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Three Great Reasons to Build a Custom Home

Highlight Homes has built an excellent reputation in recent years as a premier Atlanta renovation company. It’s a standing we are extremely proud of and look forward to furthering in the coming years. However, our first and greatest love is (and will always be) the design and construction of beautiful custom homes. Rather than following the herd and becoming a cookie cutter construction company, Highlight Homes prefers to hang our hat on something that is lasting, something that is truly cherished by the family who lives there.  That’s why we say, “Keep your cookie cutter in the kitchen drawer!”

1)      Give Me Land, Lots of Land Under Starry Skies Above: Just as home prices and interest rates are at historically low levels all throughout the U.S., the same holds true for lot and land prices. Aspiring homeowners can select an estate-sized home site in an area or neighborhood of their choice and then acquire a custom home builder to create the home of their dreams OR they can select the builder first and work together to find the ideal “blank canvas” on which to build their home. Less money goes into the purchase of land, meaning more money left over to invest in the design and completion of the home.

2)      A Work of Art vs. Just Another “Product”: An unfortunate truth is that with even the most reputable builders, over time their houses seem to become “products” – an endless chain of spec houses and cookie-cutter elevations that they virtually crank out on an assembly line. That is never the case with Highlight Homes. Every renovation and custom home we complete is nothing less than a work of art. This is our passion and it shows in everything we do. From special design touches to well-plotted layouts that make sense for the client, real heart and soul goes into each element of the construction process.

3)      An Heirloom vs. A House: At Highlight Homes we work closely with our clients in all phases – from design and layout to construction and completion – so that they are very much a part of the home before they ever put their key in the lock. Most clients who elect to build a custom home are not first-time home buyers – they’ve lived in other homes before and know what they like, what hasn’t worked in the past, and what they’ve always hoped for in a home. Their home becomes an “heirloom”, something that they can look at with pride and consider sharing with future generations as the house THEY built. We believe home should be so much more than a house where one’s family sleeps at night and shares the occasional meal, a place that is easy to leave behind when it comes time to move on. A custom home should be an heirloom – a place you never want to leave.

To schedule an initial consultation to discuss the design and construction of your future custom home, contact the talented and experienced design-build team at Highlight Homes. We can be easily reached by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our helpful online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, we invite you to visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Cite: Porter, Cole. Don’t Fence Me In. 20^th Century Fox, 1934.

It’s been a long, hot summer filled with a fresh crop of family memories of sun-soaked days and star-filled nights. For some parents, it’s also been a compilation of weeks marked by wet-bathing-suit-strewn floors and stubbing-toes-on-toys-injuries. Once the kids climb aboard that school bus and sail off into a new school year, it may also be an ideal time to set your sights on reclaiming the rooms of your home.

Two of your best allies when recovering your spaces from the glut of beach toys, stuffed animals, electronic gadgets, and craft supplies left behind by the kids are the tried-and-true tactics of De-Clutter and Organize (in that order).

De-Clutter: Perhaps one of the best ways to prepare for this portion of the “home salvage” project is to watch a few episodes of one of those hoarding shows, then take a good look around your own home. Think “What do we need/love” and “What is just taking up space/I never liked that”. Go room by room and make a list of what can be removed. Can it be stored elsewhere, made “like new” if moved to another room, or is it time for it to go?  You could host a garage sale to fund future purchases or box the items up to make a contribution to a local charity. Once you’ve cleared the clutter, it’s time for phase 2.

Organize: You could spend a fortune on storage boxes that you’ll likely rarely open or you could incorporate special forms of organization into your home décor for a fun and functional new twist. Built-in bookcases, storage benches (set around the kitchen table or under a window on the stairs), strategically planned closets, and installed office spaces all prove excellent organizational tools. There may even be space in your home that you aren’t even aware of – from an attic that could be finished to create an entirely new room to a space under the stairs that could serve as an ideal storage space. By enlisting the aid of an architect, structural engineer, and construction expert – you’re all set! Fortunately, you can find all three of those specialties rolled into one at Highlight Homes. Not only can we review your structural layout to examine all of the possibilities, we can design AND build those exciting organizational changes into your home so that they flow in with the décor and personality of your house.

What are you waiting for? By contacting Highlight Homes TODAY, we can get started by the time the kids head back to school. Simply click HERE to fill out an online contact form, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or call us at 678.873.9234. To learn more about Highlight Homes and sneak a peek at our virtual portfolio, we invite you to visit us online!

Incorporate Exposed Beams, Hardwood Floors, and Stacked Stone Accents into your Home Décor for the Feel of a Luxury Mountain Lodge

In honor of National Log Cabin Month, Highlight Homes would like to dedicate one of our July blogs to a subject near and dear to our hearts. As real “outdoorsy” folks, we love the occasional get-away to the mountains and the lake – two places where log cabins and lodges are most prevalent. As designers and builders, we are firm believers in surrounding oneself with the things you love in order to make a house a home – regardless of whether its overlooking a lake, perched high atop a mountain, or located inside a nice, quiet cul-de-sac in the suburbs.

At Highlight Homes, we love to use natural elements – so creating the log cabin look and feel is a snap for our renovation design team. In homes with cathedral ceilings, the incorporation of exposed beams gives a room the relaxed yet refined sense of a mountain lodge. The same can be said of hardwood flooring and charming interior doors. As a green builder, we like to use reclaimed timber with loads of character. Stacked stone accents around columns and fireplace surrounds will also serve to enhance the Adirondack ambiance both inside and outside the home.

To set up a free consultation with the design-build team at Highlight Homes to discuss ways to transform your home into something you and your family with love – from the feel of a beachside cottage to the air of a log cabin in the mountains – call us TODAY at 678-873-9234. We can also be reached via e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com or through our convenient online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes and all of our service offerings, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Be sure to “Like” Highlight Homes on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Image credit: LOG CABIN © Rocky Reston | Dreamstime.com

In our second installment of Shades and Highlights – a monthly article devoted to revealing some of Highlight Homes’ latest favorite things that are specific to the renovation and custom home construction industry – we shine the spotlight on a new round of incredible companies and concepts:

• Home Depot – You’ve heard the phrase “kid in a candy store,” right?  Well that’s how we feel about this big box home improvement retailer. Designed to fit the needs of both the at-home handyman and commercial construction professionals, Home Depot offers a wealth of project supplies and row-after-row of inspiration for that next great project. We’re also big fans because – just like Highlight Homes – Home Depot is a homegrown Georgia-based company.
• ThisOldHouse.com – What began as a home improvement TV show more than 30 years ago has grown into a multi-tiered brand that is trusted by homeowners across the nation. In addition to the show, This Old House has added a magazine, a number of books, and an incredibly informative website to its workbelt. While we believe all of their divisions are incredible tools for inspiring a great home improvement project, the website is a particularly terrific one-stop shop for great articles and idea-provoking images.
• Ballard’s Backroom – With two locations in Georgia – one in Roswell and the other in Atlanta – Ballard’s Backroom offers a treasure trove of amazing design elements at outlet prices from interior design powerhouse, Ballard Designs. From furniture and artwork, to chandeliers and rugs – every visit to Ballard’s Backroom can lead to an exciting new discovery that will serve to enhance your home remodel beautifully and affordably.
• The Outdoor Kitchen – This growing trend is a particular favorite of ours! Imagine playing the role of master chef of your own show to the delight of your dinner party guests. From a built-in stainless steel grill with granite top work station and bar surround to a Sicilian-inspired pizza oven with an Italian pergola strung with lights overhead – the possibilities are endless when the love of great food with good friends and a passion for design collide.  The experts at Sunset.com offer some awesome ideas paired with beautiful images to help get your wheels spinning in “Our Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen.”

Stayed tuned for the August edition of “Shades and Highlights” to learn about more things the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes likes. If you have suggestions for things YOU like that you feel we should check out, please let us know below in comments. Ready to start fresh and create that “blank canvas” to work within? To contact us to discuss an upcoming home remodel, we invite you to call us at 678.873.9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our helpful online contact form. If you wish to learn more about us, visit us online at www.highlighthomes.com and be sure to “like us” on Facebook! * Highlight Homes is not directly affiliated with Home Depot, ThisOldHouse.com, Ballard Designs or Sunset.com. These are merely the opinions of the design-build team at Highlight Homes.

Incorporating the Great Outdoors into Your Home Plan

While the housing market continues to lag and many folks are warming to the idea of staying put in their current home, the ongoing issue of the need for more space persists as a recurring theme. Although temperatures are currently lingering at the high end of the temperature gauge, it won’t be long until they’re back within a cozy “backyard barbecue” zone. During Highlight Homes’ most recent renovation, the homeowners have been astounded by the growth of their entertainment options thanks to an outdoor space overhaul where a simple back deck was transformed into a luxurious open-air grand hall – complete with stacked stone fireplace. Now, they can envision countless afternoons and evenings hosting friends and family in this beautiful new space (see second inset) or simply enjoying their outdoor oasis all by themselves.

It’s simple to grow the size of your entertainment space by turning your living spaces inside OUT. An outdoor room should serve as an extension of your home, with many of the creature comforts and décor set about to complete the story:

• Homeowners who enjoy spending their evenings catching up with friends might appreciate the concept of an outdoor living room. Deep and inviting seating add to the comfort, as do ceiling fans for those warm evenings and hearths or firepits for those cool evenings.
• Aspiring chefs may want to make food the centerpiece of this space with a large dining table with plenty of chairs, impressive outdoor chandelier hanging from a pergola overhead, and impressive grill kitchen with plenty of workspace for you to show off their skills.
• In the event that sports often play a role in your parties, a covered area that features an all-weather flat screen TV, comfy couches, and bar may be your ideal option.
• Those blessed with a green thumb may want their garden to be the focal point with walkways leading throughout and special spots for reflection placed here and there.

The sky’s the limit to the number of things your outdoor space can become. Highlight Homes is happy to help you decide what option might be best to fit both your needs and your personality during an on-site consultation. To schedule a consultation with our talented design-build team about incorporating your own custom built outdoor living space, call us TODAY at 678-873-9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our helpful online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes and our broad range of services, we invite you to visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Welcome to the first installment of “Shades and Highlights,” a monthly article dedicated to revealing some of Highlight Homes’ favorite new (and not-so-new) discoveries. Because we are aware that a home remodel may merely serve as the solid foundation of any residential makeover – a blank canvas, if you will – we’d like to take this opportunity to point you in the right direction with regard to filling that canvas with color, texture, “shades and highlights” in order to showcase your home sweet home in the best light imaginable.

Things we like this month include:

• Lonny Magazine – This exquisitely written, photographed and designed publication is jam-packed with ideas and imagery that can fuel any interior design project – from comfortably casual to luxuriously lavish. Flip through each elegant page online, and feel your imagination take flight.
• South of Market – The brainchild of visionary Southern interior designer, Kay Douglass, this trendy shop boasts locations in Atlanta and Charleston. Customers are presented with a true treasure hunt as they journey through an extensive inventory of “the rare, the beautiful and the can’t live without”. Unable to get to the store? No worries. Many items are also available for purchase online.
• Boise Cascade – As dedicated to sustainability as we are, Boise Cascade is a leading manufacturer of engineered wood products, plywood, particle board, doors and more – much of which Highlight Homes uses in our quality crafted home renovations and custom home construction. The best part is – while they are an internationally recognized company – their Georgia distribution center is located right up the road in Auburn, GA.
• Sherwin Williams – Whether you’re talking about a gorgeous kitchen renovation or a complete exterior facelift, we always recommend Sherwin Williams paints and stains. They have a wonderful application on their website called the Color Visualizer, where visitors can upload photos of a room or the exterior of their home and “paint” the space with a wide variety of shades and hues from the Sherwin Williams collection. It’s fun and enlightening!

Stayed tuned for the July edition of “Shades and Highlights” to learn about more things the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes likes. If you have suggestions for things YOU like that you feel we should check out, please let us know below in comments.

Ready to start fresh and create that “blank canvas” to work within? To contact us to discuss an upcoming home remodel, we invite you to call us at 678.873.9234, e-mail us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our helpful online contact form. If you wish to learn more about us, visit us online at www.highlighthomes.com and be sure to “like us” on Facebook!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offer Expires June 30, 2012.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pantone® Unveils the Hottest Color Trends for Spring 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1)      Bathroom Remodels – 78%

2)      Kitchen Remodels – 69 %

3)      Window and Door Replacements – 44%

4)      Repairing Property Damage – 36%

5)      Whole House Remodeling – 35%

6)      Room Additions – 33%

7)      Handyman Services – 31%

8)      Basement Finishing – 27%

9)      Roofing – 24%

10)    Siding – 23%

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

The Top Five Reasons Homeowners Opted to Remodel during 2011:

1)      Need to Repair or Replace Old Components

2)      Desire for Newer/Better Amenities

3)      Desire/Need for More Space

4)      Wish to Avoid Moving/Buying a New Home

5)      Repairing a Damaged Property

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

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

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