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Okay, we admit it! Occasionally, you may find a member of the Highlight Homes design team watching home improvement shows on HGTV. Terrific programs like “Love It or List It” demonstrate the power of a well-planned renovation in transforming a home and can serve as powerful inspiration for our own future projects. However, we are well-aware that major home improvement show junkies also love the DIY (do-it-yourself) programs that encourage them to tackle home improvement projects on their own – which may seem like an exciting and cost-saving solution to hiring a professional. While there are many capable homeowners out there who know their way around a table saw and hammer, there are some that go into these projects – such as a bathroom renovation or (gulp) kitchen remodel – with purely romantic notions of teaming up with their spouse to create something magical from a lackluster living space.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, home owner DIY projects accounted for a little over a third of all home remodeling projects performed nationwide from 2010-2011. In a recent press release from the National Association for Home Builders, the organization warned potential DIYers about unseen safety risks, time investments and hidden costs.

“Remodeling can be complex and often times full of surprises, even for experts like our members,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bill Shaw, GMR, GMB, CGP, a remodeler from Houston. “DIY projects should be rewarding and fun, but if your DIY can’t be completed in the planned price range or your safety is at risk, leave the work in the hands of professional remodelers.”

At Highlight Homes, we can identify 100% with that pride that comes when you can stand back from a project and say, “I built that!”  What you may not realize is that a homeowner can achieve that same sense of pride by working closely with their contractor to build something entirely unique to fit their family’s distinctive needs and personalities.  As designer-builders, we are happy to work with you every step along the way from initial meeting to project completion.  You can be as involved as you like in the design phase, and can consult with our interior design professionals to put the finishing touches on your project.  You may even be able to talk us into letting you swing a sledgehammer and hammer in a nail or two – so you can still look upon your project with pride and the feeling of “I built that!”

Highlight Homes can help you with just about any size and scope of home renovation project including: Whole Home Renovations; Room Additions; Architectural and Design Services; Kitchen & Bath Remodeling; Landscaping & Ponds; Decks, Patios & Porches; Sunrooms; Basement Finishing; Roofing; Home Maintenance and Repair; and Much, Much More! Click HERE to sneak a peek at our online portfolio and visit our Services Page to see a comprehensive list of our offerings.

However, if you’re still considering tackling that home improvement project as a DIY, keep the following tips in mind:

1)      A good contractor will know all the permits required to begin construction on your project.  Do you? Be sure to do your research to avoid a costly penalty.

2)      It might be a good idea to at least bring in a designer or architect to lay the groundwork for you, tell you about the permits you will need, warn against any possible wiring/pipes you may encounter, and give you a realistic account of the potential cost of materials.

3)      A professional will be able to get materials at a contractor’s rate, where you – most likely – will not. In addition, they will often be able to complete the project much faster – so if you’re hoping to save time and money by going it alone, you may be unpleasantly surprised.

4)      A professional fully understands the importance of using quality materials. Quality materials are essential to the continued success and longevity of any given project. One common mistake made by DIY’s is in thinking that by buying the cheapest products, it will help reduce project costs. In the long run, they can actually end up costing more. Unfortunately, cheaper often means inferior. There is truth in the statement “you get what you paid for.”

5)      It is vital to know how products effect the environment, your property and – most importantly – your family’s health. A professional contractor will remain up-to-date and understand how to meet the terms of ever-changing environmental compliance issues currently facing the construction industry, such as proper lead paint removal.

6)      Buyer Beware! If you decide to take the lead on your project with the aid of a number of inexpensive subcontractors following behind, be very careful. Professional builders and contractors have already gone through the trials and tribulations of how to identify reliable sub contractors. Many professionals have taken the time and expense of putting their subcontractors through rigorous background checks, allowing them to cull through any unscrupulous and unreliable candidates before the job even begins.

7)      A good contractor will be fully licensed, registered and insured. In the event that they are injured or a portion of your home is damaged somehow, it’s covered.  You might want to take a closer look at your home and personal insurance policies to make sure you can say the same. Before you have anyone work on your property, it’s wise to insist that they provide you with General Liability & Workman’s Compensation insurance certificates – adding you as additionally insured.  It’s also a good idea to require that when you make a payment to them that they sign a release of lien rights for that amount of money relating to your home.

8)      Consult a professional or structural engineer if you plan to remove any walls, posts, roof framing, concrete or any other supports in your home. It may appear from the outside that any one particular piece isn’t doing much until it is too late, and things can go from a great idea to a grave error in an instant.

9)      It’s always a good idea to check with a professional on your heating and air systems. The original system was chosen to accommodate your existing space. If you alter the space or add any additional space, the system may need to be reconfigured to adjust to your changes.

10)   Electricity and plumbing can make for a dangerous combination – exercise extreme caution while maintaining your enthusiasm for the work.

In the event that you elect to go it alone on a renovation project, we wish you the best of luck! However, if you find the project is bigger than you anticipated, the Highlight Homes team is here to help you!  Simply call us at 678-873-9234 , e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our convenient online contact form! To learn more about Highlight Homes and our talented design-build team, visit us at www.highlighthomesga.com and be sure to “like” us on Facebook!

Image credit: Geoffrey Whiteway/Stockvault.net

May marks the advent of National Home Remodeling Month in the United States, and Atlanta’s premier home renovation company – Highlight Homes – is ready to celebrate! As a longtime member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), we are proud to take part in a professional organization that is dedicated to excellence in construction – from new construction homes to custom remodeling projects. National Home Remodeling Month is the perfect time to shed some light on a growing industry, as more and more American homeowners make the choice to stay in their current homes or purchase resale properties rather than move into new construction homes.

According to the NAHB, the top five renovation projects across the nation are:

• Bathroom remodel – Return on investment (ROI) can reach as high as 65% on a renovation project that involves the bathroom. Older homes often have a great base to work from, but require updates to the fixtures, tile, toilet, vanity and lighting. Some homeowners may opt to go all out and replace the shower and/or tub for a trendy spa-like feel.
• Kitchen renovation – Perhaps one of the most requested and best performing ROI projects is the kitchen renovation. Minor kitchen remodels that include makeover elements such as the replacement of backsplashes, cabinet fronts, countertops, lighting and flooring can yield as much as a 75% ROI. More and more eco-friendly homeowners are opting to install low-flow faucets and energy-efficient appliances to help save the planet while saving money at the same time. Major kitchen overhauls also perform well with an average ROI of nearly 69%. Highlight Homes’ kitchen renovations have garnered a Gold Obie Award and have been featured in the AJC Homefinder, Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine, and Remodel Atlanta Magazine.
• Window and Door Replacement – The replacement of windows and doors in a home can not only change the look from both the interior and exterior of the home, it could also save you money when utilizing energy efficient materials that are design to prevent energy outflow from the home. ROI in this category is 73% for wood frames and 71% for vinyl.
• Repair Property Damage – While it may not be as exciting as an elective renovation, property damage repairs from aging, normal wear-and-tear, and/or storm damage are sometimes a necessary evil. Highlight Homes has a great deal of experience in this department – from hail damage and flood repair, to partial rebuilds following the tornados that hit Alabama and Georgia in 2011, to general maintenance and repair. We’ve found that many homeowners opt to incorporate a home renovation along with their repair – creating a little silver lining of their own.
• Whole House Remodeling – With the number of foreclosed homes on the market at rock-bottom prices, savvy homebuyers have made the choice to buy a property with the knowledge that a major renovation would be necessary to make the home their own. Even current homeowners will alter the structural layout of their home’s interior to fit their family’s needs or update the look of the exterior to reflect their family’s personality. Highlight Homes’ solid history in structural engineering and custom home building makes us an excellent fit for projects of this scope.

Additional Highlight Homes’ projects that have been popular with our clients include: Sunrooms and Room Additions, Landscaping and Ponds, Outdoor Living Spaces, Basement Finishing, Age-in-Place Renovations, and so much more.  To celebrate National Home Remodeling Month with a beautiful renovation from the design/build team at Highlight Homes, call us TODAY at 678.872.9234, email us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our convenient online contact form.  If you’d like to learn more about Highlight Homes, the services we provide, and/or view our online portfolio, please visit us at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Special Offer for National Home Remodeling Month

Homeowners who sign a renovation contract* with Highlight Homes during National Home Remodeling Month, will receive a $500 gift card to Lowes, Home Depot or Bed Bath & Beyond!

*Good for contracts of $10,000 or more; Highlight Homes is not affiliated with Home Depot, Lowes, or Bed Bath & Beyond. Offer Expires May 31, 2013.  Must mention offer at time of consultation/signing of contract in order to receive gift card.

Highlight Homes gets a great deal of our inspiration from the homeowners with whom we are honored to work from one project to the next. To keep our stores of creativity overflowing, we often look at the world around us – both within our industry and slightly outside of that box. Most recently inspired by the commemoration of Earth Day, the tragic Boston Marathon Bombing, and the undeniable arrival of Spring in the Southeast, we have compiled the following list of people, places, products, and companies that motivate us to do what we do every day:

Composting: At Highlight Homes, we pride ourselves on being a Green Builder. We are big believers in the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” and often incorporate those practices in our custom construction and remodeling projects. Composting is an easy way to reduce landfill waste, recycle biodegradable materials to make nutrient rich humus, and  reuse that compost to fertilize the soil in your garden – eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers. Getting started is easy! Purchase a compost bin to collect kitchen waste in the home and begin a compost pile in your back yard on a patch of bare earth lined with straw and twigs to aerate the lawn clippings, yard waste and contents of your home’s compost bin. For more information on how to start composting and what should be included in your compost pile, read this helpful article from EarthEasy.com.

Grow Your Own Herb Garden: Another major theme of the Green Movement is sustainability. Once you’ve begun your compost pile, you have the perfect fertilizer to establish an herb garden. These are terrific for fenced-in backyards (to help deter wildlife) and container gardens on decks. Fresh herbs are a wonderful addition to a wide variety of recipes, so this is an ideal project for the eco-friendly gardener who loves to cook. The easiest herbs to grow are basil, dill, fennel, mint, oregano, and rosemary, among others.  For tips on how to grow herbs and great recipes to use them in once they’ve grown, check out this slideshow from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, titled “Easy-to-Grow Herbs.”

Security Cameras: It is unlikely that we Americans will ever forget the eerie images captured of the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects before the tragic events of April 15, 2013. We live in a world where security cameras are placed on nearly every street corner in every major city. They are a modern measure that has not only brought the guilty to justice, but can also serve as a deterrent to crime. In order to keep watch over the ones you love, you may want to consider having security cameras placed near points of entry at your family’s home. Marietta-based Georgia CCTV provides video surveillance systems for homes and businesses throughout Metro Atlanta.

Sunrooms: With the wonderful arrival of Spring each April, so follows the onset of pollen season. That yellow stuff that dusts the windshields of our cars and leaves its mark on the patio furniture in the backyard makes it nearly impossible for many Georgians to breathe deeply without sneezing and wheezing. Still, the grass is greening up, leaves are reappearing on the trees, and flowers are filling the gardens. It seems a shame not to be able to enjoy Mother Nature’s splendor this beautiful time of year just because of a fine yellow powder. Pollen poses an excellent argument for the incorporation of a sunroom filled with windows for the four-season enjoyment of the Great Outdoors.  It just so happens that sunrooms are one (among MANY) of our specialties here at Highlight Homes. To schedule a no-obligation consultation to discuss the incorporation of a sunroom addition at your home, call our talented design-build team at 678-873-8234 TODAY!

Photo Credit:  Chopped Herbs by Brian/Stockvault.net

All eyes turn to Earth Day on Monday, April 22 as the world celebrates eco-friendly practices, environmentally conscious events, and an ever-growing network of businesses and organizations that is 22,000 partners strong in 192 countries across the globe. While we at Highlight Homes plan to commemorate this auspicious occasion alongside the rest of the world, we are proud of the fact that we celebrate the concept behind Earth Day 365 days a year.

Longstanding Reputation as a Green Builder and Developer: Highlight Homes has a colorful past – one that includes many shades of GREEN!  Our sister development company, Vesmont, has been responsible for the realization of beautiful, eco-conscious communities featuring walking trails and an abundance of natural greenspace. Highlight Homes itself boasts a number of Green Builder certifications, including Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building Program, Energy Star and Earth Craft House.

Active Participation in Green Building Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association Since 2011: Our fearless leader and founder, Tony Pourhassan is honored to serve on the Green Building Council alongside other esteemed Atlanta home builders and renovators to promote green building practices throughout our industry. Just last year, he took part in the White House Energy, Environment and Conservation Round Table as the council weighed in on a very important subject that impacts the entire nation.

Solid Promotion of the Ultimate Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Concept: As one of Atlanta’s premier renovation companies, Highlight Homes continually promotes the concept of “reduce, reuse and recycle” by encouraging current homeowners to remodel rather than move into a new home. Our design-build team devotes a terrific amount of energy to designing and building both custom homes and home additions that reduce energy consumption and material waste. We place products that aid in less energy consumption in every home we build or renovate, and all construction debris is disposed of through recycling. Many of our renovations and custom homes boast energy efficient windows, doors, appliances and plumbing.

We invite YOU to celebrate Earth Day with us – no matter the time of year!  To schedule a no-obligation consultation, contact the Highlight Homes team by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com or filling out our convenient online contact form. Learn more about our Green Building Practices by visiting the Highlight Homes website at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Our Earth Day Gift to You!!!  Sign a Contract with Highlight Homes during the month of April, and You Could Receive a $500 Gift Card to Pike Nurseries, Lowes or Home Depot to Help You Beautify Your Little Corner of the Planet*!

* Good for contracts of $10,000 or more; Highlight Homes is not affiliated with Home Depot, Lowes, or Pike Nurseries. Offer Expires April 30, 2013. Must mention offer at time of consultation.

In February 2013, the national real estate market showed a marked rise in existing home sales from the previous year.  February was representative of a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.98 million sales of existing single-family, condominium, townhome and co-op homes – up nearly half a million at 460,000 units from the year before¹. Regionally, the South is leading the pack with a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.72 million sales of existing homes as of February 2013 – up 190,000 units from the year before. The West and Mid-West are tied for second with 1.06 million sales of existing homes and the Northeast is in a distant third with 520,000 sales of existing homes as of February 2013².

With the sale of existing homes on the rise, chances are – demand for reputable and skilled remodeling companies will follow suit. Often, with the purchase of an existing home comes the need for anything from basic home maintenance to major renovations. For instance, a house that was purchased out of foreclosure may have fallen into a state of disrepair and could require a few fixer-upper tactics in order to make it home sweet home for the family who will be assuming ownership. On the other hand, even a home that has been well-loved and excellently maintained may be an excellent candidate for a home renovation in order to make it reflect the needs, wishes and collective personality of the new homeowners.

If you and your family are purchasing – or have recently purchased – an existing home and you have a number of home maintenance and/or remodeling projects in mind, it’s likely that you’ll want to get on a good renovation company’s calendar right away.  Highlight Homes – an award-winning luxury custom home and renovation company based in Atlanta – is currently taking appointments for consultations and booking projects through Fall 2013. We specialize in basic home maintenance, as well as:

• Whole Home Renovations
• Room Additions
• Architectural and Design Services
• Kitchen & Bath Remodeling
• Landscaping & Ponds
• Decks & Porches
• Sunrooms
• Basement Finishing
• Home Theaters
• Outdoor Living Spaces & Kitchens
• Man Caves
• …and So Much More!

Our talented design-build team can be reached by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com or by filling out our convenient online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you soon!  In the meantime – if you’d like to learn more about Highlight Homes and the services we offer – please visit our website at www.highlighthomesga.com.

References:

http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=55761

http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=68179

Image courtesy of smarnad / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

At Highlight Homes, we love the fact that Spring comes a little earlier this year! With its arrival comes fun stuff like gardening, outdoor gatherings, open windows, and picnics in the park. We feel inspired by the blue skies and little green leaves popping out everywhere. True to form, in this month’s installment of Shades and Highlights, we shine the light on a few other people, products and projects that inspire us…

Pantone’s Color of the Year:  Emerald 17-5641 – While the Bermuda Grass remains a shade of tan and the leaves take their sweet time returning to the trees, it’s easy to bring those beautiful emerald hues indoors with accent walls, throw pillows, vases, picture frames, area rugs, and more. Pantone – THE global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries – has designated Emerald as its 2013 Color of the Year. It’s a color often associated with tranquility, good health and good fortune. Use it in your décor, and your neighbors will be “green” with envy!

Flower Power – Big bold prints are also all the rage in fashion and décor this year. Whether wearing them or decorating with them, floral prints bring an undeniable sense of Spring indoors. CountryLiving.com features a terrific article by Charlotte Barnard titled “Decorating with Floral Prints” – it’s a must-read!

WE Do Windows! – It’s amazing the difference a new door or replacement windows can make to both the outward and inward appearance of a home.  Highlight Homes is proud to work with a number of local window & door manufacturers and suppliers who offer traditional as well as custom items. From unusual geometric shapes to bay windows, we do it all. Open the sash and let those wonderful Spring breezes in. While we’re at it, we can design and construct an entire ROOM of windows – your new sunroom!

Hidden Spaces – As though inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s Secret Garden, we love to find tucked away spaces and turn them into something beautiful. A hall closet door can become a sunken doorway bookcase, the space under the stairs can be opened up and transformed into a highly functional storage space or an indoor dog house, a little used corner can become a book nook, a guestroom closet can become a home office… the possibilities are endless!  With Highlight Homes’ extensive knowledge of structural engineering, we may be able to see the possibilities in your home that you may have overlooked.

If you wish to incorporate any of the looks above in your own home, but you need our help to do so – we welcome the opportunity to help you make that happen!  Our talented design-build team can be reached by calling 678-873-9234 or e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com.

Fourth Quarter Performances Indicate Remodeling Market Remains Strong, Highest Indicator Readings Since First Quarter 2004

According to a recent press release from the National Association of Home Builders, the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) reached 55 in QTR4 of 2012, increasing five points from QTR3 – its highest reading since the QTR1 of 2004. Designed to monitor the remodeling industry on a timely basis, the RMI is based upon the results of regular surveys from 2000 remodelers nationwide. These measures include current market indicators – such as maintenance and repairs, minor additions and alterations, and major additions and alterations, as well as future market indicators – including calls for bids, proposal appointments, committed work and project backlogs.

An RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher. It just so happens that the RMI was above 50 in all four regions of the country – Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. According to the 2013 NAHB Remodelers Chairman, Bill Shaw, GMR, GMB, CGP, professional remodelers across the nation reported more work from both large and small projects, as well as overall home repair – making them optimistic about the outlook for slow and steady market growth over the remainder of 2013. In this latest RMI measure, future market indicators increased 7 points in the previous quarter to 56 and current market conditions rose 2 points 54.  Remodelers indicated that activity was particularly strong in properties that are owner-occupied.

In a statement from the release by David Crowe, the NAHB Chief Economist points to a rise in existing home sales as a possible factor in the positive bump in RMI numbers. “With existing home sales up, the increase in the RMI partially reflects the remodeling work new home owners undertake when they move in,” explained Crowe. “Consumers are gaining confidence in the economy and feeling more comfortable pulling the trigger on large and small renovations.”

In the event that you are ready to be a part of the Renovation Renaissance, we invite you to call the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes. Not only can we help you with basic home maintenance and overall home repair leading into Spring, we can also design and construct a number of beautiful home renovations that will make you the envy of your neighborhood.  Our list of services includes:

• Whole Home Renovations
• Room Additions
• Architectural and Design Services
• Kitchen and Bath Remodeling
• Landscaping and Ponds
• Decks, Porches, and Patios
• Sunrooms
• Man Caves
• Home Theaters
• Attic and Basement Finishing
• And Much, Much More!

Highlight Homes’ team of architects, designers and builders can be reached by calling 678.873.9234 or e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com.  To learn more about Highlight Homes and sneak a peek at our online portfolio, visit www.highlighthomesga.com.

Highlight Homes Pays Tribute to National Craft Month

I guess you could say that the design-build team at Highlight Homes is really just a collection of professional crafters. My team members and I love to draw, build, paint, create, and dream.  To that end, we have great respect for crafters of all mediums and professional levels. In honor of National Craft Month in March, we’d like to take this opportunity to showcase the creation of special craft-astic spaces, custom-designed just for them.

Painters

Most artists prefer spaces with lots of light and few distractions. Imagine a wide open space with crisp white walls, a skylight, lots of windows and an easel placed at center stage. A utility sink can be hidden away in a closet for the convenient cleaning of brushes on one side, and specially designed cubbies for canvases and paint supplies can be lined up on the other. Recessed lighting with a dimmer and easy-to-clean flooring can be incorporated to finish off this workspace that can serve as the inspiration for countless masterpieces.

Scrapbookers

A small guestroom or corner of a basement can easily be converted into a scrapbooker’s paradise with plenty of creative storage and cute picture-focused décor to keep imaginations and artistry flowing. Built-in bookcases to house scrapbooks surrounding a built-in drafting table for future creations will serve to finish off the room beautifully.

Seamstresses, Embroiderers, Crocheters, and Knitters

For many artists who work with their hands, comfort may be vital to their creativity. Comfy seating and warm décor could serve to spur on the creation of blankets, scarves, sweater, embroidered hair bows, dresses, and so much more. Storage again plays a vital role to housing supplies and keeping the space uncluttered. The size of their passion should determine the size of their workspace – from a converted closet in a little-used guestroom to an entire room of their own.  We think that is Sew Cool!

Potters, Sculptors and Clay Artists

For a messier craft, many artists are relegated to the dank, dark corners of a basement. Concrete floors are easily stained and sealed for a chic look and the dank, darkness can be transformed into a creative space that begs to be filled with music and magic as the artist creates to their heart’s content.  With a little imagination, a basement can be converted into a trendy artist’s studio.

Whether you are a burgeoning artist, a seasoned professional, or a “crafty little devil”, you owe it to yourself to designate a space in your home as your own. Highlight Homes can work closely with you to custom design the space to meet your needs and vision. To schedule a no-obligation consultation, crafters of all kinds are invited to call the Highlight Homes team at 678.873.9234 or e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com.  To learn more about Highlight Homes and sneak a peek at our own “scrapbook” of projects, visit www.highlighthomesga.com.

With the first day of Spring less than a month away, the design-build team at Highlight Homes has been struck with a nasty case of Spring Fever.  We CAN’T WAIT to open windows and let the fresh air inside, head outdoors for the first grill-out of the season, and grab our fishing gear and make for the lake. All of these thoughts of Spring bring to mind some of our favorite Spring-themed renovation projects and companies – all of which we are happy to share with you in this edition of Shades & Highlights:

Spring Cleaning – With the arrival of Spring, so follows the annual “tidy up” tradition known as Spring Cleaning.  It’s a terrific time to focus on parts of the home that rarely get cleaned – such as the windows, baseboards, closets, basement, garage, well – the list goes on and on.  Head over to the Container Store for organizational inspiration, stock up on earth-friendly cleaning supplies from Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, and call on the folks at Highlight Homes to conjure up some amazing storage solutions throughout your home.

Fresh Coat of Paint – Whether you are completely transforming the look of the exterior of your home with a color makeover to the siding and trim or refreshing the interior with a burst of color on an accent wall, nothing says “renewal” better than a fresh coat of paint. Check out Sherwin Williams’ Paint Color Visualizer to try a few shades on for size before calling in a painter or busting out a brush yourself.

Outdoor Oasis – When you dream of spending time in the Great Outdoors, what do you envision?  If it’s a sprawling deck for countless dinner parties under the stars, a tranquil koi pond surrounded by lush landscaping, or an open-air kitchen where you can awaken your inner chef to the delight of your guests – Highlight Homes can help you make those dreams come true!

Pike Nurseries – It’s never too early to begin planning your Spring garden. As a Georgia-based company, we’re big fans of this company of nurseries that got its start in Marietta in 1958. Their staff is exceedingly helpful and their inventory never disappoints. Even their website is a treasure trove of valuable information – be sure to check out their Play in the Dirt Blog and Monthly Tips.

Check back next month for our March 2013 edition of Shades & Highlights!

Image Credit: homero chapa/Stockvault.net

Atlanta-Based Renovation and Custom Home Construction Company Attended Annual National Association of Home Builders Event in Las Vegas in January 2013

What can only be described as the Oscars and Fashion Week of the Residential Construction Industry rolled into one, the International Builders’ Show is THE place for builders, renovators, designers, sales/marketing professionals, suppliers and manufacturers to see and be seen. Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders each year at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the International Builders’ Show is comprised of three days jam-packed with education sessions, special events and exhibit halls filled with displays from every facet of the industry.  Needless to say, Atlanta-based custom home builder and renovator, Highlight Homes was very excited to be there!

Not only did we have an opportunity to attend enlightening education sessions and sit in on interesting industry segment forums, we also got a front row seat for the latest trends and up-and-coming manufacturers that might help shape the future of the home building/renovating industry. And the future is BRIGHT! This was the best attended show in the last five years. Optimism abounded throughout the exhibition halls. Based on our own observations, it’s clear that builder confidence is on the rise, which directly affects the health of the nation’s housing market. While our feet were tired from three days of walking mile-after-mile of exhibition halls and our brains were on overload from all of the stimulation we received, now that we’ve had a few weeks to digest all of the information – we are filled with inspiration and can’t wait to bring some of that excitement to Highlight Homes’ renovation projects over the coming months.

Just as Highlight Homes looks outside of our own brains for inspiration from time-to-time, we always recommend the same to our clients.  While our design/build team will bring our own set of enthusiasm, ideas and expertise to every project we undertake, that first spark of inspiration comes from the client themselves. That is often the reason they’ve called us – to take their vision and make it a reality. We’ve found that the best way to communicate that vision to us is through a “Dream Book.” Begin combing through home décor and design magazines, catalogues and websites – clip or print the pages that inspire you the most and compile them into your book. Feel free to draw pictures and take photos to add to the book, as well. Even though we can’t all be in attendance at the International Builders’ Show, inspiration can come from just about anywhere!

For More Great Ideas on How to Begin Building Your Own “Dream Book”, Check Out Inspiration Accumulation!

If you’d like to benefit from all of the excitement and enrichment that Highlight Homes has received from our recent trip to the NAHB International Builders’ Show, contact our team to schedule a no-obligation consultation. Call us at 678-873-9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com. While there, you can take a peek at our online portfolio. Who knows, you might just find the next perfect image there for your own “Dream Book”!

Image Credit: International Builders Show 2013/© Oscar Einzig Photography