Atlanta Kitchen the Official Countertop of the Golf Club of Georgia

Atlanta Kitchen, Inc., the Southeast's top provider of premium countertops, is now the Official Countertop of the Golf Club of Georgia, again demonstrating their extensive range in capabilities and products. The company recently took part in a total makeover of the Clubhouse, which included the replacement of the existing wooden bar by Atlanta Kitchen with new eco-friendly Cambria countertops in the color Brownhill. Atlanta Kitchen is a leading fabricator of quartz, granite, natural stone and solid surface countertops and a one-stop shop for all residential and commercial kitchen needs for home builders and remodelers.

Cambria is an elegant and practical natural quartz surface that can be used in countertops, floor tile, vanities, fireplace surrounds, wet bars, showers, etc. It has the natural look and feel of granite, but with superior performance because of its strength and durability. It is maintenance-free and nonporous and will not absorb food and liquids like other stone surfaces.

“The bar probably would have been replaced with another wood countertop until the designers learned of Cambria and its many advantages,” said Mitch Hires of Atlanta Kitchen. “We were working together with the same designers on another project for which we used Cambria, and the designers saw the strength, beauty and performance of Cambria on that project, and decided to use Cambria on the renovation of the Clubhouse.”

“The Cambria product is absolutely beautiful and the installation by Atlanta Kitchen was flawless,” says Jeff Paton, Director of Golf and General Manager of the Club. “It has completely changed the look of the main bar area and continues to draw rave reviews and comments from both members and guests.” The grand opening of the newly renovated club house took place in late June during the Club's Member-Guest tournament.

The Golf Club of Georgia is purely a golf club, embracing the game's traditions and presenting championship conditions every day. Since 1990, The Golf Club of Georgia has stood for unmatched service, camaraderie and hospitality and an unrelenting devotion to daily turf quality and performance. The private Club offers two Arthur Hills-designed courses.

Construction Resources, Inc. is a 39-year-old company that provides residential and commercial builders/remodelers, as well as homeowners with a one-stop shop for their kitchen and bath needs. The staff at Construction Resources, Inc. has the ability to provide products from several sister companies including Atlanta Marble Mfg., Atlanta Kitchen, Inc., Atlanta Glass & Mirror, Inc. and Atlanta Garage Doors & Fireplaces, LLC. By offering a diverse selection, Construction Resources, Inc. allows customers to simplify their ordering, scheduling and vendor process by dealing with just one salesperson and company rather than multiple salespersons and companies. Construction Resources, Inc. has four showroom locations throughout the surrounding Atlanta area including Acworth, Alpharetta, Decatur and Lake Oconee. For more information on Construction Resources, Inc., call 404-419-1259 or visit http://www.constructionresourcesusa.com/.
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Pottery Barn Inspired Model Home at Kensington Creek Manor Showcases an Array of Items for New Home Buyers

– Bowen Family Homes and Pottery Barn recently partnered to provide new home buyers with an array of ideas to decorate their home. Located in Kensington Creek Manor in Lawrenceville, the Pottery Barn inspired Dorchester model showcases a variety of furniture and accessories which are available at the popular home furnishings store. This single-family home community offers interested homebuyers the choice of 12 different floor plans, both ranch and two-story, ranging from three to four bedrooms. The 2,452 square foot Dorchester home was fully decorated by Jason Craigo of Pottery Barn with the helpful insight of onsite agent Patty Shipley.

With homes priced from the $170,000s, Kensington Creek Manor is ideal for new home buyers, many of which may not always have the furniture and accessories they desire to fill their home. Prior to decorating The Dorchester, Craigo met with Shipley several times to find out exactly what interested home buyers were looking for to complete their new home.

“It was important to me that I understand what the people who are looking at the homes at Kensington Creek Manor are interested in, and what they feel they need to truly create their new ‘home’,” said Craigo. “Many new home buyers – myself included – don’t always have all the furniture needed to fill up their new home. Patty was very helpful in telling me exactly what it was that her buyers most desired for their home.”

Each room within the two-story Dorchester home features items from Pottery Barn which can be purchased for approximately $5,000. When deciding what furniture and accessories to feature in the home, Craigo said he chose items that were hot sellers at Pottery Barn, such as the Chesapeake dining table located on the patio in the backyard.

Said Craigo, “While I did choose many of Pottery Barn’s most popular items, I also wanted to stay right around $5,000 per room. That way, if a buyer decided he wanted everything he saw in the living room, he could go to Pottery Barn and have it all for approximately $5,000. I think it works out well for both companies – obviously Pottery Barn would love for buyers to purchase their new home furnishings from us, and Bowen Family Homes is a reputable company that is sincerely trying to help new buyers realize the full potential of their home, and assure them it isn’t necessarily going to cost them an arm and a leg to do so.”

In addition to the multitude of ideas buyers at this Lawrenceville community may receive, homeowners also enjoy a fabulous array of amenities that are perfect for gatherings with family and neighbors, including a swimming pool, mushroom fountain, tennis courts, playground and a picnic pavilion with grill.

With the Mall of Georgia less than five miles away, residents of Kensington Creek Manor benefit from close proximity to some of the finest dining and shopping in Gwinnett County. In addition, Discover Mills and the Gwinnett Arena are also convenient to the Lawrenceville community. For spectacular outdoor activities, Lake Lanier is less than 10 miles from the community.

Kensington Creek Manor is located in a popular section of Lawrenceville, with convenient access to the shopping and dining at The Mall of Georgia and major commuter routes, including Highway 316 and I-85. To visit, take I-85 North to Exit 115 (Georgia 20), and turn right towards Lawrenceville.

Travel approximately 4.5 miles, and turn left on Georgia 124, Braselton Highway. Turn right on Old Fountain Road, and the community will be on the right.

The Reserve at Dog River Opens in Douglasville

The Reserve at Dog River is a unique 29 home community in Douglasville offering large custom-built homes on five acre or larger home sites. Located less than 20 miles from Atlanta, homes in The Reserve at Dog River are convenient to the shops and restaurants of the city, while still offering residents a resort-like atmosphere. Homeowners enjoy the peace and quiet of being located on Dog River. Homes are priced from $600,000 to $1,500,000 and are built by Clear Creek Communities.

The homes at The Reserve at Dog River are all unique and offer a variety of choices in floor plans and added features, enabling homeowners to customize their dream home. Homes are a minimum of 4,000 square feet and include features such as open floor plans, high ceilings, two story foyers, curved staircases, upgraded kitchens with large pantries and center work islands, as well as unique trim packages and finishes. There is also plenty of space in these luxury homes with an array of private studies, keeping rooms, basements, additional bedrooms, and media rooms being frequent. Home styles range from three story brick traditional to spacious ranches. Several homes are built along the creek and a beautiful decorated model home is available to give perspective home buyers ideas.

In addition to the endless attributes of the lavish homes themselves, the neighborhood also has several perks including secluded walking trails and magnificent views. The Reserve backs up to the 800 acre Dog River Park which offers fishing, biking and equestrian trails.

The Reserve at Dog River is located just off I-20W. Take I-20 West from Atlanta to Chapel Hill Road (exit 36), go south to Hwy 166, west (right) on Hwy 166 and travel approximately 6 miles to Phillips Mill Rd., turn right on Phillips Mill Rd, and then turn right on Rand Drive.

Exclusive sales and marketing is being provided by Morris & Raper. Interested homebuyers should contact Linda House by phone at 404-392-2921 or visit www.TheReserveatDogRiver.com.

Baby Boomers Dominate New Housing Trends

By Sandy Boda
Executive Officer,
Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia

The largest American generation is either retired or quickly nearing retirement age. Baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964 and who count more than 76 million, may be getting older, but they are definitely not ready to head to the retirement home!

The boomer generation is more active than generations past, has a more sophisticated style and wants options and choices in their homes. Whether they are selling the homes where they raised their children and heading to sunnier pastures, or staying put and redesigning to accommodate their retired lifestyle, boomers are making an impact on new housing trends. Some features that home builders and remodelers are seeing as they begin to cater to the boomers include:

Home Offices – Some boomers are choosing to work past the age of 65. As they transition from a traditional 9-to-5 job, however, they want home offices for flexibility. A second career or part-time employment often eliminates the hassle of commuting while keeping them active and bringing in supplementary income.

Tech/Media Centers – The tech-savvy boomer generation wants top-of-the-line amenities for their homes such as a media room with surround sound and central control systems, which manage all media sources in one location. The house may include a wireless home network (Wi-Fi), remote control lighting and security features.

Wider Doors and Hallways – As a person ages, there is likelihood that use of a wheelchair might become a necessity. Designing a home that is livable now but can transition and be functional as the occupant ages is important in ensuring that the home will be a good long-term investment. Wider doors and hallways are useful for moving larger furniture today, and will also be wheelchair accessible tomorrow.

Better Lighting/Bigger Windows – The need for more lighting usually increases as we grow older. To accommodate this, builders are adding more windows and making them larger to let in more natural light. They are also adding more light fixtures in areas including under cabinets and in stairwells. Multiple switches to reduce the number of trips and dimmer controls to eliminate glare are other options.

First-Floor Bedrooms and Bathrooms – More than 40 percent of new homes have master suites downstairs, a 15 percent increase over a decade ago. Boomers not wishing to go up and down stairs with bad knees and aching backs have helped fuel this trend. The bedrooms are also bigger, with larger walk-in closets and bathrooms that have a separate tub and shower and dual sinks.

Easy to Maintain Exteriors/Landscaping – Yard work, painting and other landscaping chores may no longer be enjoyable to aging homeowners. People who move to a new home when they retire may opt for a maintenance-free community. Those that choose to stay in their homes might make improvements to exterior surfaces such as installing stucco, brick or low-maintenance siding. Lawns are being replaced with living patios, decorative landscaping, or flowerbeds, which can be a hobby for gardening enthusiasts.

Flex Space – “Flex space” has become more prevalent in both new homes and remodeling. Flex spaces are rooms that take on the purpose of the present homeowner’s needs but can adjust with changes as they occur. What may have once started out as a guest bedroom can be redecorated to serve as a hobby room or library. This allows homeowners to stay in their homes longer as it continues to serve their needs throughout life’s stages.

To find a designated Certified Active Adult Specialist in House (CAASH) or Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) builder or remodeler in your area, contact The Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia at (770) 716-7109. The HBA of Midwest Georgia serves over 700 businesses in the building industry in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Butts and Jasper Counties.