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Shades and Highlights: Things We Like February 2013

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.

Image Credit: homero chapa/Stockvault.net
Image Credit: homero chapa/Stockvault.net

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

Highlight Homes Stocks Up on Inspiration at the International Builders Show

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

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

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

Gearing up for the Golden Years

Renovations for Retiring Baby Boomers on the Rise

Image Credit: Stockvault
Image Credit: Stockvault

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 40.3 million Americans turned 65 or older in the United States in 2010. That’s nearly 13% of the entire nation’s population. In addition, that number was up 5.3 million from just 10 years earlier, which was up 3.8 million from 10 years before that. It’s clear that America’s Baby Boomer generation – born between 1946 and 1964 – is either at or nearing retirement age and looking forward to their golden years. Add to those statistics the fact that 88% of homeowners aged 65 or older would like to stay in their current residence for as long as possible (AARP), and it’s a sure bet that – while gearing up for the Golden Years – aspiring retirees could use the services of a trusted and experienced renovation company like Atlanta-based Highlight Homes.

There are several reasons a Baby Boomer might want to consider a thoughtfully planned and well-executed home renovation:

1. Home Beautification

When one trades in the keys to their office for the freedom that retirement affords, travel may top their To-Do list. But – unless they plan to pack up an RV and travel all over the country or sail around the world for months on end – chances are they will suddenly be spending lots of time at home. That can be a very positive thing when one happens to love their home. That love of home can be magically rekindled with an exciting gourmet kitchen renovation where they can explore their culinary creativity, the incorporation of a tranquil outdoor oasis where they can enjoy countless mornings gardening and numerous evenings dining al fresco, or the complete revamp of a basement into the ideal spot for entertaining friends where they can host an endless array of casino nights, movie watching parties, and so much more. From a new façade on the exterior to a master bedroom renovation, the possibilities are endless for one’s home to reflect the excitement that surely follows this thrilling new stage of their life.

2. Home Maintenance

If a couple has lived in their home for a number of years, it may be wise to take a look around at possible home maintenance needs in order to fend off any costly surprises down the road. From big projects that might involve the condition of the roof to easy fixes like caulking around windows and door to keep out drafts and moisture, a skilled general contractor or renovation company can provide a top-to-bottom assessment to help homeowners plot out their maintenance projects over the coming months. It can also help them keep an eye on possible problem areas in their home and plan for possible major repairs at some point down the road.

3. Age-in-Place Inspired Renovations

With so many homeowners aged 65 and above desiring to stay in their homes for as long as possible, it may be a smart move to begin looking at “age-in-place” renovations to help them comfortably adjust to the Golden Years and beyond. Handicap accessible ramps along the exterior of the home and stair lifts are at one end of the retirement age spectrum, while mainstream “age-in-place” adjustments like walk-in showers with seating and safety grab bars and conversion of a first-floor living area to a master suite may be forward-thinking options to consider incorporating into the home now rather than later – when it’s an absolute necessity.

If you are a Baby Boomer who is considering a home renovation – whether for Home Beautification, Home Maintenance, or Age-in-Place Inspired – we invite you to call upon the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes. Our home renovation experts will be more than happy to help you assess your “needs” and explore the options to best fulfill your “wants.” Highlight Homes is proud to be a Better Business Bureau-accredited company that is fully licensed and insured. To schedule a no-obligation consultation, please call 678.873.9234, e-mail info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our convenient online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, view our full list of services and sneak a peek at some of our previous projects, visit www.highlighthomesga.com today!