Month: January 2012

Love Comes in Many Forms

Image Credit: Iperl/Dreamstime.com

Make “Home Sweet Home” Even Sweeter with the Gift of a Home Renovation This Valentine’s Day

A visit to any card shop, flower shop, or grocery store alerts you to the impending arrival of St. Valentine’s Day just around the corner on February 14. To honor the one you love, you could go with the tried-and-true heart-shaped box of chocolates, the traditional dozen long-stemmed red roses, a singing telegram pronouncing your undying love, or a pair of boxer shorts adorned with the image of Cupid and his ever-ready bow and arrow. At Highlight Homes, we feel we might just have a gift idea that will top all Valentine’s Days past. This notion of ours is not only the key to making your “home sweet home” a little sweeter, it’s a gift that keeps giving long after the box of chocolates has been eaten, the roses have all died, and the boxers have turned pink after their first wash.

Love comes in many forms, and so do home renovations. A quick phone call to Highlight Homes can be the first step to pulling together the home improvement project your loved one has been dreaming of. We will not only design a renovation to fit your budget and needs, but also your family’s unique personality.  Here are a few ideas to help spark your imagination:

  1. Master Retreat: Convert your bedroom into a “love nest” you can’t wait to retire to each evening… something that evokes luxury, comfort and warmth. From trey ceilings for added height and hardwoods to add  a timeless opulence, to crown molding to add rich details and a shift in the floorplan to open things up – Highlight Homes’ experience in structural engineering and architecture can help you see your bedroom in a way you never even imagined.
  2. Master Bath: Bring new meaning to the phrase “rest room” with spa-inspired additions such as a waterfall tub, hands-free faucets, Italian-tile lined steam shower, surround sound stereo, and elegant lighting. Warning – you may never want to leave.
  3. Gourmet Kitchen: They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! A renovation of the heart of the home that takes an outdated kitchen that’s so-so to a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen that’s so WHOA could be the inspiration for many a fabulous meal to come.
  4. Craft Studio: If your sweetie is a closet artist or crafter at heart, what better way to say “I love you” than to create a space that is uniquely their own. Be it a sunroom that’s filled with light and paint-and-hot-glue-friendly flooring or a corner room in the basement surrounded with workspaces and storage cabinets, creation of this space is sure to get you a big hug.
  5. Man Cave: If you know a boy who likes to escape to his own corner of the home from time to time, why not make that corner fit his individual tastes and interests. From a movie theater-inspired media center for endless runs of sci-fi favorites to a bar-and-big-screen space that’s all his own, Highlight Homes can help you draw up blueprints for a Man Cave of his dreams.
  6. Outdoor Oasis: With Spring just a matter of months away, backyard barbeques and pool parties are just around the corner. Whether you seek a quiet garden retreat, a high-energy sports and pool complex, an outdoor kitchen, or an al fresco extension of the interior of your home, Highlight Homes can help.

This list goes on and on!  To get started on your Valentine’s Day shopping with a home renovation from Highlight Homes, contact our design-build team by phone at 678.873.9234, by e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com, or via our our convenient online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes, we welcome you to visit our website at www.highlighthomesga.com where you can meet the members of our team, discover our ever-increasing list of services, and view our portfolio online. To stay up-to-date on the latest Highlight Homes news, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and/or sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, The Highlight Homes Herald.

Image Credit: © Iperl | Dreamstime.com

The South Will Rise Again

Image Credit: OLD OAK TREE © Colleen Coombe - Dreamstime.com
Image Credit: OLD OAK TREE © Colleen Coombe - Dreamstime.com

Glimmer of Hope for the Remodeling Industry in the Southeast

According to the latest Remodeling Market Index and recent news releases from the National Association of Home Builders, the economy continues to take a toll on both the housing and remodeling industries across the nation. While the numbers from third quarter 2011 were somewhat bleak throughout the U.S., indicating that remodeling activity remains slow under current economic conditions – there was a bit of silver lining for the remodeling industry in the South. As the housing market in Georgia struggles to find its footing once again and builders continue to remain hopeful with reported new home sales up 12,9% in the South in November 2011 (even in the face of a drop in the number of building permits, which were down 11% year over year in the third quarter) – it’s apparent that more and more homeowners are either making the choice to remain in their current home or feeling as though they cannot move at this time due to lackluster house values on resales. That may have a hand in the increases in current market conditions and future market indicators for the remodeling industry in the South.

Current market conditions coincide with three major components, including major additions, minor additions, and maintenance & repair. Regionally, current market conditions were up in the South and the Midwest – but down in the rest of the nation. Future Market Indicators – which are comprised of calls for bids, amount work committed for the next three months, backlog of remodeling jobs, and  appointments for appraisals – were down everywhere else in the country, but showed marked improvements in the South. What does this mean for Southern homeowners? It could mean that the momentum is building, and there is safety in numbers. As more and more homeowners apply for loans and begin investing in their homes again, the wheels of progress will begin rolling forward once more. The proud people of the South can set the tone for the rest of the nation.

Award-winning, Georgia-based Highlight Homes welcomes the opportunity to help you with the design and implementation of a stunning renovation of your home. Together, we can not only create something wonderful – we can help the local economy and set the tone for the rest of the nation at the same time! To schedule a no-obligation consultation today, contact Highlight Homes’ talented design-build team by phone at 678-873-9234, via e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com, or through our convenient online contact form. Sign a contract with us before January 30, 2012, and your name will be entered into a random drawing for an Apple® iPad2! For inspiration, we invite you to take a peek inside our online portfolio. To learn more about Highlight Homes, please visit our website at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Credits: “New Home Sales Rise for Third Consecutive Month in November” NAHB (December 23, 2011)  http://www.nahb.com/news_details.aspx?newsID=14444

“Remodeling Activity Remains Slow Under Current Economic Conditions” NAHB (October 27, 2011) http://www.nahb.com/news_details.aspx?sectionID=122&newsID=13812

Image credit: OLD OAK TREE © Colleen Coombe | Dreamstime.com

Feathering Your Nest

Image Credit: arztsamui – freedigitalphotos.net
Image Credit: arztsamui – freedigitalphotos.net

How Empty Nesters Can Reclaim Their Homes Once their Little Birdies Have all Flown the Coop

So many of us make concessions in our homes to fit the needs of our children – between rowdy play dates in the playroom to practice sessions of the resident garage band. It may be possible that you chose your flooring with the kids in mind (“we need something durable for the kids”), that you selected easy-to-clean wall paint colors that didn’t show fingerprints (“crayons and greasy fingers are common in our house”), and that you have bedrooms that serve as shrines to your children’s childhoods – reflecting the little people that they once were, not necessarily the people that they are today.

Once the kids have graduated and/or married and/or simply flown from the nest, it’s time to reclaim that space to fit YOUR needs as a couple. Chances are, if you haven’t renovated or updated your home since the children were babies or toddlers – your home could be in dire need of an update. Use this opportunity to create a fresh new personality for your home to reflect your new desires and identity as a couple – after all, you’re empty nesters now! Maybe you’ve always wanted a gourmet kitchen that exudes luxury, or a craft studio where you can paint or create to your heart’s content. It’s possible that you dream of a master bedroom, walk-in closet and master bath that emanate serenity.  An empty guest bedroom may serve as the new media room or home gym, and the basement that was once filled with drum sets and empty potato chip wrappers may serve as an in-law suite complete with kitchen, full bath, living area and bedroom to accommodate aging parents you’d like to keep close or a bar and entertainment area for epic gatherings with your friends.

Keep in mind that your nest is not confined to the interior of your home. Outdoor living spaces are all the rage and serve as a terrific extension of your home. Take a long look at your backyard. Don’t you think it’s time to dismantle the playground and transform this space into a terrific outdoor escape. If you’ve always loved gardening – imagine a quaint potting shed surrounded by your unique version of an English Garden with pathways lined with benches for reading and reflecting. If you love to entertain – envision a heated swimming pool paired with a Tiki Bar and outdoor kitchen. If you long to relax – visualize a tranquil koi pond just outside your backdoor, a sprawling covered deck with an outdoor hearth and cozy deep seating set, and an oversized hammock strategically placed in the shade. The possibilities are endless!

To reclaim YOUR home now that your little birdies have all flown the coop, we invite empty nesters from all over the Atlanta area – including Peachtree City, Newnan, Buckhead, Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and beyond – to contact the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes today! Our award-winning crew of designers and builders look forward to helping you make your visions of a new nest a reality and can be reached by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our helpful online contact form. To stay on top of the latest Highlight Homes news and specials, we welcome you to “like us” on Facebookfollow us on Twitter, visit our mobile text site when on the road by texting Highlight Homes to 99699, or sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, The Highlight Homes Herald! For a little inspiration, please visit our online portfolio to help you get started.