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2016 Pantone Color(s) of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

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2016 Pantone Color(s) of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Pantone press_coy2016For the first time EVER, Pantone – THE authority on color for the fashion and design industries has named not just one, but TWO colors as its Color of the Year. Exploring color’s softer side, Pantone has designated a blending of Rose Quartz (PANTONE 13-1520) and Serenity (PANTONE 15-3919) to reflect the public’s growing desire for balance and well-being.

“Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” explained Pantone Color Institute Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman, on the company’s website.

According to Pantone’s Color of the Year web page: “Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times.”

For homeowners who swear by color psychology and the use of certain colors to lend a sense of balance to their world, this will no doubt come as good news. Atlanta-based Highlight Homes is happy to help its renovation and custom home clients incorporate these lovely new Colors of the Year in their homes. When used in conjunction with other hot trends such as crisp, white kitchens, reflective surfaces and “Old Hollywood”-inspired mirrored and metallic home accessories, both shades could lend to an elegant and sophisticated look. When used for Interiors, the Pantone press release announcing the Color of the Year suggests that “the pairing of Serenity and Rose Quartz bring a feeling of calm and relaxation into the home environment. Like a serene sunset, Rose Quartz encourages reflection on one’s surroundings while Serenity, a transcendent blue, provides a naturally connected sense of space.”

Pantone believes that both colors serve as a distinctive choice for rugs and upholstery, as well as paint and decorative accessories, such as solid and patterned fabrics, throws, pillows, bedding, kitchen items, tableware, and home accessories like candles, decorative bowls, vases and florals. Either would serve as a striking addition to any room as an accent wall or a painted door and trim.

Pantone recommends the following shades to complement Rose Quartz and Serenity: Grays such as Pantone 14-0000 Silver Gray, 18-3906 Volcanic Glass, 14-0216 Lint, 17-0613 Vetiver, 18-5204 Granite Gray, 11-4201 Cloud Dancer and 15-4702 Puritan Gray; Browns such as Pantone 19-0810 Major Brown, 18-1112 Walnut, 13-1012 Frosted Almond, 18-1108 Fallen Rock, 18-1235 Russet, 15-1218 Semolina and 16-0906 Simply Taupe; Bright pastels such as 16-2107 Orchid Haze, 15-1520 Blooming Dahlia, 16-3521 Lupine, 12-5406 Opal Blue, 18-3211 Grapeade, and 13-1125 Peach Quartz – among others.

To learn more about Rose Quartz, Serenity and Pantone’s suggested color palettes, visit the Color of the Year announcement page online.

About Pantone and the Pantone Color Institute: Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Pantone products have encouraged colorful exploration and expressions of creativity from inspiration to implementation for more than 50 years.

Image Credit: Pantone LLC Virtual Press Room

Building a Digital Dream Book

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Building a Digital Dream Book

Dream book shutterstock_327497225 (sm)Over the course of the last few years, Highlight Homes has recommended to our renovation and custom home clients that they build a “dream book” to share with us. In addition to paint swatches and lists of elements they hope to incorporate into their design – such as a window seat with storage, butler’s pantry just off the formal dining room or upstairs laundry room they’ve always wanted – we often suggest that they clip photos out of magazines to give us the best idea of the look and feel they hope to achieve. These dream books serve as a tangible “go to” resource that we can look to throughout all stages of design and construction. However, given the fact that it is now 2016 and the digital age is in full swing, we’d like to add a wrinkle to the dog-eared Dream Book binder of yesteryear in favor of a more modern approach… the Digital Dream Book.

Step 1… Pop Open Pinterest: If you don’t already have one, open a Pinterest account. Depending on the size of your project, you can either build a board filled with images or several boards dedicated to various rooms of the home, as well as the exterior.  Once you’ve opened your account and created your boards, it’s time to start building!

Step 2… Become a Shutterbug: Inspiration can come from some of the most unusual places. Use your smartphone to snap photos of elements that speak to you at friends’ houses, but also look at the architecture of commercial locations, at your natural surroundings, everywhere! Upload photos to Pinterest and be sure to add comments with regard to WHY that image spoke to you.

Step 3… Explore the Digital Landscape: Architectural and interior design magazine websites are terrific places to look for images that speak to you. Don’t overlook appliance, paint and flooring manufacturers.

Again, inspiration can come from the most unusual places, so don’t rule anything out as you look for those images that will help convey what you hold in your imagination. Pin the pictures that hold special meaning and be sure to add comments with regard to WHY that image spoke to you.

Step 4… Share Your Boards with Highlight Homes: Once you’re satisfied with the sense of home you’re trying to convey, share the link to your board/boards with the team at Highlight Homes. We can use it to develop a more accurate quote and design so that your reality will actually exceed your dream (book).

To learn more about Highlight Homes and our extensive list of services, we encourage you to visit www.highlighthomesga.com.

Make It a Home Sweet Home Kind of Holiday

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Make It a Home Sweet Home Kind of Holiday

Give the Gift of a Custom Home or Whole Home Renovation This Holiday Season

Home Sweet Home shutterstock_302367035It’s not unusual for a family to fall out of love with their home. They may still love their neighbors, the area, the schools and that cute little bistro down the street, but their home may have lost its luster over the years. An easy fix in that situation may involve a whole home renovation or some remodeling projects in key areas of the home that the family uses most – or not at all, prompting the need to create more useable spaces. On the other hand, some families may feel no ties to their home or community whatsoever, indicating the need for a move to a home and community they will love for years and years to come – a home of their own imagining… a custom home. It just so happens that award-winning Atlanta-based Highlight Homes excels in both of these arenas and has for the last ten years. We welcome the opportunity to add your current or brand new custom home to our growing list of favorite projects EVER!  As a matter of fact, NOW is the perfect time to transform years of dreaming a into a beautiful reality by making this a “home sweet home” kind of holiday!

Highlight Homes’ founder – Tony Pourhassan – invites you to call him to schedule a meeting to discuss your vision, hopes and dreams for a custom home or whole home renovation. In the event that you are ready to sign a contract, Highlight Homes can develop a special “gift” for you to place under the tree to surprise your family on Christmas morning. Imagine the looks on their faces when you reveal to them your plans to fully renovate your home or build a custom home from the ground up. Highlight Homes can even connect you with a skilled real estate professional in the sale of your current home and the acquisition of land for your new home. What are you waiting for?  To get started, call 678-873-9234, e-mail info@highlighthomesga.com or fill out our convenient online contact form. To view our gallery of work  and learn more about Highlight Homes – including our full list of services, please visit www.highlighthomesga.com.

Ten Steps to Making Your Dream Home a Reality

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  1. dream house shutterstock_321489179Contact Highlight Homes:  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 info@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. Choosing Your Home Site:  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. Building Your Dream Book: 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. Meeting with the Architect: 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. Designing Your Home: The architect 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 “wishlist” is our command.
  6. Approval of Blueprints and Estimate: 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. Acquisition of Permits and Inspections: 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. Construction Phase: 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. All along the way, you will have direct access to Highlight Homes through our client portal where you can check the timeline and issue any requested change orders.
  9. Final Walk-through: 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. Closing and Moving Day: Once the purchase of your home has been completed, 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 become your family’s custom homebuilder.  We look forward to hearing from you soon!