Award-Winning Home Staging and Design*
"Best in the West" — Apartment Therapy

 

Your home is in good hands. Design is my passion, and as the owner of House Candy Home, I combine expertise, creativity, and commitment to provide top-tier home staging and design services. My dedication has earned numerous industry awards, including the Staging Excellence and Client Care awards from the International Home Staging Professionals Association, as well as recognition for Best Transformation in the International Home Staging Awards. I was also awarded Best Occupied Staging in 2023 by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and featured by Apartment Therapy. In 2024, I’m thrilled to add RESA’s Top 10 awards for both Short Term Rental Staging and Occupied Home Staging to my accolades.

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With an education tailored for staging and design, I trained with the Uploft Academy in New York, earned a Master Color Consultant certification from Staging Studio, and completed numerous courses in staging and styling. My background includes a degree in Business and Public Relations from San Jose State University, where I studied graphic design, fashion, marketing, advertising, and photography—disciplines that continue to inform my work.

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My professional path has always been creative. Prior roles include event planning and art direction for a chain of thrift stores, where I was dubbed the “Martha Stewart of Thrift” by a local newspaper. Outside of work, I’m always immersed in creative projects, from home remodeling to unique decorating. I take pride in an eye for detail, blending comfort with aesthetics to ensure that your home is both beautiful and inviting, especially when staged to attract top-dollar offers.

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Certifications and Affiliations:
- Recognized by Apartment Therapy as one of the Best Home Staging Companies in the U.S.
- Graduate of Uploft Academy in Interior Design
- Master Color Consultant, Master Interior Styling & Composition
- Accredited Member of RESA
- Certified Home Staging Educator and Presenter (available for brokerage and group sessions)
- Graduate of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program
- Approved Vendor with RealVitalize - Coldwell Banker
- Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Business, San Jose State University

 

A Deep Connection to the Aptos Community- 
I have been a proud Aptos resident and homeowner since 1995, and my roots here run deep. My husband, Scott, and I raised our two children in this community, with both attending Aptos schools. I am also a founder and sponsor of Carrie’s Dream Dance Scholarship Fund, which has raised over $300,000 to support local youth dance. Scott, a lifelong surfer and water enthusiast, recently completed a swim across the English Channel and serves as president of the Monterey Bay Swimming Association. Together, we share a passion for the outdoors, especially snow skiing, and spend as much time on the slopes as possible.

Thank you for considering House Candy Home. I look forward to making your home its very best!

 

-Ashley Tapley, Owner

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