Month: April 2012

Make Your Home “Good as New”

Use the Hottest Design Trends in New Home Construction as Inspiration for Exciting Home Renovations

Hammer - Photogen.comAccording to an April 2012 news release by the National Association of Home Builders, there are a number of hot design trends that will be found in new construction homes in 2012.  Of particular interest to existing homeowners considering a home renovation, listed among those trends were:

  • Reworked Spaces: This trend allows plenty of space for family interaction in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, and eliminates infrequently used rooms such as formal dens and conventional home offices. Instead, “Pocket Offices” or small spaces devoted to home management are being included in large pantries or spaces nearby the kitchen or family great room. Window seats and alcoves can provide an area for private time, without taking up a lot of space. All of these “reworked spaces” that are all the rage in new home construction can easily be created in an existing home, particularly when partnering with Highlight Homes – an award-winning renovation company that specializes in structural engineering.
  • Multigenerational Living: Cultural diversity, aging parents, and the state of the economy have been driving factors that have led many families to live under one roof. While new single-family home designs reflect this trend with separate living units that access the main floorplan through a door or homes that feature at least two master suites, an existing home can be renovated to accommodate additional family members by converting an unfinished basement, attic, or garage to an in-law suite with kitchen. For those with more limited space, an entirely new room can be incorporated at the back of the house or a new floor can be added to a ranch home or a detached garage.

Atlanta’s premier design-build firm, Highlight Homes welcomes the chance to help local homeowners update their homes with some of the hottest new trends to hit the housing market. Because we have a long-standing history as custom home builders in the South, we truly feel we can stand by the statement “good as new.” Getting started is as easy as calling us at 678-873-9234, e-mailing us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our convenient online contact form TODAY!  As we get further into Spring, our calendar is filling up quickly, so we look forward to hearing from you soon. To learn more about Highlight Homes and all of our custom construction and home renovation offerings, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Source: “Creativity and Cost-Savings Measures Reflected in Top New Home Design Trends” NAHB. http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?sectionID=122&newsID=15167. April 25, 2012.

Image credit:  Photogen.com

The Open Air Parlor

Tips for Treating Your Outdoor Living Spaces Like an Extension of Your Home

As the Atlanta weather settles into the cozy upper 60’s, 70’s, and low 80’s, Mother Nature reminds us that it’s high time to think about entertaining outside. With a great deal of emphasis placed on creating inviting outdoor living spaces in recent years, it’s a snap to take it a step beyond the simple construction of a deck or covered porch and the laying of a patio. While the builders at Highlight Homes can help you create the foundation for the right outdoor living space to fit both your home and your needs, we turn to our designers for tips on how to transform that blank canvas into what will likely become your favorite “room” of the house – the open air parlor…

    Something as simple and economical as a market umbrella not only adds a shield from the sun and lovely decorative touch, it can also enhance a sense of privacy in your outdoor oasis.Go With the Flow: Your outdoor living space should serve as a visually pleasing extension of the rest of your home. The furniture and accessories you select should reflect the décor style that exists within your home while complementing the construction style of the exterior of your home. For instance, if you live in a Colonial-style home and the décor of your interior is traditional – chances are you will want to continue that theme outdoors with classic vs. contemporary furniture using colors that will complement the colors in the rooms just off the entry to this space. Remember, it can be viewed from the windows. That said, if your home is more contemporary in style and décor – you’ll want to find trendy outdoor furniture and accessories to match. If you’re an eclectic decorator, have fun with it – anything goes!
    What Are YOU Looking At?: An ugly truth that came out of the construction boom of the last decade is that on a whole, building lots shrunk across the board. Homes were built closer together, with many homeowners’ kitchen and bedroom windows overlooking their neighbors’ backyards. In order to add a sense of privacy to your outdoor oasis, you have a number of options. Market umbrellas come in a number of sizes and can shield you and your guests from not only the sun’s rays, but also from the unwanted eyes of nosy neighbors from an upstairs window. A well-positioned privacy screen or trellis with a climbing vine can add a sense of seclusion and enclosure, while blocking the view from your neighbors’ kitchen sink. A screened   enclosure or pavilion roof over an existing patio can help you feel a little more isolated, and can help protect your outdoor furniture from the elements at the same time.
    Dress it Up: Your outdoor furniture shouldn’t have to do ALL of the work. Instead of having a boring stagnant space with little to no personality, why not dress it up with throw pillows, accessories, plants and flowers?  There are entire websites, departments and stores dedicated to outdoor living – go have a blast!  Do you have an outdoor wall clock?  If not, maybe you should! Does your outdoor furniture just scream “Have a seat and kick back?” If not, maybe it’s time to make them look more inviting with beautiful throw pillows. With so many pillows and outdoor rugs being created in weather- and fade-resistant fabrics, there’s no excuse not to make the Great Outdoors seem even greater with cozy, homey touches. Don’t forget terrific accessories to adorn your tabletops, and beautiful plants and flowers to remind your guests that they are – indeed – outside.
    Set the Mood: Once you’ve set the stage, it’s time to set the mood with great lighting – the perfect addition to an al fresco dinner party under the stars. From lights strung on the pergola above and tiki torches along the deck railing to candlelit lanterns on the tabletop and the glow of the fire from the chiminea – make sure you have enough light with a trial run a few nights BEFORE the dinner party, so you don’t leave your guests out in the dark. If you have a covered porch or screened enclosure, a stunning wrought iron chandelier and outdoor fireplace with flat screen TV overhead may provide all the light you need. Speaking of setting a mood, nothing does it like “mood music”! There are a number of outdoor stereos on the market or you can pipe music from inside your home through outdoor speakers (some are even disguised as rocks!) to help you do just that!

If you like what you’ve read, but need some help creating that foundation first – contact the talented team at Highlight Homes for a no-obligation consultation by calling 678.873.9234, by e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or by filling out our convenient online contact form. For more design trends and tips, plus the latest Highlight Homes news,  be sure to visit our blog regularly, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and/or join our monthly newsletter mailing list.  Now… go outside and play!!!!

Image Credit: RED UMBRELLA – © Susan Quinland-stringer –  Dreamstime.com

Snow White is the Comeback Kid

Shades of White and Ivory Cabinetry are Experiencing a Refreshing Renaissance in Kitchen Remodels

White cabinetry is experiencing a refreshing renaissance in today's kitchen remodels
White cabinetry is experiencing a refreshing renaissance in today's kitchen remodels

Word on the street is that white is the new black! It’s something we at Highlight Homes have been experiencing regularly in our own work – the requests for white cabinetry over the classic cherry or oak in kitchen remodels are steadily growing. As a matter of fact, in the planning stages for a new major kitchen overhaul featuring white cabinets and white marble countertops – we have a fairly good feeling that we’re about to embark on our next Obie Award-winning renovation.

According to the color experts at Pantone, white exudes an impression of “clean and pure” – both great elements for any kitchen. White also adds a light and airy feel to the heart of the home. It takes on the role of a splendid neutral that works well with a rainbow of colors. Black and white together often express a sense of luxury, shades of neutral and white can have a calming effect, and brights with white can add an air of playfulness to any room. Whites can come in a number of hues – from the striking snow and white whites to a richer ivory or eggshell white. When dealing with confined areas, white can help make a small space look larger. It can add a chic vibe to a contemporary kitchen or a romantic feel to a more traditional room.

Don’t get us wrong – we will always be big fans of earthy shades of stained natural wood at Highlight Homes. We’re just happy to be welcoming the “comeback kid” white back to the party for a refreshing change of pace. If you feel it’s time to emerge from the dark and enter the light in your own home, we encourage you to call the Highlight Homes team for a no-obligation consultation. Not only can we help you pull together plans and renderings of how your kitchen could be transformed with white cabinetry, thanks to our knowledge of structural engineering – we might just be able to tweak the layout of the room to improve the overall flow and make it seem like an entirely new living space. The talented team of designers and builders at Highlight Homes can be reached by calling 678.873.9234, by e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or by filling out our convenient online contact form. HURRY!  Our dance card is filling up quickly as we head deeper into the Spring and Summer months. To stay up-to-date on the latest design trends and Highlight Homes news, be sure to “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and/or join our monthly newsletter mailing list.