Story and Photos by Jondi Gumz
Real estate agent Shanne Carvalho says his new retail store in Aptos came about because of Teri Mackay.
Shanne Carvalho, owner of Coastal Oak Interiors, with stager and buyer Teri Mackay.
She’s the professional stager who has the knack of selecting the right furniture with the right pillows and the right photos — all from local vendors — to create the perfect look.
So many people asked if they could buy items they saw in homes she staged for sale that Carvalho agreed this could be a business.
So Coastal Oak (Carvalho means oak) Interiors opened in November in Aptos Village Square.
In March, Carvalho, 46, hosted a ribbon cutting with the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, the first of three such events in one week.
It was a burst of economic activity as new COVID cases plummeted, putting the county in the less restrictive Red Tier.
Naturally, attendees wore masks.
Monica Ansaldo with her “Boho” Murano glass bead hangings.
Watsonville contractor Frank Contreras redid the space, installing stylish pillars that provide display space for small items, and creating plenty of light.
Mackay sees the shop as a showcase for local artists such as Liz Lyons Friedman and photographer John Gavrilis.
Friedman, of Aptos, met Mackay at the Sip and Stroll in Aptos Village three years ago. She welcomed the opportunity to sell her work in the new shop, especially after Open Studios, the October art show extravaganza, was cancelled because of COVID.
“I’d been in all the shows since 1986,” said Friedman, who is hoping to be in Open Studios this fall.
Liz Lyons Friedman with her paintings showcased at Coastal Oak Interiors.
She has paintings of sunsets, inspired by real life sunsets, for which is Aptos is famous.
Gavrilis’s photo of the pastel-coloredVenetian Court naturally draws the eye.
So do the colorful Murano glass bead hangings by Monica Ansaldo.
Mackay said her strategy is to stage one item, store one and sell one — so if you see something you like, buy it before someone else does.
For shoppers who want to move to Aptos, Carvalho can help. His real estate office, brokered by exp Realty, is in the same shopping center a few steps away.
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Coastal Oak Interiors is at 7960 Soquel Drive Suite D, Aptos. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; that could change in May. See www.coastaloakinteriors.com or call 831-889-8290.
Top Photo: Art for your walls at Coastal Oak Interiors.