Less is not always more. Sometimes, less is… well, less. As the holidays approach and the rooms of your home are filled to overflowing with house guests, you may begin to notice that your house is a little more cramped than you realized. Once the Christmas tree has been taken to the chipper, the decorations have all gone back into storage, and the holiday visitors have all waved goodbye – take a good look around to determine if your home is the right size and shape for your family. If the answer is no, a well-designed, beautifully constructed room addition might be in order in 2012.
Highlight Homes offers a unique advantage to its room addition clients. Thanks to our solid understanding of architecture and structural engineering, we can imagine possibilities that many homeowners may not have considered. Based upon your family’s individual needs, we can shift your existing layout to maximize the flow of your home to accommodate a new living space. While we can take your vision to new heights with our design expertise and quality construction, every project begins with your inspiration. Rather than approaching the project from the perspective of solely meeting a “need” – basically, to increase the size of the interior of your home – instead change the way you view this project to the equally important angle of meeting a “want”. In other words, what do you want this room addition to BE?
Room Addition Ideas:
Mudroom – if you have a particular fondness for gardening, the addition of a sprawling mudroom – complete with lots of windows for light, built-in planter’s bench, wet sink, plenty of cabinets for storage, and mud friendly floors – might be the perfect addition to your home.
Sunroom – if you desire a four-season space that allows you to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, no matter the temperature outside – a sunroom could add a great deal of enjoyment to your home and makes a great space for relaxing with a good book or entertaining guests.
Playroom – if you have young children in the home, a playroom is an absolute necessity. Move the kids from the guest room and into a colorful space of their very own. Playrooms can be designed with lots of storage and kid-friendly flooring for easy clean-up, as well as a one-of-a-kind play fort in the corner. The kids in the neighborhood will consider your home the coolest hangout in town.
Pool cabana – if you have a pool in the backyard, a room addition that incorporates a pool cabana theme could be a fun and functional spin on the traditional sunroom. Flooring that won’t become warped by wet feet, decorative windows overlooking the pool, and a small dressing chamber for slipping out of swimsuits makes the transition to and from the outdoors relatively seamless – protecting the remaining interior of your home.
Home Theater – carefully laid out and with a minimum of windows to let in light, a home theatre designed to accommodate movie lovers or sports enthusiasts has become an increasingly popular addition to homes in recent years.
Enclosed Terraceor Screened Porch – if your family enjoys spending time outdoors, an open-air addition surrounded by columns and roof overhead or completely enclosed by screens will extend your enjoyment to include peaceful, rainy days. Imagine the wonderful al fresco dinner parties you could host here, especially if you choose to incorporate a outdoor hearth!
Keeping Room – Speaking of hearths, a keeping room is typically added as an extension off of the kitchen area where the fireplace is the centerpiece. It’s a wonderful gathering space to catch up on the day’s events, play games, or relax in front of a roaring fire. Add a flat-screen over the hearth surrounded by cozy couches and it may well become your favorite room of the house.
These are just a handful of ideas to help you get started. And we haven’t even covered craft studio, in-law suite, or man cave – not to mention any incredible concepts you may dream up on your own. We can’t WAIT to hear what you plan to do with your room addition, and most importantly, we can’t WAIT to make your vision a reality. With more and more families making the choice to stay in their homes longer, a room addition is a wise and viable option to packing up and moving into a larger home. Getting started is as easy as contacting the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes TODAY. We can be reached by calling 678-873-9234, by e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or by filling out our convenient online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Whether your family celebrates Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Christmas – when gift-giving and special time spent with family are top of mind – Highlight Homes has the ideal gift solution. A well-planned and executed home renovation is the gift that keeps giving – long after the holiday decorations have gone into storage until next year and the Christmas tree has been put through the chipper.
At Highlight Homes, we understand that a kitchen can be the nerve center of the home – a place where so much more than a sack lunch is prepared and an evening meal is shared. A den may be the family game room, a bathroom may be the resident star’s dressing room, and spaces like a basement or expansive backyard hold endless possibilities. That’s why we don’t just build custom homes and renovate rooms – we create unique living spaces where you and your family can make memories together for years to come.
Imagine the look on his face when he unrolls the blueprints for the Man Cave of his dreams, or the smile on her face when she sees the rendering of that room addition and deck she’s always wanted for hosting an endless array of gatherings with friends during the spring and summer. You can do it, and Highlight Homes can help! If you feel a home renovation – large or small – might be the perfect gift to slip into your family’s stocking this year, contact Highlight Homes’ team of designers and builders to pull together a project for your home that will make your family’s 2012 one of the most exciting and fulfilling years to date. We can be reached by calling 678-873-9234, by e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or by filling out our convenient online contact form.
HURRY!!! Time is Running Out for Highlight Homes’ special promotion for the month of December! Sign a contract with us before December 31, 2011, and your name will be entered in a random drawing for a chance to win an Apple iPad 2!
From the Highlight Homes’ Family to Yours – We Wish You a Very Happy Holiday Season!
Credits: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1943) Lyrics by Hugh Martin, Music by Ralph Blane
Newest Highlight Homes’ Video Features Award-Winning Kitchen Remodel
Highlight Homes is pleased to release its latest video showcasing the kitchen remodel that brought home the Gold OBIE Award during this year’s Greater Atlanta Home Builder Association ceremony. The short film features all of the elements that went into the overall renovation of what is perhaps one of our favorite renovations to date involving a 1970’s Colonial home in the highly esteemed Newnan Pines Country Club in Newnan, Georgia. The original vision consisted of an update to the small, outdated galley kitchen and a deck extension so the homeowners could enjoy clearer views of the golf course. The family who owns the home hoped to create both interior and exterior living spaces where they could easily entertain family and friends. The design-build team at Highlight Homes worked tirelessly to ensure that the homeowners’ vision was met and paid particular attention to the fact that old blended in with the new so the changes appeared seamless. Structural engineering played a major role as square feet were added to the home and the layout was reconfigured for flow. All told, the renovation involved a complete kitchen remodel, room addition, and deck addition PLUS transformations of the living room, dining room, half bath and laundry. The crown jewel of the kitchen remodel – something that really sets it apart and makes it one-of-a-kind (ultimately catching the eyes of the OBIE judges) – is the tile mosaic over the stovetop. It is hand-painted and manufactured by the oldest tile company in Jerusalem. Highlight Homes not only ordered and installed it, but offered it to the family as a thank you for their business. In the end, the full remodel only took seven weeks to complete, and the clients were so elated that they have recommended Highlight Homes to a number of their friends and neighbors.
If you wish to create a similar transformation at your own home, contact the talented team of professionals at Highlight Homes TODAY for your no obligation consultation by calling 678-873-9234 or e-mailing a request to info@highlighthomesga.com. To stay up-to-date on all of the latest Highlight Homes news including special offers and upcoming projects, join the conversation on our Facebook and Twitter pages, or sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter, Highlight Homes Herald. On the go? Check out Highlight Homes’ textsite on your smartphone or mobile device by texting “Builder” to 99699.
HURRY!!! Highlight Homes is running a special promotion for the month of December! Sign a contract with us before December 31, 2011, and your name will be entered in a random drawing for a chance to win an iPad 2!
The Guerrisi Renovation is the first of many videos to come from the design/build team at Highlight Homes.Atlanta-based Custom Construction Company Showcases a Recent Kitchen Remodel
In our continuing efforts to reach our core audience and clearly demonstrate what the professional designers and builders at Highlight Homes is capable of, we have produced our very first video for launch in the digital arena. We turn the spotlight on a renovation project we completed in 2009 that consisted of a kitchen renovation, as well as key changes to the dining and living room spaces. The video outlines the existing space, and then slowly walks the viewer through all of the subsequent steps including demolition, electrical work, drywall, ceiling and trim work, paint, cabinets, granite countertops, and decorative touches.
The story behind the renovation is one we are very proud of, and was featured in an issue of Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine. Joe and Renee Guerrisi began the journey to renovate their 1950’s bungalow in late 2008. The couple had tried working with another builder prior to discovering Highlight Homes, but was never able to see eye-to-eye on a project to fit their budget or a design to fit their vision. They wished to open up the space while bringing the overall look of the interior of the home up-to-date. The Guerrisi’s called upon Highlight Homes to redesign the project – the blueprints exceeded their every expectation. Our original design called for the addition of two wings to the home and the conversion of their current carport to a three-car garage.
Unfortunately, there were a few obstacles to overcome along the way. The Guerrisi’s were on another journey – their careers took them out of the country to live abroad in Singapore the majority of the year – only to return to the States for a few days every other month. This made it necessary for many design/materials approvals and communications to be made via internet. In addition, due to the timing of the project in relation to the volatility of the banking and housing industries – the couple hit a roadblock with regard to securing a loan for an addition to their existing home. This led us back to the drawing board to find innovative ways to maximize the space they already had.
From the moment the new design was approved, time was of the essence. The couple was moving back to the United States permanently, and wished to have their home complete in time for their arrival – that left less than two months to gut, rewire, install new plumbing, reconfigure HVAC, and completely alter certain structural components of the home. Highlight Homes’ experienced team worked swiftly to transform the Guerrisi’s home by knocking out two walls, removing two windows, eliminating a door and creatively resealing the space by matching the old brick on the exterior of home. We then added trays to the dining and living rooms, and installed new insulation and drywall. With the kitchen at the heart of the home, special care was given to the selection and installation of cabinetry, countertops, and finally appliances. The project was completed on time and within budget, and the Guerrisi’s had their “Home Sweet Home” ready in time for their return in early September 2009. They couldn’t have been happier with the results and later contracted with Highlight Homes again the following year to convert their carport to a garage!
Be on the lookout for new videos of some of Highlight Homes’ most exciting renovations to date. YOUR home could be the next star of the show! Call us TODAY at 678-873-9234 for a no-obligation consultation to discuss your next home improvement project with one of our team members. Know someone else who’s considering a home renovation? Be sure to tell them about us. At Highlight Homes, we don’t just construct houses and renovate rooms. We create unique living spaces where you and your family will make memories together for years to come!
HURRY!!! Highlight Homes is running a special promotion for the month of December! Sign a contract with us before December 31, 2011, and your name will be entered in a random drawing for a chance to win an iPad 2!
As we prepare for a holiday devoted to giving thanks for our blessings, Highlight Homes wants you to know that we are thankful for you. From the vendors and clients we have had the pleasure of working with over the past few years, to the future friends and customers we have yet to meet – it is you who makes what we do so rewarding. This year has been filled with many exciting changes. We completed our first commercial renovation to rave reviews at Red Oak Animal Hospital in College Park. We formed strong alliances with Brand Mortgage, General Steel Corporation, and Keller Williams Group in Peachtree City – all of which spell great promise for the future of Highlight Homes. Our fearless leader – Tony Pourhassan – was nominated to the Board of Directors of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s Green Building Council, and our renovations division brought home the Gold OBIE Award for Best Kitchen Renovation Under $75,000. Our parent company, TyCam Development broke ground on an exciting master-planned mixed-use “live, work, play, pray” community in Birmingham, Alabama called Daniel Payne Legacy Village. It has truly been a year filled with blessings.
At the same time, we are reminded of those who witnessed great tragedy during the year. We answered the call to help those in need in Georgia and Alabama following the line of tornadoes that struck in late April. Our hearts go out to those in Joplin, Missouri and Minot, North Dakota who lost their homes and – even worse – loved ones as a result of natural disasters. We have made great strides in the formation of a non-profit organization called the Georgia Redevelopment Foundation in hopes of being able to answer even more calls for need in the near future. We give thanks that we are afforded the time, talent and resources to those who so desperately need our aid.
One of the best ways you can give thanks in return is to help spread the word about Highlight Homes and to take part in observing “Small Business Saturday” on November 26. Highlight Homes is a family-owned-and-operated small business based in Tyrone, Georgia that serves the entire metro Atlanta area and surrounding suburbs. Our design-build firm specializes in custom home construction, as well as commercial and residential renovations. Our renovation services include:
Whole Home Restorations
Sunrooms & Additions
Basement Finishing
Luxury Kitchen Renovations
Lavish Bathroom Remodels
Flooring – Hardwood/Tile/Carpet
Window & Door Installation
Outdoor Living Spaces
Decks & Carport Conversions
Roofing & General Home Maintenance
And so much more….
The best part is… by contracting with Highlight Homes before December 31, 2011 – you could be giving thanks for a NEW iPad 2 in the New Year! Simply sign a contract for your upcoming project with Highlight Homes LLC before the deadline, and your name will by entered into our drawing for an Apple IPad 2 to be given away on 1/6/2012. Call us TODAY for your no-obligation consultation at 678.873.9234, and visit us online at www.HighlightHomesGA.com to learn more about our company and our wide range of services.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE HIGHLIGHT HOMES FAMILY TO YOURS!
Company Principal Tony Pourhassan and Construction Superintendent Chris Gilliam pose with the newest addition to their trophy case - the Gold OBIE for Best Kitchen Remodeling.Atlanta-based Custom Construction and Remodeling Firm Awarded the Gold OBIE by the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association for Best Kitchen Remodeling Under $75,000
Highlight Homes was honored to be among the boldest and brightest of the Atlanta residential development, construction, and remodeling industries at the 31st Annual OBIE Award Ceremony on Saturday, November 12. The beautifully adorned ballroom at Cobb Galleria Centre was filled with some of the South’s most gifted craftsmen, designers, and visionaries all there to celebrate one another and their individual crafts. Company Principal Tony Pourhassan and Construction Superintendent Chris Gilliam were all smiles when it was announced that Highlight Homes had won the Gold in the Kitchen Remodeling under $75,000 category.
“It’s extremely rewarding and humbling to have your work recognized and heralded in this way by a panel of your peers,” says Tony. “When the housing market fell into a freefall a few years ago, we made the decision to diversify and launch a renovation division based on all of the same principles of our custom home construction business – commitment to quality, dedication to our clients, and devotion to Earth-friendly practices. This award is a tangible signal to us that we are definitely doing something right. We’re extremely thankful to the Greater Atlanta Home Builder Association for this recognition.”
The project that was submitted for consideration was the kitchen of a 1970’s Colonial home in the highly esteemed Newnan Pines Country Club in Newnan, Georgia. The original vision involved an update of the small, outdated galley kitchen in hopes of creating an inviting interior living space where the homeowners could easily entertain family and friends. Tony and the rest of the design-build team worked tirelessly to ensure that the homeowners’ vision was met and paid particular attention to the fact that old blended in with the new so the changes appeared seamless. Structural engineering played a major role as square feet were added to the home and the layout was reconfigured for flow. All told, the renovation involved a complete kitchen remodel, room addition, and deck addition PLUS transformations of the living room, dining room, half bath and laundry. The crown jewel of the kitchen remodel – something that really sets it apart and makes it one-of-a-kind – is the tile mosaic over the stovetop. It is hand painted and manufactured by the oldest tile company in Jerusalem. Highlight Homes not only ordered and installed it, but offered it to the family as a thank you for their business. In the end, the full remodel only took seven weeks to complete, and the clients were so elated that they have recommended Highlight Homes to a number of their friends and neighbors.
“This was perhaps one of our favorite renovations to date,” explains Tony. “We share this award with the family who welcomed us into their home and trusted us so completely with their renovation. As wonderful as this OBIE Award is, the true reward comes from knowing that you have transformed someone’s home beyond their wildest dreams. Nothing beats tears of joy and a show of true gratitude from a homeowner who is seeing the completed work for the first time.”
Highlight Homes was also the recipient of the 2008 OBIE Award for Best Interior for their Cottages at Stillwood development, and our sister development company, Vesmont, Inc. won Best Community Logo for its Terrasol community. The OBIE Awards first made their debut in 1980 and have grown since to now feature more than 100 building, remodeling, marketing and personal achievement categories. The OBIE Awards, named after the obelisk shape of the actual award given, are the premier awards of Atlanta’s residential building industry. Highlight Homes is looking forward to another big win next year. Just think! YOUR kitchen, bath, or whole home could be our winning entry!
Considering a home renovation? Why not hire an award-winning company? Highlight Homes welcomes the chance to work with you in making your “home sweet home” a little sweeter. Call us TODAY at 678-873-9234 to schedule your FREE consultation. Sign a contract with Highlight Homes before December 31, 2011 and your name will be automatically entered into our drawing for a chance to win an Apple iPad 2*!
Image credit: Photogen.comAtlanta-Based Custom Construction and Renovation Company Places Emphasis on Continuing Education
When considering the solid reputation Highlight Homes has built with regard to our high-end quality craftsmanship, special attention to luxury details, and unsurpassed levels of customer service, I suppose you could say that we’ve got “class.” However, we didn’t get to the premier level we’ve ascended to merely by luck and certainly not by accident. We achieved this standing through my insistence on placing a major emphasis on continuing education.
I regularly schedule classes for myself and my team to learn the latest technology, information, and skills so we can maintain a competitive edge in our industry and pass what we’ve learned along to our clients through the most up-to-date practices out there. We continually strive for new certifications, take time to learn about new products from our vendor partners, and work hard to achieve new skills so we can offer the very best goods and services to each and every one of our clients.
Our most recent class involved door installations with our local vendor, Boise Cascade in Auburn, Georgia. Door replacements are a terrific way to enhance the interior and exterior of your home, while properly installed doors could help you save on energy costs. The very same can be said of window replacements. Aside from window and door installations, Highlight Homes also offers custom home construction, kitchen and bath remodels, basement finishing, room additions, decks & patios, whole home renovations, and so much more. For your no-obligation phone consultation, feel free to call me today at 678-873-9234. I’ll be happy to discuss your needs and schedule an on-site walk-through with you. If I don’t pick up, it’s probably because I’m in another class – so please leave a message or e-mail me at info@highlighthomesga.com.
It could easily be said of Highlight Homes’ founder and principal, Tony Pourhassan, that he’s one of those “outdoorsy” types. Not one to sit idly by, if he’s not working – chances are you can find him trekking through the woods or floating on a lake with a line in the water. Besides a fishing cap, Tony has worn many hats – designer, builder, architect, structural engineer, renovator, and developer. It’s never lost on Tony that the materials his company uses to build – including the very framework with which he bases his homes or home additions – are among some of the Earth’s most precious natural resources. With his combined love of building and renovating fine homes and his dedication to doing his part to protect the environment, Tony is perhaps most proud of Highlight Homes’ distinction as a Green Builder.
In addition to the great emphasis Tony’s development company – Vesmont – has placed on developing unique communities that boast an abundance of beautiful Green Space, Highlight Homes also devotes a terrific amount of energy to designing and building both homes and home additions that reduce energy consumption and material waste. Tony and his team place products that aid in less energy consumption in every home they build and all construction debris is disposed of through recycling. Tony’s dedication to developing his company’s Earth-friendly initiatives and carefully following Green Building guidelines are an important piece of what sets Highlight Homes apart from other Atlanta builders. In order to become a certified Green Builder, certain criteria must be met and recognized by third-party certification programs such as Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building Program, Energy Star and Earth Craft House. Highlight Homes has achieved all of these.
It should come as no surprise that Tony was recently nominated and elected to the Board of Directors for the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s Green Building Council. He is honored to be a part of this team of eco-conscious residential construction professionals devoted to providing and promoting green certification programs and educational opportunities for its members and the public. The Green Building Council provides a forum for professionals in the industry to encourage green home standards and best practices, to network with others in the industry, and to take a proactive role as leaders in the green housing industry.
“It’s a terrific opportunity to explore future eco-friendly possibilities for the housing industry in Atlanta,” explains Tony. “I am humbled to have been chosen and look forward to working with a great group of like-minded individuals who are among the best in our industry. My thanks go out to the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association for creating this council – which will play a significant role in the future of home-building in the South, and to those who nominated and elected me to serve.”
Georgia Builder and Renovator Participates in “Welcome Home” Campaign
Image Credit: BMK Innovations
Over the course of the last decade, Highlight Homes has built a solid reputation in Atlanta for our dedication to excellence in custom home construction and quality home renovations. We are often called upon by homeowners who wish to build room additions, create new living spaces, or update the interior of their current home. Some of our most discerning clients will look to us to design and construct the custom home of their dreams.
Like many other businesses across the nation, we’ve witnessed undeniable changes to our industry in response to a sluggish economy. We at Highlight Homes have become very good at rolling with these changes. One of the more prominent trends is the number of foreclosure properties on the market. On a positive note about this sad trend, homebuyers are able to purchase incredible properties at bargain basis prices. Unfortunately, some of these homes may have fallen into a state of disrepair before foreclosure, and many new homeowners wish to make their new home uniquely their own. That’s where we come in. Through well-planned, affordable renovations and repairs, their new house can become something they can call “home sweet home” in no time.
That’s why Highlight Homes has elected to take part in the “Welcome Home” Campaign. At the heart of this campaign is a “welcome home” folder filled with important information for the new homeowner – including contact information for Highlight Homes and a list of our services (see inset). These folders will be distributed to real estate office all over Atlanta. We look forward to working with the homeowners who contact us to initiate kitchen and bath renovations, finish their basement, build a deck, add a sunroom, and a wealth of other home improvements and repairs to their new home. If you fall into this category or you simply feel you’re ready for a change at your current home, 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, 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.
At Highlight Homes, we’re all about going green! A team of serious outdoor lovers, we infuse eco-friendly elements into every one of our designs – from a home renovation to the construction of a custom home. Here are a handful of fun and simple ways you can incorporate environmentally-conscious components into your Halloween décor leading up to the big day on October 31st.
Gather Your Own Harvest – In addition to the traditional pumpkin, use natural Fall items such as varying sizes, shapes and colors of gourds, dried corn stalks, bales of hay, and brightly colored fall leaves you find in your yard or on an afternoon stroll through the neighborhood. The pumpkins, gourds, bales of hay, and corn stalks can be purchased at a local farmers market – offering the added plus of supporting the American farmer. In the ultimate act of recycling, many of these items will still look terrific when you greet your guests for Thanksgiving dinner in November. Afterward, you can compost everything and return much-needed nutrients to your soil in time for the long winter months.
Add a Sprinkling of Spooky – By incorporating touches of Spanish Moss both inside and outside your home, you will be infusing the same air of mystery and magic that it lends to ancient oaks in historic Southern towns like Savannah and New Orleans. It will look terrific draping off of your front porch banisters or hanging from the mantle over your fireplace. You might even add a little to a few of the trees in your yard.
Light the Night – Natural candles made from beeswax, soy or palm wax can cast an eerie glow from the windows of your home. Best part is, they are non-toxic and burn clean – rather than polluting the air of your home’s interior like traditional utility paraffin wax candles.
Grow a Gruesome Garden – Transform some old work clothes, garden gloves, and the head of a mop into a homegrown scarecrow. He’ll look right at home planted in your garden next to the new chrysanthemums in a rainbow of fall colors.
We wish you and your family a Happy and Safe Halloween!
“This was perhaps one of our favorite renovations to date,” explains Tony. “We share this award with the family who welcomed us into their home and trusted us so completely with their renovation. As wonderful as this OBIE Award is, the true reward comes from knowing that you have transformed someone’s home beyond their wildest dreams. Nothing beats tears of joy and a show of true gratitude from a homeowner who is seeing the completed work for the first time.”
