Don't miss the 34th Annual Spring Atlanta Home Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre from Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25! Highlight Homes will be there, will you?Local Builder Constructs Pavilion Inside Cobb Galleria Centre for Charity Wine Tasting Event Portion of Georgia’s Largest Home Improvement Show
Award-winning Southern custom construction and home remodeling firm, Highlight Homes is proud and honored to take part in this year’s Spring Atlanta Home Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre on March 23 through 25. For 34 years, the Atlanta Home Show has appeared twice annually – presenting homeowners with a one-stop shopping experience and the opportunity to meet face-to-face with hundreds of companies offering the latest home remodeling products and services.
Rather than appear as an exhibitor, Highlight Homes wished to take on a more integral role in the 2012 Atlanta Home Show. When Highlight Homes’ Principal, Tony Pourhassan learned about the Wine & Design Experience and the charity it benefits, he didn’t hesitate to volunteer his company’s skills, supplies, and time to this worthy cause. Housed inside a special pavilion constructed by Tony and the Highlight Homes’ team, a charity wine tasting event benefitting Hope Atlanta Programs of Traveler’s Aid will take place during the course of the Atlanta Home Show. For a $5 donation, guests will be able to sample a number of fine wines from many winegrowing regions around the world while helping an organization dedicated to the prevention and eradication of homelessness. The Wine & Design Experience can be found within the “Southern Style – Spotlight Savannah” special feature exhibit located at Booth # 147 and is sponsored by Buckhead Pizza Co.
“We’re very excited that Tony is doing this for us,” explains Show Director Michael Schoppenhorst. “He came highly recommended, and everything I’ve seen from him is outstanding. Hope Atlanta is such an important cause – particularly here in a city where the average age of a homeless person is eight-years-old. Tony’s pavilion and the visitors of the Wine & Design Experience will help us raise money while sharing a space that shows off some incredible design work over the course of the three-day show.”
In addition to over 350 companies represented – spotlighting everything from kitchen appliances and flooring for the interior of the home to landscaping, roofing and windows for the exterior of the home – the Atlanta Home Show 2012 will also feature exciting and educational sessions with HGTV’s Kitchen Cousins on the Home Show Stage, an appearance by HGTV’s Carter Oosterhouse, the See-Through House Exhibit, the Home for All Ages Exhibit, and much more. There will be new product launches and great home design ideas, as well.
Tickets to the nearly sold out show are just $10 for Adults. Children 12 & Under and Seniors 65+ (with ID) are free! Military personnel and first responders receive a Buy One, Get One Free ticket offer with ID. Multi-day passes are $15. Tickets are available at the Show box office at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
34th Annual Atlanta Home Show Dates and Times are as follows:
Friday, March 23 from 10am-6pm
Saturday, March 24 from 10am-6pm
Sunday, March 25 from 12-6pm
Cobb Galleria Centre is located at Two Galleria Parkway, across from Cumberland Mall at the intersection of Cobb Parkway/US Hwy 21 and I-285. For more information about the Atlanta Spring Home Show, call 770.798.1997. To learn more about Highlight Homes, visit www.highlighthomesga.com. If you’d like to schedule a no-obligation consultation for home remodeling services, call Highlight Homes at 678.873.9234.
We’ve all been there. That heat that builds just behind your eyes from embarrassment, sending a rush of red through your cheeks. Guests are on the way, and suddenly you don’t feel as though your home is “up to snuff”. No matter how thoroughly you clean it or how low you dim the lights, it’s still just an ugly, cramped, outdated kitchen. It’s no wonder that kitchen renovations lead the pack of most popular remodeling projects among homeowners. It is – after all – the heart of the home.
Kitchen remodels are also not bad investments when considering the future – a time when you might actually consider putting your home back on the market. In 2011, even with the housing market in a major slump across the nation, homeowners in the South who were selling homes where kitchen renovations had been completed saw a very nice recoup of the remodeling cost at the closing table. For minor kitchen renovations starting at a little over $21,000, homeowners saw an average of 72.1% of their cost recouped, whereas major kitchen renovation of more than $58,000 witnessed a 65.7% recoup*.
At Highlight Homes, we know from a personal standpoint that kitchen renovations are among the most popular projects we take on for our clients. As a matter of fact, we are currently hard at work on one right now. Not only do we love helping families transform one of the most important rooms of their home, we’ve been recognized by publications like Remodel Atlanta Magazine and Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine for our work. Most recently, we were awarded a Gold OBIE Award from the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association and The Atlanta Sales and Marketing Council for Best Kitchen Remodel under $75,000.
AFTER
If you’ve been considering having your kitchen remodeled by a team of professionals, we hope you’ll consider the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes. Who knows? YOUR KITCHEN could be the next one featured in the pages of an interior design magazine or be the focus of our next award-winning project! To get started with a no-obligation consultation, call us today at 678-873-9234, e-mail us info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our quick and helpful online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com and check out our online portfolio!
In the weeks leading up to Spring, it's the ideal time to begin planting ideas for that big home remodel you've been dreaming about. Then sit back, relax, and watch them GROW!The Experts at Highlight Homes Provide Tips and Suggestions for Preparing for that Big Spring Remodel
With Spring in our midst, it’s the ideal time to begin planting – ideas, that is. You may know you want a change, but aren’t entirely sure where to begin. That’s where the experts at Highlight Homes come in. We recommend homeowners who are considering anything from a minor renovation to a major overhaul follow these simple steps to prepare for their first meeting with a renovation professional:
All great renovations begin with an idea. Oftentimes, the best ideas come from the homeowners themselves. You’re tapped in to what your needs and wants are. A professional can help enhance your idea and shape solutions that you may not have realized were possible, but it all begins with you.
Host a family meeting to discuss the space in question. Whether it is a basement that is woefully underused because you keep putting off having it finished, a backyard that has been neglected, a room that is outdated and cramped, or a room that is greatly needed but doesn’t exist yet – each family member likely has a great solution in mind. Write them all down – the answer may be found somewhere in between. If your family members wish to make sketches of their ideas, that’s great, too.
Once you’ve narrowed down what space you wish to tackle and how you would like to envision its future use, begin combing through coffee table books and magazines for images that really speak to you. Bookcases that frame a door could help add personality to a room, while aiding in storage issues at the same time. A tiki hut-themed outdoor kitchen may jump off the page at you as you envision countless backyard cookouts under the stars. A theater room with stadium seating could make your basement THE hangout of choice for your teenager and his/her friends. Cut out and/or copy any pictures that you really connect with and start a special idea scrapbook.
Develop a budget for your renovation project. You may not know for sure how much the renovation of your dreams will cost until you begin to gather quotes from a number of professional renovation companies, but you DO have an idea of how much you can afford to pay. If you’re thinking about a major overhaul of an outdated home, this may require a visit to the loan officer at your bank. Some contractors and renovators offer their own financing or payment plans, and some even accept credit cards (pssssst… Highlight Homes recently instituted their own credit card payment program!)
Once you have all of those things in place, you’re ready to begin researching reputable renovation companies. Be sure that they are licensed, accredited, registered and insured. Check with professional groups like the Better Business Bureau to make sure there have been no complaints lodged against them. Most importantly, make certain you have a good rapport with the construction supervisor when you meet for your initial consultation since he will likely be your go-to person throughout the project. If you meet several companies and receive a range of quotes, try to avoid going with the lowest estimate just to save money. Reputation and rapport are every bit as important as cost savings – your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make in your lifetime, and not really a place where you want to cut corners.
Highlight Homes welcomes the chance to take those ideas you’ve planted and help them bloom into something you never even dreamed was possible. We invite you to call or e-mail us to schedule an initial consultation so we can begin shaping up your design and estimate in order to get you on our busy Spring calendar before it fills up. The Highlight Homes design-build team can be reached by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our quick and helpful online contact form. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
Image Credit: Yury Shirokov - DreamstimeAtlanta Renovation Company Establishes Credit Card Payments and Installment Plans
As the nation’s economy struggles to right itself, small businesses everywhere are seeking out new solutions to help their customers continue to conduct “business as usual”. Highlight Homes is among those businesses.
“Our biggest obstacle of late is that several of our clients have been ready to roll forward on a renovation project, but have had difficulty securing a traditional loan through a bank due to more stringent lending guidelines,” explains Highlight Homes’ Principal, Tony Pourhassan. “We hope our new credit card payment and installment plans will help alleviate that issue for many. It’s been a request we’ve received on multiple occasions and – like any good business owner – I want to meet the demand.”
Highlight Homes has always been customer-centered – designing beautiful renovations to fit each client’s distinctive tastes and unique needs, but they have been primarily a cash or check business to date. Through their new payment options, they can now design a payment system to fit their client’s budgetary needs – either through one credit card payment* or a series of payment installments.
“More and more homeowners are making the choice to stay put in their current homes and remodel, as opposed to putting their homes on the market and taking a loss in today’s volatile housing market,” says Pourhassan. “But families grow and change over time – whether we’re talking about the actual size of the family or a shift in their tastes. Some may have bought a home with small children in mind, but now they’re looking at teenagers who want more room to spread out. Others may have become empty nesters and they wish to reclaim their spaces. No matter the motivation, we welcome the chance to help them transform their home to fit their family’s current needs and wishes.”
Highlight Homes offers more than 25 years experience in custom building and home renovation. This Georgia-based company serves all of Metro Atlanta and surrounding areas including Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Newnan, Peachtree City, and beyond. The design-build firm specializes in kitchen and bath remodels, deck and patio installations, window and door replacement, room additions, basement finishing, and so much more. To schedule a no-obligation consultation with Tony and his team, call 678-873-9234, e-mail info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out Highlight Homes’ convenient online contact form.
* Credit card transactions are subject to a nominal convenience charge of 2.25%. Tax will only be charged on the cost of materials, services are tax-free.
Pantone reveals Tangerine Tango - the 2012 Color of the Year!
PANTONE® Announces its Color of the Year 2012: Tangerine Tango
The whimsical and romantic pink that is PANTONE® 18-2120 Honeysuckle has officially passed the torch for Color of the Year to “a spirited reddish orange” aptly titled PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango. Thanks to the nod from PANTONE, orange – a color often associated with happiness, energy, encouragement, and creativity – can now be found ruling the runways from Paris to Milan to New York, adorning the pages of interior design and fashion magazines, lining cosmetic counters in countless department stores, and gracing the walls and sofas of homes all over the world.
PANTONE, LLC – an X-rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT) – is THE global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Tangerine Tango – their vivacious, enticing Color of the Year 2012 makes a great addition to homes in the form of bedspreads, accent pillows, tabletop accessories, artwork, and accent walls in rooms where you want to add a spicy punch of color. Orange plays well with stained woods, warm browns, bright whites, cool pinks, and lime greens. It’s a real attention-grabber, and – whether you wear it or decorate your home with it – is bound to get you noticed.
This Highlight Home kitchen remodel showcases Benjamin Moore's earthy orange "Clay Pot".
Highlight Homes is in the business of getting our clients’ homes noticed through our thoughtfully designed and well-executed home renovations. We’re huge fans of the color orange, and based one of our favorite kitchen remodels around Benjamin Moore’s “Clay Pot” – a beautiful earthy shade of orange. That particular remodel garnered the attention of Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine, and was featured in their December 2009 issue. Whether you want to find a creative way to add orange to your décor or just wish to bring positive change to your home in time for Spring, we invite you to contact Highlight Homes’ talented design-build team today by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our convenient online contact form. To receive news of our monthly specials and design tips/trends, we recommend you join our e-newsletter mailing list.
Green Building Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builder's Association hosts White House Energy, Environment, and Conservation Roundtable - and Highlight Homes was there!
Highlight Homes’ Founder Tony Pourhassan Recently Took Part in the White House Energy, Environment and Conservation Roundtable Hosted by the Green Building Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association
Regardless of your politics and whether you live in a red or blue state, the U.S. government has expressed an increasing concern centered around green construction, energy efficiency, and conservation – three subjects that just happen to be near and dear to the heart of Highlight Homes’ founder, Tony Pourhassan. Therefore, it goes without saying that Tony was more than a little flattered and honored to be invited to take place in last week’s White House Energy, Environment, and Conservation Roundtable hosted by the Green Building Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association.
Tony – a proud member of the Green Building Council since 2011 – took his seat beside other prominent Atlanta builders, representatives from the General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, Atlanta Housing Authority, and local government officials to talk about the future of sustainability, clean energy, conservation, and green jobs in our country. Topics discussed during the January 31 meeting included incentives, tax credits, code enforcement, and programs designed to encourage sustainability, clean energy, conservation, and all that goes into building an “America that will last.” The insights gleaned from this meeting will be shared with the White House.
“I was encouraged that we were able to put politics aside and discuss the future of our country from an eco-conscious standpoint,” said Tony. “I feel a real responsibility as a home builder to persuade other builders and home buyers to seek out earth-friendly, energy efficient for the good of their families and – ultimately – the good of our planet. That’s why I was honored to be invited to become a member of GAHB’s Green Building Council and to take part in this Roundtable. As a small businessman, I am extremely passionate about creating new jobs, particularly those in the green sector. It’s definitely heartening to think that the government is listening to what my colleagues and I have to say.”
While the meeting may have come to a close, Tony and his fellow council members were assured that this is just the beginning of the conversation. In the future, the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) will be contacting participants of the Roundtable to take part in conference calls and dialogues covering a wide range of topics pertaining to energy, the environment and conservation.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Homestoday! 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 Facebook, follow 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.
The launch and designation of the Georgia Redevelopment Foundation as a 501(c)3 Public Charity are among Highlight Homes' proudest moments of 2011.Highlight Homes Celebrates Another Great Year Filled with Wonderful Clients and Terrific News
As 2011 comes to a close, we reflect on all of the exciting changes that took place this year and the number of new friends we’ve made through our work at Highlight Homes. In February, we unveiled our virtual project portfolio and broke ground on Daniel Payne Legacy Village, an exciting Live-Work-Play-Pray mixed-use community in Birmingham, Alabama. By the Spring, we received the top honor of becoming National Kitchen and Bath Association-Certified and tackled our company’s first commercial renovation. By the Fall, we became a Brand Mortgage-sanctioned Remodeling and Repair Partner, and our founder and company principal – Tony Pourhassan – was elected to the Green Building Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Before the year was over, we produced our first renovation video, Highlight Homes had won a Gold OBIE Award for the Best Kitchen Remodeling Under $75,000, and we received the very best news of all – the charitable affiliate for Highlight Homes, The Georgia Redevelopment Foundation, was designated a 501(c)3 Public Charity.
With all of the positive things that happened for our family-owned-and-operated small business, we are keenly aware of all of the bad that happened that affected the lives of families throughout the South. Through our efforts with the Georgia Redevelopment Foundation, we were able to rush to those in need following the devastating tornadoes that struck Georgia and Alabama in April 2011 and logged hundreds of man hours in an attempt to help them rebuild their homes and their lives. Our hearts and prays continue to go out to the families of those who lost their lives during those terrible storms. We are also saddened by the fact that we were unable to do more following the tragic historic flooding in Minot, North Dakota. But with every cloud, there is a silver lining. With our new 501(c)3 designation, we can now apply for grants and accept tax-deductible donation so that in the event another disaster strikes – we will be ready to help! Through our efforts with the Georgia Redevelopment Foundation, we also hope to assist senior citizens and house-bound homeowners who cannot afford home repairs with basic home maintenance at no cost to the homeowner.
Before the sun sets on 2011, we want you to know that we are so grateful to all of our wonderful clients, friends and supporters. All of the things we’ve been able to do and accomplish over the past year wouldn’t have been possible without your encouragement and belief in our abilities. From the Highlight Homes family to yours, we wish you a very Happy and Safe New Year. May 2012 hold much promise and many pleasant surprises for us all!
If you or someone you know needs the assistance of the Georgia Redevelopment Foundation, please contact Tony Pourhassan by phone at 678-873-9234 or via e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to help offset costs of future events, we welcome your calls or e-mails to the number/address listed above. The Georgia Redevelopment is also seeking strategic partnerships with individual investors, construction vendors, and corporations who wish to form an alliance and help Southern homeowners rebuild their lives, one brick at a time. Thank you in advance for your support of this worthy cause!
