Back in Black: A Stunning East Cobb Makeover

Back in Black

For this former New York family, their newly purchased East Cobb Roswell home did not fit their style. The home was over 20 years old and most of the fixtures and features were original from the builder – basically a home from the late ’90s – which meant lots and lots of brown. They chose the home because of its excellent location and good bones. However, modern and updated was what they wanted and that’s why they contacted Atlanta Curb Appeal.

Remarkably, the owner’s design background and sense of style lent itself to a clear vision of how she wanted to renovate each room. Her love of black and white dramatically changed the look and feel of each space. A little bit of paint went a long way, especially on the home’s exterior (which was completely transformed) and the interior noir window trims which modernized the home’s interior.

Over the past few years, a change has been happening in American home color palettes. It was all white for a time, but today in some homes “black is the new gray” in interior design! This homeowner clearly had a vision of how to recreate the space in their own style and using more contemporary design techniques.

Even more unique to this project – believe it not – is that this beautiful renovation was designed almost entirely through renderings and Facetime discussions with the owner over the two-month period before they relocated from New York. Once the work began, the owner flew in every few weeks to meet with ACA in person and see the progress, but they were able to pull off the successful renovation via long distance through daily FaceTime communication.

The Great Room

The Great Room was transformed with paint and special architectural touches, including new wall trims, revitalized flooring, and a new fireplace mantle. Sometimes it’s the small details that can make a huge difference. Off the Great Room, ACA built a one-of-a-kind foyer ceiling detail that is striking when you walk through the front door. This similar trim detail was added to the kitchen and bar islands for continuity (see photos!)

The Pantry

Coming from New York, the owner always longed for a large pantry and laundry space. ACA completely transformed the home’s former laundry room into a spectacular mudroom, with a deep pantry, new laundry space and powder room. Together they designed a custom-built pantry with deep shelving with barn doors to cover the laundry area and reduce noise, but maintain the open concept. The open shelving for the pantry turned out beautifully because it allows for display of their inventory of food to be seen with a quick scan, which is great when you are creating your grocery list. A barn door was added to serve as the powder room door to maximize space. This room transformation was not without its challenges – including the need to remove a window to make the barn doors work! ACA worked through the issues to make her design a reality and this is now the owner’s favorite space in the house!

 

The Kitchen

Using the good bones already in the kitchen, the look was completely transformed by professional cabinet refinishing. Just by changing the colors, this kitchen instantly became more modern. Then ACA added new countertops, fixtures, lighting, and special molding detail to bring the cabinets to the ceiling. With a fresh backsplash and modern hardware this kitchen – especially the island – became a gorgeous focal point of the home.

 

The Bar Lounge

Often in homes today, you see the front room adjacent to the dining room as an office or a formal sitting room, but these homeowners had other ideas! ACA custom-built a wet bar with a striking island (detail matching to the foyer ceiling detail) to make this room a one-of-a-kind bar lounge. The room is still in progress but it is proof that you can make your home whatever you want, with a vision.

Overall, the results of this home renovation speak for itself! The owners are thrilled with the renovation and enjoyed working with ACA. She shared on her Instagram live updates through each of the renovation stages. Go to @AllyBunin and click on “Home Reno” in the highlighted stories to see the progress.

If you are ready to start a new project with Atlanta Curb Appeal get in touch with us for a consultation. 

Want to read another Home Makeover story? Here is a gorgeous Kitchen in Black we did in Indian Hills last year.

Dramatic Backyard Makeover East Cobb

Dramatic Backyard Makeover in East Cobb

Originally, this East Cobb homeowner found Atlanta Curb Appeal through mutual friends. They were looking to upgrade their backyard into a place that the whole family could enjoy. For 10 years, they had lived there getting by with a simple unscreened deck. Unfortunately, during the hot and mosquito-filled Georgia summers, it was not exactly the most pleasant place.

Their original deck was plain and was not finished underneath, and in the backyard, an old playhouse got little use. This family has 3 fabulous kids that love the outdoors, and the dad really wanted a screened porch and a bigger deck. He got his wish!

It was a large project to undertake. First, Atlanta Curb Appeal had to remove the old deck completely and start from the footings up. Then, a post was added and new beams.
A brand new screened porch was built on top of the new large, long deck. It’s amazing how much usable space was created!

After completing the deck, an underdeck was finished with a dry below system to collect the water from above. This ensures that the water from the top level does not penetrate to those sitting underneath on the new stylish outdoor furniture.

Atlanta Curb Appeal also added some visual panache by dressing up the columns, screen frames, and posts with cedar. Cedar is truly a gorgeous choice for decks. Wood stains were also applied to increase durability and to add color. It’s fun to have options! The flooring that was chosen for this new East Cobb deck and porch was also cedar. While most people choose pressure-treated pine in the South for savings, the cedar is a beautiful wood that allows the deck to smell and look fabulous! It’s worth it if it’s in the budget!

Finally, a completely new playhouse was built for the family. Atlanta Curb Appeal insulated it like a real house; however, electricity and water were not added at this time. The kids are already in love!

The results are in. The family is thrilled and are happily using every part of the new renovations. Additionally, a new gabled roof and big cedar beams and groove cedar ceiling planks were installed on the front of the house. Talk about new curb appeal!

This project was large in size and took about two months. This is a bit longer than normal, but due to its scope and some COVID-19 supply issues, it was a great accomplishment.

Are you ready to see what Atlanta Curb Appeal can do for your new backyard? Schedule a consultation with Avi and Andy.

Want to read another makeover story? See this Million Dollar Deck we built one summer.

His and Hers Offices: 2020 Home Improvements

Screaming kids, short walks to the kitchen, distracting media devices – there are hurdles to productivity when you and your partner are working from home, and the coronavirus pandemic could make working at home a preferred strategy for many companies in the future.

Maybe it is time to start looking at an in-home office remodel or addition! Plus, if you are both working at home – why not go the extra step and build a HIS and HERS office? Statistically, people are more productive the more organized their workspaces are. While it was novel having your “home office” at the kitchen table, with its spilt dried milk and broken cheerios, having a dedicated space to focus is the answer to many problems. Simply shut the door and suddenly you have a boundary, a new place to take calls and answer emails, un-interrupted!

At Atlanta Curb Appeal, we have seen an uptick in estimates for home offices, and we would like to share a few ideas to help get the ball rolling.

Here are four tips to consider before you build:

1. Find a style that you both like – While personal tastes may vary between the two of you, try to find a unifying style that you can both feel comfortable in. Work together to settle on an overarching category (farmhouse, modern, industrial, etc.) and then you can personalize your individual work spaces.
2. Get Organized – For maximum productivity, especially with two people working in the same space, it must be as clutter free as possible! ACA can help you incorporate smart storage solutions through cabinetry, custom shelving, and other organizational features that will help keep both of your work spaces neat and tidy. One study concluded that untidy workspaces undermine people’s persistence in completing tasks. If you have a place for everything, you no longer have to stack reports on the chair next to the bed.
3. Don’t forget about comfort – If your derriere is going to be in a chair for eight hours a day, comfort is key! Otherwise, you will end up on the couch. (Asleep. With coffee pouring on your lap.) ACA can help you create a space that you and your partner will never want to leave!
4. Optimize light – Light is an important component to creativity, problem solving, and work ethic. Glaring fluorescent light will zap it in a heartbeat, but low, dim lighting will likely lull you to sleep. Find a way to let in natural light and then add a warm light fixture to create a welcoming and productive space.

If you are ready to add an in-home office space, contact ACA to get started!

 

Fabulous Finished Basement Challenges in East Cobb

A finished basement is one of the most popular home renovations here in Georgia. A basement in the average American household is around a thousand square feet. That’s a lot of square footage that can be turned into functional living space! Since the bones of the structure already exist, it can be a less expensive option than a full-out addition.

Atlanta Curb Appeal has wrapped up several finished basements lately! Maybe because of COVID-19, people are working and schooling from home, or maybe they are just not ready yet to go back to the gym.

Want to see our Basement Gallery?

Some of the hot finished-basement trends include schooling and office areas, yoga studios, gyms, meditation spaces, kids’ hangout spaces, wine cellars, and media rooms. Clients also love adding a kitchenette or a wet bar.

There are a few challenges you face when finishing a basement., but Atlanta Curb Appeal can help you come up with solutions that fit your budget.

• Light – Typically, the basement can feel dark and clunky. One of our favorite solutions is adding French doors in place of windows. This adds both light and an additional entry/exit point. We can also widen openings between rooms to make space feel more open.

• Water – While it’s easy to get water into a basement, it is a little more difficult to get it out. If your basement renovation includes plumbing (kitchenette, bathroom, laundry room) you will likely have to add a sump pump to get the water back out.

• HVAC – Sometimes adding a large amount of square footage with a finished basement can overtax the heating and cooling units in the house. ACA often suggests adding a new system for a finished basement.

Finishing the basement can be a quick way to add square footage; ACA can usually complete the project in about 6 weeks, depending on the size. Adding an extra TV room, home office, or quiet sitting area in the basement can be an easy solution if the house is feeling a little crowded these days.

Many people are also refinancing right now; maybe it’s time to put aside some funds for a refresh!

If you have been conversations in your family about expanding your current living space, give us a call, 770-778-1172. Atlanta Curb Appeal is known for staying on budget and on time.

Click here to read a makeover story about this breathtaking basement makeover we did in East Cobb

 

Spectacular Chimney Springs Porch Delivers Serenity!

Spectacular Serenity and Zen in the Backyard!

If you have to stay at home, why not make your back porch an oasis?

The global pandemic due to COVID-19 has forced most people to remain at home, and that means many people are taking this opportunity to start home beautifying projects, especially outdoors. It’s obvious people are making changes because home improvement sales have risen steadily during the past few months!

This particular East Cobb Chimney Springs homeowner is an Atlanta Curb Appeal returning customer. She was pleased with the home addition and kitchen renovation ACA did for her in the past, and so when the time came, she knew exactly whom to call.

For her latest project, she wanted ACA to create a tranquil new space using her back porch. At the time, she had a simple open porch with flagstone tile and no roof. ACA’s solution was to build onto the existing footprint to create a beautiful enclosure.

A new screened-in porch was a perfect option for a cost-effective way to add entertaining and relaxation space to this home. It is an additional place to host groups of people or a quiet place to just enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the mornings. The screens and roof protect the porch from falling leaves, pollen, and mosquitos. The project added additional space without the expense of insulation and a heating and cooling system.

The new exposed beams and wood ceiling give the space a modern pagoda Zen look. It features a skylight/cupola in the roof that lets in daylight and the up-lighting gives the space a great feel at night. The openness allows you to fully experience the fresh outdoor air while having some shelter. Nature has never felt closer, while keeping the bugs and heat away.

The homeowner was thrilled with the results! Her new back porch is her new serenity destination with its merging of hard and soft features. It’s like traveling to an outdoor retreat, but just steps from her kitchen.

If you think a backyard upgrade is in your near future, ACA can help you get started! Or if you are working at home, you might be itching for an upgrade to expand your workspace; a beautiful back porch addition like this one would be a great place to start. Plus, even when you go back to the office, it will still be great for entertaining and relaxing for years to come.

 

8 Fantastic Reasons to Install An Outdoor Kitchen This Year!

8 Fantastic Reasons to Install An Outdoor Kitchen This Year!

We can all agree, we have missed our friends this spring.

One way to open up this summer is with an outdoor kitchen. Being outdoors with friends is a great way to physically distance. No need to go to a restaurant and spend the whole time worrying if you’re sitting too close to a stranger. Plus, having a place outdoors where you can meet within the distance of a well-stocked wine refrigerator cannot be understated. The starting price range of a new outdoor kitchen can be as little as 8k.

We Can Build Out in as Little as 10 Days!

East Cobb outdoor kitchens and decks have been becoming increasingly popular with our Atlanta Curb Appeal clients over the years. More and more families have decided to expand where they are at and make changes within, instead of moving. With an outdoor kitchen and deck, you can physically distance while having a fan going to keep the air circulating! It’s not super difficult to add on with an outdoor kitchen or deck because it’s simply building on top of an existing pad or adding to the pad.

We put together 8 reasons that may help you decide to build on.

1. It’s fun! Cooking outdoors mixes it up a little, and we can all admit, during a pandemic, we could use a break from the day in, day out making every meal, three times a day. It’s a new experience and makes it an “event” to cook outside!

2. Year-Round Use. Georgia weather lends itself to having permanent outdoor entertainment spaces. Adding roofs and fans can bring down the summer temperatures. Mom and the kids making TikToks or hitting the hot tub while cooking is a great way to stay outside for extended periods.

3. Added Home Value. A new outdoor kitchen will make your home stand out from the pack of other homes in the neighborhood. An outdoor kitchen is something that many people wish they had!

4. Not a Huge Project. From start to finish we can do some outdoor kitchensDreamy Outdoor East Cobb Kitchen in as little as 10 days. We begin with framing, then carpentry, put on the countertops (typically granite), then add the appliances, and finally install the electric, plumbing, and gas. Our crew has a great working system in place to keep the job moving.

5. Stops trips of going in and outside while cooking. How many times have the burgers burned because you ran in to wash the tools or grab a plate? A well-stocked outdoor kitchen with an under-counter refrigerator is a great way to get started. Plus, having extra countertop space to prep veggies or layout the plates is so valuable!

6. New space to sit around and surround the outdoor chef. Barstools or a bench with creative LED lighting turns a back porch into a destination to spend time with friends. Add some speakers and a hanging TV, and you’ve got a party!

7. Great way to try new things! Some homeowners get a new Green Egg Smoker, and it sits in a corner, under the cloth covering they bought with it. With a custom outdoor kitchen (with a specific drop-in space for the Green Egg), you now have counter space to work with it. Some of our clients are foodies, so another great addition that’s fun is an outdoor pizza oven. Year-round pizza or bread without heating up the indoors? Total bonus.

8. Add a fireplace or fire pit while you are at it. Being outside will be the new favorite place to be while at home in the coming years. Having an outdoor fireplace can be fun for the adults in the fall. How many times have your kids asked, “Dad, can we have a fire tonight?” It’s easy to say “yes” with an outdoor fireplace.

Atlanta Curb Appeal offers free estimates if you are considering a new outdoor kitchen or deck. We are highly experienced in bringing projects to fruition on time and on budget.

Want to read another makeover story? Check out this Million Dollar Deck we added for this family.

Is 2020 The Year for the Home Addition?

Is 2020 the year for a home addition?

Well… you have probably been home more than ever before the past few months, and you might have noticed a few things that need improvement. We think that this is a great time to expand! Here are five reasons why:

1. More Room! – Who couldn’t use more play area for the kids? Or an entertainment space for your guests? Or a new luxury storage space? Or a home office? Perhaps you want more room in your kitchen or your bathroom. Adding square footage to your home is an obvious benefit to a home addition. You can spread out more now and increase your home value for later.
2.  Make it your own. – Even in the best homes, there are things owners would love to change. The great thing about a home addition is that you get to be in control of the design process. We love to assist homeowners in creating a space that utilizes their own taste.
3. You don’t have to bother with a move! – “I just love packing up all of my stuff and then unpacking it in a new house.” said No one, ever. A home addition is a much simpler way to get the house you want without actually moving.
4. Stay in the neighborhood. – Starting over in a new home can be tough: new neighbors, new friends, new routines and schools. You already have your favorite Publix store memorized. If all you are looking for is a better home layout, think about trying an addition – it’s so worth it to keep your lovely neighbors.
5. Tax Valuation – If you have lived in your house for a long time, you probably are still being taxed on the value of your home when you bought it. With soaring real estate prices right now, moving to a new home means paying taxes on a new valuation, in addition to a potentially higher mortgage.

If you are ready to get started on your next home project or East Cobb addition we are ready to work with you!

The mission of Atlanta Curb Appeal is to bring you the East Cobb, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Canton home of your dreams, no matter how large or small your project may be. We offer custom remodeling design services, affordable prices, exceptionally crafted products, and an unsurpassed commitment to customer satisfaction.

 

 

Nine East Cobb Fine Dining Kitchen Trends During COVID

9 East Cobb Fine Dining Kitchen Trends During Covid19

“Honey, remember when we used to go out for drinks and dinner?”

The good old days! During these times of a pandemic, we all have had to make a few changes. Some for the worst, but some for the best!

Atlanta Curb Appeal has seen a new demand lately for East Cobb kitchen remodeling as families now spend the majority of their time together… at home. All this extra time in the kitchen has made needed changes glaringly obvious.

The new East Cobb Kitchen Renovation brings fine dining home.

Many homeowners are choosing to bring a kitchen remodel to the front of the list because there is more cooking at home these days. Families now find it amusing and entertaining to spend time cooking together.

The first new trend Atlanta Curb Appeal is seeing being asked for during these “COVID” times are constant hot water faucets. Washing hands is the new priority after bringing in the groceries or mail. Having hot water on demand is also great because it can eliminate the need for an electric kettle from the countertop. Also requested from East Cobb homeowners are food-warming drawers to keep appetizers or dishes warm during a meal or party.

Want to see Atlanta Curb Appeal’s Kitchen Gallery

Second, many request new USB Outlets for their phones and devices. The kitchen is the hub of the home for many families and being able to handle a work call at any time is important! With so much work being done at home, running out of juice seems to occur more often. USB charging downstairs in the kitchen is a huge new help!

Third, Atlanta Curb Appeal is seeing requests for pendant lights above their newly installed custom islands. It almost looks like a restaurant! Fancy pendant lights are where the clients get to be creative. Clients choose their own desired style and then Atlanta Curb Appeal can guide them on how many per island and what size would work best. Another important factor is choosing the exact location of the lights above the island. One has to taking into consideration meal prep, appliances, etc. There are lots of decisions to make when updating your kitchen, and having an architect with massive design experience on your side is so helpful!

Fourth, big pantry walls are making a comeback. More people are concerned with sufficient long-term food storage. Typically, most homes have a separate pantry closet nearby. When Atlanta Curb Appeal designs new kitchens, they try to eliminate these and bring the space back into the kitchen while compensating with wide, new pantry cabinets. Using pull-out shelves helps with easy access to deep lower shelves content.

Fifth, islands are also the bigger thing in every kitchen. People love the dramatic center island with overhang for family members to gather around and be social. It also works very well when guests are over. The island with large storage areas is the focal point of every kitchen.

Sixth up is cool new variations in the backsplash. Custom tile work in the shower has always been popular, but now the kitchen backsplash is making waves. Subway tile has been a thing for a few years, but creating some movement with design has been a newer request. Since many kitchens are white cabinets with white quartz, the backslash is playing a bigger role in breaking up this white with interesting different cuts of stone. Another variation is a white subway tile with white grout or even a darker grout to showcase the tile pattern. Porcelain and glass tile are two popular choices.

Seventh up is open floor plans! Creating space in the kitchen is important. An open layout helps everything feel clean and modern. The house will continue to be full for the foreseeable future, so wide spaces give a feeling of freedom. Atlanta Curb Appeal is easily able to remove walls to make it accessible to the living spaces.

Eighth up is the latest in kitchen floor trends. Georgia clients typically prefer wood that flows with the rest of the house. Hot tip, this has shown to be best for resale value.

Ninth, what is glamorous in countertops? Generally, most clients choose quartz. Both granite and quartz are great for daily use, one is a natural stone that can be limited with color options, while the other is man-made, meaning it can be pretty much any color or variation clients prefer.

That’s a wrap up of the latest East Cobb Fine Dining Kitchen trends Atlanta Curb Appeal has seen in these COVID-19 times. If you are ready to get a free estimate for your next kitchen renovation, give Atlanta Curb Appeal a call at 770-778-1172.

Want to read another one? How about a delightful Indian Hills Kitchen Makeover Story?

 

Another Gorgeous East Cobb Kitchen Makeover!

Another Gorgeous East Cobb Kitchen Remodel!

This client came to us recommended by another Atlanta Curb Appeal client, who recently had her kitchen renovated.

For quite some time, this new client had in her mind that a change was needed! Her mid-1990’s East Cobb brick home had old light wood cabinets, which made the kitchen feel dated.

Although she had plenty of space due to the generous kitchen floor plan, it wasn’t functional. New cabinets would increase her space by 25%! Atlanta Curb Appeal had to make serious changes, though, to get her new kitchen to flow. Changes to the layout and moving the appliances created a completely new floor plan. A beautiful pantry cabinet wall with mini-fridges filled the space nicely.

The old diagonal island with elevated bar seating was demolished. Atlanta Curb Appeal instead installed a new huge wide island with similar overhang seating. It’s perfect for eat-in or chatting with guests while entertaining during a party.

A new beverage center, which includes a wine fridge ready for beverages, and pantry cabinets top it off. They now have a space for everything when they come home from warehouse grocery shopping!

Gorgeous quartzite art stone was used for the countertops. A new custom built-in microwave and warming drawer finished off the area. It looks amazing! The client’s family loves to cook and this took their meal preparation to a whole new level.

When asked what they thought about their new kitchen they said, “We love it!” and also shared that, “It’s gorgeous!“ They are very pleased with the quality of work Atlanta Curb  Appeal provided.

If you are ready for a kitchen renovation, contact Atlanta Curb Appeal to get your free estimate at 770-778-1172 or fill out our form here.

 

Magazine Worthy Kitchen in East Cobb!

It belongs in a magazine!

This kitchen collaboration Atlanta Curb Appeal (ACA) just wrapped up features new wide-open spaces, a gorgeous centerpiece island, and stunningly refinished maple hardwoods. This remodel was in the home of a former client; ACA previously redesigned the homeowner’s master bathroom.

 

The biggest challenge of remodeling this space was opening up the room. ACA had to remove some walls and take a fireplace out of the room to make it more spacious. We ended up installing double LVL (laminated veneer lumber) beams to provide support. When renovating your home, quality is paramount.

Next up, ACA tackled restoring the hardwood floors that were previously installed in the home. The wood was a maple, which can be a delicate wood to refinish. ACA fixed some previous installation issues, sanded, and refinished the floors. Everyone was surprised and pleased with how great they turned out!

The main event in this modern kitchen renovation is the waterfall island. This is a popular modern design feature. It keeps the island from having boxy edges, giving the space clean lines. It also provided additional durability. It hides boxy appliances: in this case, the microwave. Also, it showcases the beautiful countertop material more dramatically. The homeowner chose quartz, a popular choice for a waterfall island because it is manufactured. Quartz is extremely durable, has vast color and design options, and is easy to maintain. Cabinets in the island were painted grey to make it a focal point of the kitchen. We think it looks gorgeous!

With the additional corner bar, island, and traditional counter space, ACA was able to add about 40 square feet of additional counter space. Now, there is a space for everything. Overall, they opened up the kitchen and gave it a more modern look and a more functional set-up. The homeowner was extremely pleased and said these pictures do not do the kitchen justice!

Another project ACA completed while in the home, was taking down the old laundry room and adding a bathroom. To make up for it, ACA extended the area into the garage to create a new laundry room plus new pantry! Now there is a brand new space between the garage and the kitchen!

If you are ready to start your kitchen renovation, let us know. Atlanta Curb Appeal crews are wearing masks and gloves while working in the home and are following safe practices.