Highlight Homes

Top Paint Experts Weigh in on This Year’s Hottest Color Trends

According to reports late last year from Pantone, the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, THE hottest color for 2010 is turquoise.  Believed by many cultures to be a talisman color – inspired by the sea and sky, it’s a shade associated with deep compassion, healing, faith and truth.  Not only is it a soothing color to add to one to all four walls of a room, it’s a terrific shade to add as a SPLASH of color through throw pillows, lamps and other décor accessories. Pantone leads the way for builders, painters, interior designers, and fashion designers all over the world. And – while most paint companies have taken cues from Pantone regarding color trends for 45 years, some are setting a few trends of their own.

Benjamin Moore’s hottest color for 2010 is Cedar Green (2034-40)– a “vibe filled green that offers flexibility in design. “ It’s a cool color that blends well with navy blues, buttery yellows and cottony whites. Not only is Green all the rage in relation to environmental concerns – it is also from a color family that promotes relaxation and balance because it is in the middle of the visible spectrum of light.  For more information about Benjamin Moore Paints and their latest color palettes, visit them online atwww.benjaminmoore.com.  Check out their new Personal Color Viewer, where you can upload pictures of your home’s interior and exterior – and use a virtual paint brush to try out colors from Benjamin Moore’s collections before you ever lay down a dropcloth.

Sherwin Williams developed their 2010 Color Forecast by looking to “hues of the past to paint their way into the future” with their inspired Rooted, Treasured, Simplified and Refreshed Collections – many with cool shades of blue and green, bold reds, corals and golds, and tried-n-true neutrals. To view Sherwin Williams newest color collections online, visitwww.sherwinwilliams.com. They also feature an online color visualizer, as well as earth-friendly paints with their “Greensure” designation – offering maximum performance, long-term durability and the highest indoor air quality ratings.

Duron  Paints & Wallcoverings – the “Pros Choice” since 1949 – also looks to the past (the Old South, to be exact) for the latest color trends with its Historic Collection Palettes, including The Carolina Lowcountry Collection and Colors of Historic Charleston. Blues and greens again play a vital role in these palettes, with a supporting cast of warm corals and shades of neutral. For more information and to view the company’s latest color palettes, visit www.duron.com.

Behr suggests you use color to create an ambience and set a mood in any room. Cool colors can impart a calm, serene effect while warm colors can invigorate and energize. Soft shades of green and blue are perfect for a room intended for peace and relaxation – such as bedrooms and bathrooms, while bold shades of  yellow or orange can be uplifting and lively – perfect for kitchens or family rooms. Neutrals, such as a harmonious and peaceful taupe, can add a sense of sophistication and style to any home. For more information or to visualize your colors virtually with ColorSmart, visitwww.behr.com.

Modifying your paint color is perhaps one of the easiest and least expensive ways to change up the look of the interior and exterior of your home. When undergoing a home renovation, it’s an element that should receive much attention – as color can often help to pull all of the pieces of the puzzle together beautifully. Highlight Home Restoration designates Sherwin William’s Copper Wire (7707) as OUR number one pick for color this year. It’s reminiscent of last year’s warm terracotta orange called Clay Pot, which we used with great success in a kitchen remodel. Orange is a color that adds life and vibrancy to a room, lifts the spirits of the all who enter and blends well with natural elements like household plants, hardwood floors, granite countertops, and wood cabinetry. To begin selecting your color palette and get started on your Atlanta home renovation for 2010, call Highlight Home Restoration’s talented team of experts at 678.873.9234, e-mail us atinfo@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our online contact form.

Sources:

Color of the Year 2010 – Living in Color with Sonu –http://livingincolorwithsonu.typepad.com/sonu_blog/2010/02/color-of-the-year-2010.html

2010 Color Forecast http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/paint_colors/paint_color_trends/2010/

Duron’s Color System http://www.duron.com/do-it-yourselfers/color/color_palettes.asp

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010: PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoisehttp://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20706&ca=10

Palettes that Please http://www.behr.com/dsm-ext/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=6bf7a8c16b286110VgnVCM1000006b0910acRCRD&vgnextf

The Truth About Adding a Room to Your Home (and Why It’s Simpler Than You Think!)

For centuries, the “family home” was a place where a family would live for decades at a time. Earlier THIS century, the typical planned length of home ownership for a single property in the United States was just one decade. A rocky economy and unstable housing market have led many families to get back to basics and examine their needs versus wants, particularly in relation to whether or not to move. As more and more people make the choice to stay in their current home rather than make the move to shiny new digs in the same town – the need for renovations has been on a steady climb. While some choose simple upgrades to their kitchens, bathrooms, or flooring – many are electing to GROW their space in order to better meet the needs of their growing family. Unless you have a basement to finish, growing your space may well require a room addition. The addition of an entirely new room to a home may seem a daunting task to some, but with the help of a qualified home builder/renovator – it  can become the best “move” you’ve ever made.

• Determine the Need: Would your family benefit from a new home office, an additional bedroom/bathroom, or a family room? Figure out what might be the BEST use of new space for all the members of the family. Where do you feel this addition might go? Will this be a vertical addition (adding space to the top of your home – for instance, finishing/increasing the size of your attic space) or a horizontal addition (adding space to the main level of your home)?

  

• Establish a Budget/Explore Loan Options: A simple addition such as a sunroom or screened in patio can be an economical way to increase your living space, while a major enclosed room addition will be a bit more costly. By determining the need and the budget early on, this will aid you greatly once you sit down with an architect and ultimately a builder.
• Make a Wish List and Scrapbook: Comb through magazines and cut out pictures that best illustrate the look and features you want. Snap photos of friends’ homes that contain elements that you’d like to incorporate in your own home. Walk through new construction homes and take pictures of features that stand out to you. Jot down a list of items/features/benefits that you hope to have in your room addition. Put all of these things together so that you will have them on hand when it’s time to meet with your architect and builder. By doing so, you will give them insight to YOUR vision of the project and shed light on your specific tastes and sense of style.

  

• Contact a Qualified Structural Engineer/Architect: By bringing on a qualified structural engineer and/or architect early on in the process, you will be made aware of the limits and potential scope of your project. They can design a room addition to complement the style and structure of your home, and – most importantly – will make sure it is structurally sound and meets the requirements of state and local laws.
• Contact a Qualified Renovator/Builder: If you do your homework, you may be able to find a good design/build renovator or builder – someone who can take care of these last two steps for you. Make certain that they are licensed, registered and insured – and that they will take care of obtaining all of the necessary permits for you. Highlight Home Restoration offers a structural engineer, an architect, a master renovator AND builder all in one.

  

• Be Realistic About the Commitment: While just about anyone who’s ever added a room to your home will tell you it’s well worth the effort, they may also tell stories about the encroachment on their lives while the renovation is taking place. To add a room to an existing home, it is necessary to have a slew of contractors and inspectors at your home at any given time. Set limits with your builder regarding construction times that work best with your family’s schedule. Be prepared to live with a fine layer of sawdust on everything for a while. There may be days when you long for a return of your privacy – but in the end, you will be patting yourself on the back about what a great idea this was. When you consider the overall expense and commitment of selling your home and relocating, you could be saving yourself a great deal of money and hassle. Not only will it increase your living space and therefore your family’s enjoyment of the home – when and if you do decide to sell, it will increase the value of your home, as well!

When you’re ready to begin, Highlight Home Restoration is here to help! We’re with you every step of the way – from initial consultation, to the exciting design process, to the acquisition of permits and materials, all the way through the construction phase. We listen carefully to your needs and wants, and have a solid reputation for exceeding expectations. We won’t just add a room to your home, we will create an entirely new living space where you and your family will make memories together for years to come. We adhere to both budget and schedule – we recently completed a room addition, deck addition and kitchen remodel in just SEVEN WEEKS!

To get started, simply call us at 678-873-9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to meeting with you and your family while we explore ways to give you room to GROW!

Highlight Home Restoration’s Guide To Changing the Look of the Heart of YOUR Home

Highlight Home Restoration, the design-build renovation division of Highlight Homes, recently completed a major overhaul project in Newnan, Georgia that involved revamping a 1970’s Galley Kitchen to something more open, fresh and exciting. The homeowners were so excited by the completely new look of their home’s interior that we wish to share a little bit about what we learned along the way.

1) Au Natural – Perhaps the fastest growing trend in our eco-friendly world is a major leaning toward the use of natural materials in both construction and design.  Wood cabinetry, stone tiles, and granite countertops paired with real plants vs. artificial add to a warm and earthy feel to any kitchen environment.

2) Goodbye Linoleum, Hello Hardwood – The hottest trend in kitchen flooring is hardwood – it’s ageless, classic, and works in virtually every type of home and kitchen. PLUS, spills are a breeze to clean up!

3) Don’t Forget To Leave a Light On – Recessed Lights serve a great general purpose by lighting the room without distracting from the overall design, while a perfectly paired chandelier or handful of pendant lights can create an awesome focal point and enhance the room’s design.

4)  Sometimes You Just Need a Facelift – If your cabinets are still in great shape (and aren’t a shade of ’70’s avocado green), you may be able to get away with just a facelift there. You can either reface your cabinets by adding new doors or just add new fixturing (handles and drawer pulls) to update the look of your kitchen.

5) Love Those Wide Open Spaces – More and more homeowners seem to prefer wide open floor plans to a cozy little breakfast nook. A contractor with a focus on structural engineering can often find potential where you may not have thought to look – simply removing a wall can open up a whole new world of possibilities for your home’s layout.

6)  Make a Splash – A sometimes over-looked addition that can add an air of sophistication and depth to your kitchen is a tile backsplash. From a neutral combination to a colorful mosaic, a tile backsplash can bring character and enhance the decor of any kitchen design.

7)Don’t Take Your Countertops For Granite – Arguably the most popular choice for countertops these days, granite can also be one of the most expensive options. Either plan accordingly when establishing your budget, or make careful consideration of your options. Solid surface countertops, tile countertops, wood countertops and concrete countertops are all viable options at varying price points.

8) It’s a Steel! – Still wildly popular, stainless steel appliances have become increasingly more affordable. They can add an element of commercial kitchen atmosphere to make one feel like a true chef.

9)  Color My World – It’s true what they say – the kitchen IS the heart of the home. Whether you are an aspiring gourmet chef or a master of the microwave, kitchens are also gathering places – the parlors of the 21^st century. You better make sure you LOVE the color scheme. Neutral palettes continue to reign supreme, but you can add a splash of color with your accessories, glasses and plates. Warm colors like bold golds, oranges and reds are also rapidly gaining favor.

10) Get Organized – A growing number of homeowners are requesting built-in elements to aid them in the never-ending quest to get organized.  A well-place office nook, a custom-built pantry or an island with built-in wine rack may be all you need to put more order in your life.

11)  BONUS – Let’s Take This Outside!!! – Perhaps the HOTTEST trend in kitchens in recent years is the addition of an outdoor kitchen to your backyard oasis.  A built-in grill with counterspace, wetsink, storage area and fridge could dramatically increase the number of backyard barbecues hosted by YOU!

While some elements of a kitchen makeover can be tackled by the homeowners themselves, some things are still better left to professionals – i.e. knocking out walls, handling electrical wiring.  If you are considering a kitchen remodel, we encourage you to contact Highlight Home Restoration. Not only can we design the project according to your specifications, we can suggest additional changes that will add value to your home, acquire the necessary permits, and build your new kitchen on schedule and within budget. When you’re ready to get started on the exciting design phase of your kitchen remodel, call us at 678.873.9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our online contact form.

Company Principal and Founder Dishes to the AJC About The Art of Successfully Juggling Custom Building, Land Development and Master Renovating

During a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Highlight Homes’ Founder Tony Pourhassan discussed the fact that it takes a very special kind of builder to make the transition into home renovations.  Tony made the decision last year to take his land development and custom home construction company in a completely new direction by launching a renovations division – Highlight Home Restoration.  Since making the addition, word is spreading quickly about the company’s dedication to excellent customer service, fair bidding practices, attention to detail, commitment to quality and unending ability to “go the extra mile” with surprising touches and unsurpassed industry knowledge.  As the news gets out, Highlight Home Restoration is growing by leaps and bounds.

“I originally viewed the addition of a renovations division as a temporary measure – a means to survive Atlanta’s rocky housing market during a tough economy,” explains Tony. “It has grown beyond my wildest expectations, and I am truly enjoying getting back to my roots.  I get to work one-on-one with each of my clients.  I listen carefully to their wants and needs – then do my best to surpass their every expectation, on time and on budget. There’s nothing to describe the feeling of seeing their faces as the project unfolds and their vision is brought to light.  Many of them dream of a renovation for years before actually taking the leap, and I am honored that they choose my company to make it happen.”

To learn more about Highlight Homes, LLC and its NEW renovation division – Highlight Home Restoration, we invite you to visit our website at http://www.highlighthomesga.com.  If you’d like to read the full Atlanta Journal-Constitution article “Builders Working as Remodelers” by Michelle E. Shaw featuring further insights by Tony, click here. In the event that you are considering a home renovation project yourself, Highlight Home Restoration is here to help! We can tackle projects of varying sizes and scopes – including kitchen and bath remodeling, basement finishing, room additions, decks & patios, sunrooms, landscaping, and much more.  To discuss your project and request a consultation, contact Tony and his talented team of designers and contractors by calling 678-873-9234, by emailing your request to info@highlighthomesga.com or by filling out our online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Incorporating an Outdoor Hearth into Your Backyard Oasis

As Spring takes hold and the promise of warmer weather persists, the desire to entertain outside will grow stronger. Spring holds endless opportunities for family picnics, backyard barbeques, neighborhood gatherings and al fresco dinner parties. What better way to wrap up a perfect Spring day than by swapping tales by the glow of a roaring fire?  A stacked stone firepit or outdoor hearth can serve as a beautiful centerpiece to any backyard oasis. It can add an air of romance to your open air living space, while taking the chill off of those cool Spring and Summer nights AND increasing your home’s curb appeal. It will also prove a terrific place to roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories with the kids once Fall rolls back around.

You could elect to purchase a chiminea or fire bowl for your backyard, but if you want a thing of beauty – something lasting that could transform your outdoor living space into one of your favorite “rooms” of the house – you should call the talented team of designers and contractors at Highlight Home Restoration. We can design a fire element that is a perfect fit for both your yard and your family.  It can be as simple as a classic stacked stone firepit that borders your patio or as elaborate as an outdoor hearth with gas starter and mantle at the heart of your deck or terrace. Within days of calling Highlight Home Restoration, you could institute a NEW family tradition of evenings spent watching the firelight under a canopy of stars in place of evenings spent just watching TV. Getting started is easy!  Just call us TODAY at 678-873-9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com or click HERE to fill out our online contact form! We look forward to helping you and your family get “fired up” this Spring!

Highlight Home’s Renovation Division Proudly Joins the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s List of Lead-Safe Certified Firms

Did You Know:

*  Homes, Condominiums and Apartments Built Before 1978 Often Have Paint that is Lead-Based?

* Lead Can Enter Your Body When You Inhale or Swallow Lead Dust, or When You Eat Soil or Paint Chips Containing Lead?

* Lead Exposure is Particularly Dangerous to Infants and Young Children?  It could potentially harm a baby EVEN BEFORE IT’S BORN. In fact, lead paint poisoning affects over one million children today. Adverse health effects include learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and speech delays – and could result in slowed growth, hearing problems, even damage to the brain and nervous system.

* Even Adults Who Are Exposed to Lead Can Experience Reproductive Issues, Hypertension/High Blood Pressure, Nerve Disorders, Muscle & Joint Pain, and Memory & Concentration Problems?

*  Improper Removal of Lead-based Paint Can Increase the Danger to You and Your Family?

On April 22, 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe work practices aimed at preventing lead poisoning in children. As of April 22, 2010, federal law now requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb more than six square feet of paint in homes, childcare facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and trained to follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.  To become a certified renovator, individuals are required to take eight hours of training, of which two hours must be hands-on training, to become certified. This training is good for five years, at which time the certification must be renewed.

Highlight Homes Principal, Tony Pourhassan and Superintendent, Chris Gilliam recently completed their training and certification through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – making Highlight Home Restoration a Lead-Safe Certified Firm.  In the event that you and your family live in a home that was built prior to 1978 and wish to complete a home renovation, we encourage you to contact Highlight Home Restoration or a fellow Lead-Safe Certified Firm to handle the project for you. Highlight Home Restoration will follow all the EPA’s guidelines and protection measures to safeguard your family’s health.  To learn more about the dangers of lead poisoning and the facts behind the mandate, read our blog “Get the Lead Out” or visit the EPA’s Lead Paint Webpage.  When you’re ready to get started on your next renovation project, call Highlight Home Restoration’s professional team of contractors and renovators at 678-873-9234, fill out our online contact form, or e-mail your request to info@highlighthomesga.com.  We are truly honored that you would consider us to protect the well-being of your family while we create unique living spaces where you and your family will make memories together for years to come!

Atlanta Builder Announces

Use of mobilezen^sm for

Mobile Information Delivery

To stay on top in this ever-changing, technology driven planet of ours – all while “keeping it green” and providing a clear, concise message about WHO we are and WHAT we do – Georgia builder Highlight Homes, LLC has officially gone mobile with its own mobilezen^sm TextSite^sm. If you’re scratching your head wondering what that means exactly – a mobile TextSite^sm is basically a “digital business card” conveniently accessible by prospective clients and future associates; one that is comprehensive, immediate and helps eliminate the use of paper. Atlanta-based company mobilezen, Inc. – a Web-based service that allows individuals and businesses to communicate information direct to mobile phones via text messaging and mobile web – is quickly gaining traction as one of the country’s leading mobile information providers. Highlight Homes is proud to join forces with them as we forge ahead together into this brave new digital age. By texting any one of our keywords, such as “HighlightHomes” or “HomeRenovation”, to mobilezen’s exclusively licensed number 99699 – a link to our mobile TextSite^sm will be sent to your cell phone or mobile device within moments*. Our TextSite^sm provides you with Highlight Home’s contact information, our company’s philosophy, our services, photos of our work and important links – all right there in the palm of your hand. We recognize the fact that – with nearly 1.5 TRILLION text messages sent in 2009 alone – this is a growing trend and could very well represent the wave of the future. To catch a sneak peek of Highlight Home’s NEW mobile TextSite^sm, CLICK HERE or text “HighlightHomes” to 99699. To learn more about mobilezen, Inc. and ways that they could help YOUR business enter the digital age, visit www.mobilezen.com.

While continually seeking new ways to get our message out in this busy world of ours, we remain committed to providing only the best in customer service and good old-fashioned quality construction to each and every one of our clients. While blogs, e-newsletters, websites and TextSites are all valuable tools in disseminating information about our company, you will still find a warm and welcoming voice at the other end of the phone line whenever you call us with a question or to request a bid for an upcoming renovation project. If you prefer conventional human contact over digital messaging, we invite you to call us at 678-873-9234 TODAY!

Ten Terrific Reasons to Add a Sunroom to Your Home

With the arrival of Spring to the South comes the inevitable return of that fine, layer of yellow dust that covers our cars and makes us sniffle – POLLEN.  What if there was a way to enjoy the Great Outdoors without the worry of your allergies going completely haywire? A simple solution that allows homeowners to feel like one with nature without stepping foot outside is by adding a sunroom to their existing home. Aside from the benefit of avoiding yet another agonizing sneeze attack, Highlight Home Restoration has compiled the following list of “Ten Terrific Reasons to Add a Sunroom to YOUR Home”:

1) Sunrooms Add Value – More and more homeowners are making the decision to stay in their current home longer and renovate rather than move.  However, it’s always wise to address the concept of increasing your home’s market value in the event that you do decide to move in the future.  By increasing the square footage of your home through a sunroom addition, you are adding value as well as elevating the aesthetic beauty to potential buyers.

2) Sunrooms Add Space – As stated in Terrific Reason #1, you are increasing the square footage or “liveable” space of your home when you add a sunroom. Depending on the design, you can also open up your floor plan and give the illusion of even more space through the incorporation of lots of windows.

3) Sunrooms Enhance Your Home’s Beauty – Inside & Out – Don’t think solely in terms of just making the home more attractive to future buyers, a sunroom – when designed and constructed properly – can give your home a more elegant and sophisticated flair both on the interior and from the exterior.  If you have professionally designed landscaping or are a master gardener yourself, a sunroom is an ideal way to showcase your yard.

4)  Sunrooms Allow You and Your Family to Enjoy the Outdoors Year-Round – In the Southeast, where the winters are relatively mild but the summers can be downright brutal, a sunroom offers the perfect escape from the harsh temperatures while allowing you to enjoy a night under the stars or an afternoon nap in the sunlight in the comfort of your climate controlled home.

5)  Sunrooms Provide an Economical Way to Increase Living Space – The thought of a room addition can sometimes be daunting, but a sunroom is often built on a pre-poured patio slab or by enclosing a pre-existing porch or deck. Rather than building from the ground up with more expensive materials, a sunroom can be designed to fit your family’s needs, your home’s structure AND your budget.

6)  Sunrooms Offer a Terrific “Flex” Space – A sunroom can be designed to serve any number of purposes: Indoor Garden, Reading Room, Entertainment Space, Children’s Playroom, the list goes on and on!

7)  Sunrooms Can Often be Built Quickly, With Less Disruption to Your Family’s Life – Aside from expense, a room addition can be intimidating because of the way it may disrupt your home for sometimes months on end.  Depending on how elaborate your design is, a sunroom can often be completed in weeks and – since it’s often an extension of your home, construction can be relatively non-invasive.

8)  Sunrooms Provide Lots of Natural Light Which Can Equate to a More Energy Efficient Home – Known as “daylighting”, the use of natural light through energy efficient window systems in place of artificial lighting during the day could decrease your energy use significantly and is recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy.

9)  Sunrooms Mean No More Raining On Your Parade and No More Bugs at Your Picnic – Sunrooms provide a terrific space for entertaining!  In the event of an unexpected storm or a swarm of pesky yellow jackets, you can always bring the outside IN by hosting a party or indoor picnic in your new sunroom.

10)  Sunrooms Help Redefine the Concept of the Family Room – That’s right, peel your eyes away from the TV and head to the sunroom tonight to star gaze with the kids, play your family’s favorite board games, or swap stories of the day’s events. At Highlight Home Restoration, we don’t just build rooms – we create living spaces where you and your family will make memories together for years to come.

What are you waiting for? You could be enjoying a good book, a candlelit dinner under the stars, or a neighborhood gathering in your very own sunroom within weeks!  When you’re ready to get started, the talented team of designers and builders at Highlight Home Restoration is eager to assist you in enhancing your home’s character and living area. Simply give us a call at 678-873-9234, fill out our online contact form, or e-mail your request to info@highlighthomesga.com.  We look forward to the possibility of adding a little “light” to your family’s life!

Adding a Deck to Your Home Equates to A New Outdoor Living Space AND Could Increase the Value of Your Home

As Spring begins to take hold, the days grow longer and the temperatures grow warmer – the desire to “go outside and play” will be stronger than ever. Wait ’til the motors of the lawn mowers begin humming in the distance and the scent of a backyard barbeque envelopes you on a Spring day breeze.  This is the perfect time of year to enhance your home by adding a deck! At Highlight Home Restoration, we don’t just build rooms and decks – we create unique living spaces where you and your family will make memories together for years to come. Imagine the al fresco parties and neighborhood grill-outs. Consider taking some of the family dinners out of the dining room and setting them under a canopy of stars. Allow yourself to dream of relaxing to the sounds of nature while sipping on sweet iced tea and reading a good book from the comfort of your brand new deck. Your backyard should serve as your sanctuary – your escape from the hectic world of carpools, rush hour, spreadsheets, and deadlines. You deserve an outdoor space that says RELAX the moment you lay eyes on it.

Benefits

Personal enjoyment aside, adding a deck to your home has several benefits. Not only does a deck extend your living spaces to the great outdoors – if done properly, it can also add to the aesthetic beauty and overall value of your home.  It’s a less expensive option than building a room addition, but serves the very much the same purpose by allowing the homeowner to expand their living area.  Think of it as an open- air parlor or family room. Consumer Reports recently referred to a deck addition as a “high return item” and Remodeling Magazine found that more than 85% of the cost of building a wooden deck could be recouped during resale (2007 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report).

In addition, many outdoor “extras” can serve a useful purpose while adding appeal for potential future buyers. An added outdoor fireplace or fire pit can add an air of romance, while providing warmth for four-season enjoyment.  A water feature adds an ambiance of tranquility while helping to block street noise. Landscape lighting is always lovely after the sun has set, increases the viability of your outdoor space after hours, and highlights some of the best features of your home. A gazebo, pergola or trellis can offer shade from the hot afternoon sun and provide privacy from closely situated neighbors.

Importance of selecting a quality contractor

Some decks can be built two- to three-stories off of the ground. It is imperative that you hire for quality over price when the safety for your family and your guests are at stake.  A deck expert or qualified contractor will be up-to-date on all of the required building codes, and will be licensed, insured and registered. The experienced team at Highlight Home Restoration is all of those things and so much more.  We build things to last, so you can expect years of enjoyment out of your Highlight Home Restoration deck.

Alternatives to a deck

If your home or lawn is not designed to house a deck, there are many ways Highlight Home Restoration can help you design and build outdoor living spaces to fit both your home AND your family. For flat lots, a gazebo may add the same effect a deck would. Perhaps a flagstone patio with a pergola and open fire pit is the best option for your family. We can also help you create a backyard oasis with koi pond, screen-in your current patio or build a glassed-in sunroom.  The only limits are your imagination and budget!

How to get started:

1. Begin by deciding the PRIMARY use for your backyard. Do you have young children who would enjoy a playground? Do you LOVE to entertain and envision a built-in outdoor kitchen complete with Tiki Hut? Do you prefer a quiet refuge where you can reflect and relax?
2. Consider which materials and elements you’d like to incorporate.  Are you a stone and timber fan? Do you like water features? Do you like lots of greenery or are you looking to establish a classic English Garden?       In other words, what is the overall theme to your backyard dream?  Whatever you choose, it should complement the style of your home.       Also, be honest with yourself about the landscaping – if you are a low maintenance kind of person, you need to focus on mostly hardy plants.  Don’t forget things like sun exposure – if your yard gets lots of afternoon sunlight, your dream of a shade garden may not be in the cards.
3. Keep in mind the limits of your property and city/home owners association rules and regulations.  Do a walk-around of your yard to learn where the problem areas may be. If you have a favorite tree you’d like to keep or an old shed you want to get rid of, make note of it. Then do a little research to learn what obstacles you may face with your HOA or city.  Some of these issues can be worked around, but it’s always better to know up front.
4. Take pen to paper.  On one page, make a list of all of the above – primary use, favorite elements, and possible problems.  On another, make an elementary drawing of what you see in your mind’s eye.  This is just a “jumping off” point, and a really good designer can take your vision to entirely new heights.
5. Baby Steps.  If budget is an issue, know that you can always build your backyard oasis in bits and pieces.  Begin with a design, and then break it into steps. You may want to work on building the garden one year, then lay the hardscapes the next – or build the deck first, and add on from there.      Don’t look at it on the whole, but as an ongoing process.
6. Call Highlight Home Restoration!

Let your home blossom this Spring! It can grow in new directions you never even dreamed of.  Call on the experts at Highlight Home Restoration at 678-873-9234.  We are happy to come out and evaluate your home and lot, listen to your wishes and needs, then draw up exciting plans and give you an estimate for your NEW outdoor living space. What are you waiting for?

Sources:

Highlight Homes Debuts First Issue of

“Highlight Homes Herald”

Like any good builder and renovator, Highlight Homes recognizes the need to make some “renovations” of our own at times and work hard to continue to build upon past successes. 2009 bore witness to a major revamp of our company’s website – http://www.highlighthomesga.com, as well as the addition of our Highlight Homes blog containing informative articles about the renovation and residential construction industries, helpful tips on home maintenance and remodeling, and the latest company news. We also officially launched our new renovation division – Highlight Home Restoration – which specializes in kitchen/bath remodels, room additions, decks & patios, basement finishing, whole home renovations and much more. The main inspiration behind all of these changes is our desire to provide the best possible service to our current and future clients.

As we continue to evolve into the New Year, March 2010 kicks off with the debut of our monthly e-newsletter – The Highlight Homes Herald. The Herald is designed to help us keep in touch with current clients and affiliates, as well as those we’ve worked with in the past. Each of them has played a valuable role in contributing to the past and future success of our family-owned and operated business. Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to say THANK YOU each month, and keep our readers informed of the latest industry news and trends. Each issue will contain a word from the founder of Highlight Homes – Tony Pourhassan, as well as useful advice, special offers and important links to related websites. If YOU would like to join our mailing list and receive a copy of The Highlight Homes Herald each month, please follow this link to fill out our online contact form or send your request via e-mail to marketing@highlighthomesga.com.  We welcome your suggestions for articles you’d like to read about in The Herald and on our blog. If you feel inspired by what you read in The Herald to make some renovations to your existing home, we look forward to your phone call at 678-873-9234 to discuss your family’s unique needs and Highlight Home Restorations’ exciting solutions.