling the home and the décor needs to be something of a blank slate on which the buyer can superimpose their own life.

Culture and Ethnicity: In our diverse multicultural, multiethnic society we have the advantage of experiencing foods, ideas, culture and styles from around the world. Many of the styles have been incorporated into high fashion and everyday design and add richness to home style. So, when a home has these elements, they don't all have to be eliminated, just used sparingly so that the end product doesn't feel specific to any ethnicity or culture. The result can be an interesting, eclectic melting pot of style.

Politics: The thing that really brought this home for me was viewing a property that proudly projected a staunch belief in politics that were antithetical to my own. I wasn't offended or uncomfortable but I found myself thinking about the people and their beliefs instead of the features of the house. I wondered if the rest of the neighborhood was primarily of the political persuasion of the homeowners, whether I would not fit in here. This is not where you want potential buyers' minds going.

Generation: I have had clients who wanted me to stage a Victorian in Victorian furniture. While this is somewhat of the ultimate extreme, many homes have furnishings that are either extremely modern or extremely traditional, and not always to match the architecture. Always remember we need to stage to the targeted buyer, while remembering that style spans generational groups, cultures, geography, etc. Just because someone is over 50, doesn't mean they want heavy, ornate furniture anymore than those under thirty all want glass and chrome. So, the rule of thumb is to bring it to the middle with contemporary style that with a few accessory changes could satisfy the modern as well as the classic. There are places where we move more in one direction than the other - an urban loft, for instance - but, in general, move these styles toward the center.

Collections: Last but not least, the age-old problem of collections - the bane of the stagers' existence. People love their collections, they are proud of them; they are status symbols to them; they want to display them and are emotionally attached to them. The classic example is the doll collection that covers every surface in the formal living room. This particular type of collection also holds a place in the gender specific category hall of fame... Regardless of what the collection is, even if it is the most valuable, beautiful collection imaginable, it will take the potential buyers' attention from the selling features of the home. Combine that with the potential for theft and breakage and you should have your sellers getting out the bubble wrap in no time flat.

Joanne O'Donnell has been professionally staging quality homes in the San Francisco Bay Area since early 2002 and her staging work was prominently featured in "Home Staging for Dummies" in 2008. Joanne does training and consulting in home staging, design and green business practices throughout North America. She will be speaking on "Maximizing Results through Home Staging" at the 2009 Texas Association of Realtors Convention in September. For home staging, training and consulting services contact her at joanne@chichomeinteriors.com.

Green Certified Homes~~What are they worth?

Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:45:36 -0700

Here is a great blog by Nicole Bailey about Green Certified Homes in the San Francisco East Bay where I live and work - she makes some great points we all should heed!

Via Nicole Bailey (The GRUBB Company):

Like any early adapter, people are paying more for their Green Certified homes than your average run of the mill resale home. The new gadgets, like solar panels and underground catchments for rain water storage just cost more because they aren't part of "regular" homes.

Think about the I-Phone. People that waited in line for their new phone at around $400, when only three months later it was reduced to $300, without fanfare. As an early adopter in green home technology, the sooner we all embrace living "greener," the sooner pricing will come in line.

I work closely with a builder, Chris Avant, Canyon Construction, who has recently completed two LEED Platinum remodels, one here in Oakland, and the other in Moraga, where his corporate office is housed. Avant worked with the founder of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,) David Gottfried and his wife Sara to create one of the greenest homes in America, right here in Rockridge. David and Sara wanted to capture their greywater in order to re-use it for landscape watering, they installed solar panels and even created a home office for David in the backyard to make their green home a reality, they had to downsize and learned even more about the value of good design.

David and Sara have the resources to showcase their environmental stewardship in their home, but what about other people? More and more, Green Building is quality building, using the most durable materials, that won't have to be replaced, having the most energy efficient appliances and sealing up a home against the effects of weather, keeping cold air out, and warm air in. Green homes are healthy homes, places where indoor air quality is not adversely effected by inexpensive (smelly) carpets or noxious paint fumes.

The past of Green Home Design in California, has been predominately taken on by the wealthy, and it is a thrill to see it filtering down to ordinary folk.

Wondering about the resale value of your green improvements?

In Seattle, Washington where existing data for green home resale value has been tracked for 2008, on average the green single family home was 16.7% of total sales. The green home was 25% smaller and sold for 4% higher value in 18% less time... but the catch here is that dollars per square foot, the green home outperformed the non-green home by 37% in dollars per square foot. Now that is something to consider!