Highlight Homes

If you’re an avid reader of Highlight Homes’ blog, you know we often recommend building a “Dream Book.” A “Dream Book” will not only help you capture images of your favorite things and ideas you’d like to incorporate in your own home, but it also serves as a valuable tool for your future designer and renovation company. You may have the perfect vision of what you want in your head, but it’s not always easy to transfer that vision through words alone.

The challenge is – where should you begin looking for these images. Home décor magazines such as Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and Better Homes & Gardens are a terrific source. Enjoy perusing the pages and whenever you see something that speaks to you personally, simply clip it out and add it to your “Dream Book”.  There is also a treasure trove of sources on the internet such as HGTV.com, TradHome, and Rue. We are HUGE fans of Pinterest, too – we believe it is one of the best tools people can use to get there style, ideas & taste across to us! Inspiration can come from just about anywhere! Feel free to draw pictures and take photos to add to the book, as well. And don’t forget about catalogs – particularly for places like Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, and IKEA – they are loaded with great images that can help you fill the pages of your “Dream Book.”

From a professional standpoint (and because Highlight Homes just so happens to be proud members of this organization), the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) website is an AWESOME resource for stunning images of some of the most beautiful kitchen and bath designs we’ve ever come across. Their DREAM pages are filled with professionally photographed kitchens and baths that range from sleek contemporary to timeless traditional.  Make sure you’ve got plenty of paper and toner in your printer – you’re going to need it!

Once your “Dream Book” starts filling up, reach out to the design-build team at Highlight Homes. We welcome the chance to listen to your thoughts and thumb through your book. We can marry your ideas with your needs, the images from your “Dream Book” and your family’s collective personality to develop a design that’s uniquely YOU, and not just some carbon copy of a room in a magazine.  To get started right away, call us at 678-873-9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com. While there, you can take a peek at our online portfolio. Who knows, you might just find the next perfect image there for your own “Dream Book”!

Highlight Homes’ June Renovation Special: Sign a Contract with Highlight Homes by the end of June 2012 to receive a $500 gift card to Home Depot®, Lowes®, or Bed Bath and Beyond®*

*Good for contracts of $10,000 or more;

Highlight Homes is not affiliated with Home Depot, Lowes, or Bed Bath and Beyond.

Offer Expires June 30, 2012.

Must mention ad at time of consultation to receive this special offer.

Before we began building a solid reputation as Atlanta’s premier luxury home remodelers, Highlight Homes was perhaps best known for our signature brand of custom homes

June is National Home Ownership Month!  While it has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream, home ownership has gotten a bad rap in recent years due to a lagging economy and struggling housing market. While many homeowners are opting to stay put and remodel their current home, first time buyers or those seeking an entirely new view from their kitchen window may want to consider a custom home, designed and constructed by the talented team at Highlight Homes.

While many existing homes can be found for a steal, they often require expensive renovations to make them seem more like “home sweet home”. A positive aftereffect of the housing crash is that land is also available at rock bottom prices. Imagine finding the ideal lot, and then designing and building the home of your dreams!  Highlight Homes makes that possible.  Here are a handful of steps to help you get started:

1. Step #1 is as easy as picking up the phone or reaching out over the internet. Simply contact Highlight Homes by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing NKinfo@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our convenient online contact form. We will schedule a meeting to discuss your wants and needs, as well as budgetary restrictions.
2. If you already own land on which to begin construction of your new custom home, the exciting design phase can begin immediately. In the event that you haven’t found your ideal home site, Highlight Homes can help you find the perfect lot on which to begin building your home.
3. While we begin our quest for your new home site, you can begin putting together a special scrapbook of many of the elements you wish to incorporate in your dream home. Pour through home décor magazines, search the internet, draw your own renderings, snap photos of other homes around town, etc…
4. Once we’ve found the perfect lot, a Highlight Homes’ architect will schedule another meeting to sit down with you to look through your scrapbook, learn about your family, and develop a strong sense of what you are hoping for from your new home.
5. He will then take this knowledge back to his drafting table to develop truly distinctive house plans custom made to fit your family. From mom’s wish to have a laundry room upstairs, to dad’s wish to have a home office with built-in bookcases, to each child’s wish to have spaces that feel all their own – your family’s “wish list” is our command.
6. When you approve of the blueprints for your custom home, an estimate of construction costs will be developed and – once approved – construction can begin. Our talented team of designers and builders will work closely with you throughout every step of your custom home project to make sure your visions and wishes are being met.
7. Highlight Homes will take care of the acquisition of the necessary permits and the execution of inspections so that the construction phase goes smoothly from start to finish.
8. Depending on the size and scope of your custom home, once the permits are obtained the construction phase could take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to complete. We have a solid reputation for finishing on-time and on-budget, and – more importantly – for exceeding expectations in every project we undertake.
9. Final Walk-through and Closing – A Highlight Homes’ construction supervisor will accompany you through your new home to complete a punch list of any remaining items that need to be addressed within seven days of closing. Highlight Homes also extends a 2-10 warranty on your home from the moment the sale closes.
10. You and your family can begin moving into the home of your dreams and start making memories right away.

Highlight Homes welcomes the opportunity to celebrate National Home Ownership Month with you by becoming your family’s custom homebuilder. We look forward to hearing from you soon!  To learn more about us and view our online portfolio, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Pantone® Unveils the Hottest Color Trends for Spring 2012

Fashion designers the world over have long influenced what’s considered “en vogue” in interior design. To that end, many famed fashion designers like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Donna Karan often cross over between fashion and interiors with bedding, paint colors, furniture collections, and more. For over 18 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of the renowned New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring the season’s most important color trends to light. In their most recent Fashion Color Report, Pantone® reveals the most prominent hues for spring 2012.

Spring and summer are both wonderful seasons to color your world – from a vibrant shower curtain in the guest bathroom or a trendy duvet in the master bedroom, to a brand new piece of multihued artwork in the living room or pops of color via accent walls all over the house. Use the most popular colors from Pantone’s Fashion Color Report as inspiration. To help you get started, here is a list from the experts at Pantone of the most fashionable shades and suggestions for the season:

• Provocative Tangerine Tango (Pantone 17-1463), an enticing juicy orange, is a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone’s outlook this spring.
• Providing a jolt of energy, Solar Power (PANTONE 13 – 0759) radiates warmth and cheer.
• Fanciful Bellflower (PANTONE 18-3628), a distinct ornamental purple, exudes uniqueness and creativity.
• Scintillating and sexy, Cabaret (PANTONE 18-2140) is a sensual and intense rosy-red.
• Sodalite Blue (PANTONE 19-3953), a classic maritime hue, brings order and calmness to mind. Like an anchor to a ship, this dependable shade works with every color in the palette.
• Cockatoo (PANTONE 14-5420), a tactile blue-green, is sure to make your spirits soar. This unusual hue adds a whimsical touch to the palette and will make a statement this spring.
• Margarita (PANTONE 14- 0116), a piquant yellow-green, lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow.
• Reminiscent of a blossoming garden on an early spring morning, fragrant Sweet Lilac (PANTONE 14 -2808) evokes the fresh scents of summer. This delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance to any room.
• Natural, versatile neutrals add practicality to this season’s brights. Driftwood (PANTONE 18-1210), an adaptable blend of beige and gray with a slightly weathered feel, and Starfish (PANTONE 16-1120), a perfect warm summer neutral, complement all colors featured in this season’s top 10.
• For an ultra-bold look this spring, try mixing Bellflower with Tangerine Tango and Cabaret. Combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Cockatoo for a subtle alternative, or Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Driftwood for a more practical variation. Solar Power is best juxtaposed with Sodalite Blue, and for a safer bet, add a natural neutral like Starfish to the mix.

To broaden the scope of your home rejuvenation with a full-on, fun home renovation, call the design-build team at Highlight Homes at 678-873-9234 TODAY! To learn more about Highlight Homes, visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com!

About Pantone®: PANTONE, LLC – an X-rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT) – is THE global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries for almost 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com.

Image and Color Source: Pantone.com http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=20910&ca=4

National Association of Home Builders Releases Findings from Recent Study Exposing Most Popular Renovations and the Reasons Behind Them

In early May 2012, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released their findings from their First Quarter 2012 Remodeling Market Index: Special Questions on Most Common Jobs & Reasons for Remodeling. Pulled from the survey responses of 395 professional remodelers, the study reveals some of the most popular renovations requested by their clients during the previous year, as well as the reasons cited for the need for the renovation.

According to the study (measured in percentage of respondents) , the ten most common renovations throughout 2011 included:

1)      Bathroom Remodels – 78%

2)      Kitchen Remodels – 69 %

3)      Window and Door Replacements – 44%

4)      Repairing Property Damage – 36%

5)      Whole House Remodeling – 35%

6)      Room Additions – 33%

7)      Handyman Services – 31%

8)      Basement Finishing – 27%

9)      Roofing – 24%

10)    Siding – 23%

What was perhaps most revealing about this study – besides the fact that Bathroom Remodels eclipsed Kitchen Remodels for the third year in a row, at an all-time high nearing 80% – were the reasons homeowners gave to the remodelers for the reasons behind the renovations.

The Top Five Reasons Homeowners Opted to Remodel during 2011:

1)      Need to Repair or Replace Old Components

2)      Desire for Newer/Better Amenities

3)      Desire/Need for More Space

4)      Wish to Avoid Moving/Buying a New Home

5)      Repairing a Damaged Property

Other reasons of note included Desire to Grow Old in Current Home, Energy Efficiency/Environmental Concerns, Wish to Increase Value of Home as an Investment, Change of # of People Living in the Home, and Prepare for Resale (non-distressed property).

Fortunately for our clients – both current and future – Highlight Homes specializes in each of the top ten renovation projects listed above, and we have a clear understanding of the reasons behind them.  If you’ve been considering a home renovation and your motivations fall into any of the top five reasons outlined in this article, we invite you to contact the experienced design/build team at Highlight Homes for a no-obligation consultation. You can reach us – day or night – by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our convenient online contact form TODAY!  To learn more about Highlight Homes and all of our custom construction and home renovation offerings, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Image Credit: BLUEPRINTS SERIES © Cruceru Cristian | Dreamstime.com

Just in case you didn’t already know, May is National Remodeling Month!  Highlight Homes is happy to help you celebrate! Forget the chips and dip, we bring something far more valuable to this party table. Here is just a small sampling of what Highlight Homes can do for you and your family:

• Kitchen and Bath Remodels
• Room Additions
• Basement Finishing
• Decks and Patios
• Fencing, Arbors, and Pergolas
• Outdoor Firepits, Hearths, and Kitchens
• Landscaping and Water Features
• Window and Door Replacement
• And Much, Much More!

While we may not be able to complete your renovation before month’s end, it’s a great time to get the ball rolling with a no-obligation consultation. And since we’re a design-build firm, your architect, structural engineer, and master renovator are all rolled into one. The best part is, once National Remodeling Month is over, you get to reap its rewards for years to come.

Here’s Highlight Homes’ Renovation Checklist to help you get started on YOUR National Remodeling Month Celebration:

Determine your budget – how much would you like to spend/finance? If financing, have you examined all of your options? Highlight Home Restorations offers several financing options for home renovations of different sizes and scopes.

Determine your time frame – Renovations and restorations can be timely and sometimes a tad invasive – especially when remodeling an interior room such as your kitchen. How much time are you willing to invest in this project – OR do you have a specific event or occasion for which you wish to have this project completed?

What are you hoping to accomplish with this home remodel/renovation? Add additional living space? Update the exterior of your home? Refresh your bathroom or kitchen space? Finally finish that basement for more room to entertain or accommodate guests? Add a deck or patio to extend your home’s outdoor living space? Highlight Homes can do all of the above and more!

Contact Highlight Homes! Feel free to contact other renovation contractors for additional bids, but keep in mind – you get what you pay for. Many companies do not offer design/build contract services, so you may have to also hire an architect for larger projects. At Highlight Homes, we can do it all, from start to finish – design a project around your specifications and build it to last. We can even aid with the interior design of your final product. We are fully certified, licensed and insured, and we can help you acquire the necessary permits before building begins. In the event you do decide to accept bids from other contractors, ask them if they can provide all of the services listed above. After more than a quarter of a century in the home design, building and restoration industry – we firmly believe we are the best choice for any job. Choose Highlight Homes for your next remodel or restoration project, and we think you’ll agree!

What are you waiting for? To kick your National Remodeling Month Celebration into high gear, click HERE to fill out an online contact form, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or call us at 678.873.9234. To learn more about Highlight Homes and sneak a peek at our online portfolio, we invite you to visit us online!

MAY RENOVATION SPECIAL FROM HIGHLIGHT HOMES

Sign a Contract with Highlight Homes by the end of May 2012 to receive10% OFF

Your Next Highlight Homes’ Renovation Project*

*Percentage off valued at $2,000 or less. Offer Expires May 31, 2012. Must mention ad at time of consultation to receive this special offer.

Image credits: PARTY WHISTLE © Hpphoto | Dreamstime.com and BALLOONS © Valeriy Khromov | Dreamstime.com

A well-executed renovation can magically transform your home into a thing of beauty

As the Highlight Homes team delves into another exciting home renovation, I am reminded of the incredible privilege I am afforded in this line of work. Not only do I get front row tickets to one of the best magic shows EVER – I also get to hold the bag of tricks and wave the magic wand.

My team and I are always so humbled and honored to be entrusted with one of our client’s most valued assets – their home. Through a series of meetings, we can take the homeowners vision and use it to inspire our design – then take that design and make it a beautiful reality. As custom home builders, we offer a special advantage over many other general contractors and renovation companies – there’s really not much we can’t make happen as we magically transform your home into a thing of beauty.

We can transform an unfinished basement into an in-law suite or man cave that would make the neighbors green with envy. Our background in structural engineering affords us the skills necessary to reconfigure the flow of a cramped home by opening it up, giving it the appearance of an entirely new space. We can take a neglected backyard and reinvent it with a glass enclosure or expansive deck – making it one of your favorite new “rooms” of the home. Highlight Homes’ specialties also include kitchen and bath remodels, window and door replacements, room additions, landscaping and water features, exterior renovations, and so much more

Of course, for us the real magic happens when our clients walk through the door once the project is complete and we get to see the look of joy and excitement on their faces. That trick never gets old, and it’s no illusion!  We welcome the chance to bring a little magic into your life with a custom designed, quality crafted home renovation. For a remodel project that defies belief, we invite you to contact us by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our convenient online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, view our online portfolio, or peruse our full list of services, we encourage you to visit us online.

Image credits: FLYING ELECTRICAL BULB BETWEEN PALMS © Boris Ryaposov | Dreamstime.com; Renovation Images Courtesy of Highlight Homes

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

According 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

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…

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

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

Tips for Battling the Yellow Stuff, While Still Being Able to Enjoy the Beauty of Spring

It’s that time of year again. While Spring may have sprung a little earlier than many expected – with temperatures reaching up into the 70’s and 80’s – with it comes an unwelcome guest, pollen. That fine yellow dusting that coats our cars, patio tables, and… well, EVERYTHING that exists outside our homes, is wreaking havoc on even the healthiest of souls. With record high pollen counts already listed in the history books for this year, we’re afraid it’s not going anywhere anytime soon – but there are a handful of fairly simple ways you can combat it and keep it where it belongs… outside.

1)      Fight the Urge to Let the Fresh Air In: It’s gorgeous. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the weather is perfect with just a slight breeze in the air. The outdoors beckon and you long to let them in by opening a window here and there. Big mistake. Until the pollen counts have died down, you’ll want to crank on the A/C and peer out those closed windows for awhile. It’s a great excuse to clean them – from the inside.

2)      Make Sure to Mask Before You Mow: Bermuda lawns all over Atlanta are waking from their not-so-long winter slumber, and could likely benefit from a good scalping. Of course that means you’ll be kicking up lots of pollen as you make your way through the grass. Visit your local hardware or home improvement store and purchase multi-packs of sanding masks or particulate respirators – you’ll still be able to breathe, but won’t be taking in as much of the pollen. This is also a great trick for weeding and planting in those flower beds.

3)      Enter the De-pollination Chamber: Try your best to route your family – including the family dog – through the mud room, basement, or laundry room of the home. It’s important to have one designated space for everyone to remove their pollen laden shoes and towel off before entering the rest of the home. Give Fido a once over with a damp towel to remove any pollen that might be stuck to his fur and paws, too.

4)      Let the Sunshine in, While Keeping the Pollen Out: The addition of a sunroom allows you and your family to enjoy nature’s beauty, while avoiding nature’s nuisances – like mosquitoes, ants and – you guessed it – pollen. A sunroom can become a much-beloved extension of your current home – providing a four-season space where the outdoors plays an integral role. Outdoor living spaces and room additions are just two of our favorite projects at Highlight Homes – let us combine them for you for a one-of-a-kind room custom-designed to fit the distinctive needs and collective personality of your family.

5)      The End is (Almost) in Sight: The pollen won’t last forever, and when it’s gone – you may be ready to get outside and celebrate. Now could be the perfect time to let the Highlight Homes’ design/build team brave the ravages of pollen season, so you and your family can enjoy a brand new deck, outdoor kitchen, or pool with stone patio in just a matter of weeks. Think of all the grill-outs, pool parties, and neighborhood gatherings you could be hosting!

In the event that you would like to consult with the talented designers and builders at Highlight Homes about a new sunroom or outdoor living space project, we want you to know that our consultations are not only friendly and informative – but also hold no obligation on your part. We can discuss your project with you over the phone or face-to-face to help you determine the scope and budget you’ll need for the project. (FYI – Highlight Homes is proud to now accept credit cards for all of our home improvement projects!) Getting started is easy!  We invite you to call us at 678.873.9234, e-mail the team at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our convenient online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes, please visit us at www.highlighthomesga.com.