atlanta home improvement 1115

MPROVEMENTMM

S M A R T H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T S T A R T S H E R E

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5atlanta home

Our reader focus group says yes! p. 36

What Atlantahome improvement insiders want you to know p. 53

PLU ED

PLUS! Hundreds of resources to

help you with your home improvement

projects p. 63

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A Castle In CantonCheck out this real

homeowners story p. 30

Our reader focus group says yes! p. 36

Home Improvement

Holiday Gifts?

The Jetsons LifestyleLIVE

New home automation gadgets and products p. 21

1115_cover-001.indd 1 10/20/15 12:21 PM

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1115_003-005_masthead.indd 4 10/16/15 3:34 PM

PRESIDENT/FOUNDERSherri Adair

PUBLISHERPatti Stephens

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERJennifer Prins

EDITOR AND SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORJayne Hallock

[email protected]

COPY EDITORAmy Meadows

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT MARKETINGDavid Leonard

ART DIRECTORDona Halliday

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESandi Edelson

SOCIAL MEDIA/EDITORIAL ASSISTANTChela Counts

OFFICE MANAGERClarice Diavua

CONTRIBUTORSKathy KantorskiAmy Meadows

A t l a n t ac h a p t e r

MPROVEMENT

S M A R T H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T S T A R T S H E R E

atlanta home

Inquiries and submissions regarding advertising and editorial should be directed to the address above. Atlanta Home Improvement does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Readers are encouraged to notify Publisher when they suspect false advertising. Atlanta Home Improvement reserves the right to edit editorial for clarity and space availability. No content i.e. articles, graphics, designs and information (any and all) in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Publisher.

For print, web, email and social media advertising information contact us at:

80 West Wieuca Road, Suite 115Atlanta, GA 30342

(404) 303-9333 x 17 FAX (404) [email protected]

AtlantaHomeImprovement.com

Atlanta Home Improvement magazine uses soy-based ink and is printed on 100 percent recyclable paper.

Our print partner, Newpoint Media Group, recycles all excess paper, printing plates and any other

recyclable materials used in the printing process.

Follow us on

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AtlantaHomeImprovement.com ATLANTA HOME IMPROVEMENT NOVEMBER 2015 5

1115_003-005_masthead.indd 5 10/19/15 10:30 AM

contents

features21 Live The Jetsons

lifestyle New home automation products

make life simpler

30 A Castle in Canton A Real Homeowners Story

53 Our special Plugged In section features holiday recipes, greetings, family traditions and more from home industry enthusiasts and experts

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Home Improvement Holiday Gifts? Our Reader Focus Group Says Yes!

36

30

21

PLU ED

6 ATLANTA HOME IMPROVEMENT NOVEMBER 2015 AtlantaHomeImprovement.com

1115_006-009_TOC.indd 6 10/20/15 3:22 PM

2015 Georgia Power. All rights reserved. Certain restrictions apply. Must be a Georgia Power customer. Valid through December 2015. Rebate eligibility varies based on improvements made and energy reduction achieved. Rebate request must be submitted with receipt within 60 days of purchase or installation of qualifying improvements. Full details available online.

Do you know how much energy your home is wasting?The average home has enough air leaks to create an opening over 3 feet wide. So schedule

a Whole House Energy Assessment, performed by a program participating contractor, to

find out where your home is losing energy. Complete a home energy assessment and youll

get up to a $225 rebate. And if you make the home energy improvements, you could get up

to $2,350 in rebates. Learn more at georgiapower.com/wholehouse or call 1-800-310-5607.

Small energy leaks can really add up.

1115_006-009_TOC.indd 7 10/16/15 3:34 PM

16

in every issue 10 Editors Letter

12 Editors Picks Home Dcor Shopping In Stone Mountain Village

14 Home Front Quick Tips, Expert Advice, Fun Events and More!

16 Our Expert Panel Q&A Safe and Sound for the Holidays

18 The Payoff: Home Improvement ROI 5 Curb Appeal Tips Part Two of Two

63 Resource Finder Find Help with your Home Improvement Projects

66 DIY Blogger Beat Holiday Craft Project

contents

66

12

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ON KUDZU & GOOGLE+

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SERVICES INCLUDE:Air ConditioningHeatingMaintenance ProgramsService RepairsIndoor Air QualityHumidity ControlZoningSmart ThermostatsDuctless SystemsDuct CleaningWater Heaters

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770.COOL AIR (770.266.5247)

WINTER SPECIALS!!!INSTALLEDFURNACE

$1,695* 45K BTU GAS

SERVICE TUNE-UP

$5995PER UNIT

COMPLETE LENNOX 16 SEER HEATING & COOLING SYSTEM

$5,295***INSTALLED

INSTALLEDSTEAM HUMIDIFIER

$1,795**16 GALLON





$139

PER SYSTEM$99 FOR EACH ADDL SYSTEM

2 visits. Some restrictions apply. Call for details.

FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION

Reg $159

*$1695 Furnace Special Lennox 45K BTU High Effi ciency gas furnace. 20 year limited warranty on the heat exchanger, 10

years on covered parts. Price includes standard installation.

** $1795 Steam Humidifi er - Field Control 16 gallon, 18 month warranty. Price includes standard installation.

***Complete 2.0 Ton 16 SEER split system A/C with 45K BTU High Effi ciency 80% gas furnace, matching coil and digital thermostat.

Price includes standard installation.

****System rebate offer up to $1700. Rebate offer is valid September 7th November 27th 2015 with the purchase of

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A Reluctant Goodbyeeditorsletter

How do I do this? How do I leave a team, a family like this one? But leave it I must. Im off to

a new, impossible-to-pass-up

gig. So this is my last letter

as the editor of Atlanta Home

Improvement.

A lot has changed since I rst

signed on. The publication

was sold (back to the original founder and all around

Superwoman Sherri Adair.) It has stretched; improved,

evolved into something Im so very proud to be a part

of. Its a magazine for real people with real homes

and budgets. Its for all of us. Its for your family, your

neighborhood. Its truly for you.

And you, dear reader, Ill miss! In my almost two years

here Ive met hundreds of you face to face and Im always

humbled by your loyalty to our publication. Ill miss

basking in that happy glow almost as much I already miss

the hard-working, funny, talented, driven team who makes

this magic happen, month-in and month-out.

But enough about me. Lets talk about this issue. Page 36

kicks off the kind of article evolution I mentioned earlier.

Its our rst-ever holiday focus group roundup where we

polled dozens of readers to nd out what would make a

good home improvement related gift. Their suggestions are

fun and fascinating. Want even more inspiration? Check

out a real homeowners story on page 30. Its a castle! In

Canton!

Our gadget-y, cool feature on page 21 showcases new home

automation products that can help you live The Jetsons

lifestyle. Futuristic, baby.

Speaking of the future, Ill say one more thing. Yall have not

seen nothin yet. Ive peeked at the 2016 editorial calendar

and its simply awesome. After this issue I myself will

become a dear reader and I am excited to watch what 2016

brings!

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

Jayne Hallock Editor & Social Media Director


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4 Things Youll Learn This Month

1

Coming in December:

In this Issue

234

How to safety check your home for the holidays. P. 16

What is a Kevo? P. 21

What do readers think is a great luxury gift? P. 36

A fun holiday DIY craft! P. 66

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MPROVEMENT


atlanta home

Best of 2015Winner

BESTWATER PONDS/

GARDENS

Which rooms sell a home?

The Kitchen and Bath! Which

rooms get the most use every

single day? Your Kitchen and

Bath! What is our December

planner all about? The

Kitchen and Bath! Our annual

Kitchen and Bath Planner will

help inspire, organize and

budget your next remodel.

Well also feature real

homeowner kitchen and bath

makeovers. Real before and

afters, real people, real tips

and real lessons learned!

Dont miss this issue!

S M A R T H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T S T A R T S H E R E .

MPROVEMENTatlanta home

WWW.ATLANTAHOMEIMPROVEMENT.COM

Budget Planner Countertop Materials - Pros & Cons Kitchen Layouts

How Extensive a Renovation Can You Really Afford Refresh, Minor or Major?

Kitchen & BathWorkbook

1115_010-011_ED LETT.indd 11 10/19/15 3:05 PM

1. Barons RestorationKnown for restoring

pieces for the likes of

Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner

and Elton John, this

family-owned business

does it all! Even if you

dont need anything

restored, youll fall in

love with their pristine

collectibles from Disney

and Lladro and even

elegant vases like this

one that we found for

$125. Stop by 931 Main

Street or call

(770) 469-8476.

2. Wells Cargo AntiquesTrinkets, mantelpieces

and furniture galore! If

youre shopping for some

lovely little touches for

your home or great gifts,

youre sure to nd it here.

Affordably and adorably!

We completely fell for

this ceramic piggy bank

(only $5), which is perfect

for any little prince in

your life. Stop by 953

Main Street or call

(770) 469-0400.

3. A Village Flea MarketWho says you cant add

a new look to your

home by adding just a

few pieces from the past?

Not this market! If youre

looking to add distinctive

one-of-a-kind antiques to

your home, be sure to add

this store to your route.

This ve-drawer table

($198) can spruce up any

room. Visit their 791 Main

Street location or call

(770) 413-6436.

4. SassysNamed after an 18-pound

yorkie, Sassys is full of

charm and unique nds!

The array of antiques

found within this spunky

corner store ranges from

jewelry to artwork. We

fell in love with this

sunower oil painting

that can brighten any

room for only $100.

Visit Sassys at 5346 E

Mountain Street or call

(678) 736-0384.

5. Stone Mountain OPO EmporiumConveniently located in

Stone Mountain Villages

old post ofce (hence the

OPO), this emporium is

an antique gold mine.

Rows and rooms of war

and sports memorabilia

and collected furniture

create an atmosphere

of southern history! We

especially loved this

$100 trunk! Visit 5379 E

Mountain Street or call

(770) 469-1425.

editorspicks

Stone Mountain

This month, we thought wed feature one of our favorite parts of town: Stone Mountain! Woodsy, cozy, pretty Stone Mountain Village (located right outside the West Gate of Stone Mountain Park on Main Street) offers great home dcor shopping. Here are a few of the places we stopped by

1

2

5

New and notable home improvement products

4

3

Dear Image Doors,

The real testimony for your company is that you always responded to me, which I respect. You have proven to be different from the pack with superior attitude and customer service. You actually followed up on your companys work. I had other new garage doors installed for my house renovation at about the same time that the Carriage House Door replaced my old garage door. Your door looks much better, so much more substantial quality and actually costs a little less. You should defi nitely use me for a satisfi ed customer reference. Elizabeth M.

$100for new door

customerreferrals!


1115_012-013_editors pick.indd 12 10/19/15 3:06 PM

Dear Image Doors,

The real testimony for your company is that you always responded to me, which I respect. You have proven to be different from the pack with superior attitude and customer service. You actually followed up on your companys work. I had other new garage doors installed for my house renovation at about the same time that the Carriage House Door replaced my old garage door. Your door looks much better, so much more substantial quality and actually costs a little less. You should defi nitely use me for a satisfi ed customer reference. Elizabeth M.

$100for new door

customerreferrals!

1115_012-013_editors pick.indd 13 10/16/15 3:34 PM

The Atlanta

Community

Toolbank is

throwing a huge

Tool Rush sale

on November 7th.

This is a great

chance to buy

a gift for your

favorite DIYer.

Thousands of

new tools will

be priced below standard retail and proceeds benet the Atlanta Community

Toolbank. Visit AtlantaToolBank.org.

homefrontHandmade Holidays

Expert Tips, News and Happenings from Atlantas Home Improvement Community Expert Q&A

How do I prepare teak

outdoor furniture

for winter?

Snow and freezing

temperatures will not

harm the furniture. However,

we do recommend treating

your teak prior to winter

storage.

Do not use teak oil on

outdoor teak furniture! Teak

oil only works on indoor teak

to condition or polish the

wood. Outdoor teak does not

accept teak oil at all; instead

it sits on the surface of the

wood giving it an oily surface.

(We recommend Golden Care

products, including the Teak

Cleaner, Teak Protector and

Teak Shield.)

Start by hosing down each

piece of furniture with fresh

waterbut avoid spraying

the teak with a high-pressure

hose. High pressure can erode

the surface of the teak.

Next, scrub the wet furniture

using a soft bristle brush and

a solution of 2/3 cup laundry

detergent and 1/4 cup bleach

in one gallon of warm water.

When nished, rinse the entire

piece with more fresh water

to remove any remaining

cleaning solution.

Richie Morgan, Senior Design Expert at AuthenTEAK, AuthenTeak.com

Q:

A:

Phot

ogra

ph

y by

Au

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TEA

K O

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LIvi

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Photography by AuthenTEAK Outdoor LIving, photogrpahy by Ash-Marie Evans

The Gift of Tools!

Photo courtesy of Spruill Arts Center for the Arts, photography by Kristin Wilder

Comedian Amy

Sedaris once said:

My favorite things

often have a story

behind them

and are usually

handmade or

discovered at a ea

market. So true!

Look around your

home.

What means

more to you: the

expensive silver

platter you bought

at a department

store or the hand

scrawled I love

you framed picture

from your child?

Handmade gifts are ideal for holiday giving and memory making.

Unfortunately, very few of us are talented enough to make gorgeous gifts

without a little instruction. Luckily, The Spruill Arts Center has a great series

going on this holiday season called Handmade for the Holidays. Sign up to

make holiday wind chimes, stained glass pieces, jewelry and much more! See

Spruillarts.org for more information.

Photo courtesy of Atlanta Community Toolbank, photographyby Mickey Desai


1115_014-015_home-fronts.indd 14 10/19/15 3:13 PM

Expert Q&A

November 2 Intro to Sewing Machine Class 6 - 8 p.m. Discover Sewing - DuluthDiscoverSewing.com

November 4 Thanksgiving 101 Cooking Class 7 - 9 p.m. Cooks WarehouseClasses.CooksWarehouse.com

November 6Handmade for the Holidays: Jewelry Class6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.Registration.SpruillArts.org November 8Afternoon in the Country1 - 4 p.m. Inn at Serenbe Serenbe.com

November 7 Tool Rush8 a.m. - 2 p.m.AtlantaToolBank.com

November 11 Free Park Day Chattahoochee River National Recreation AreaHours varyNPS.gov/chat

November 14 15 Paideia Schools 33rd Annual Fine Art & Craft SaleHours varyThe Paideia School PaideiaSchool.org November 13 14Cumming Steam, Antique Tractor, and Gas Engine Expo Cumming FairgroundsCapa-Ga.com

November 17Miele Appliances Private Demo & Tasting RSVP required: [email protected] November 21 22 Indie Craft Experience 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Ice-Atlanta.com November 26 Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon and 5k7:30 a.m.AtlantaTrackClub.org November 30 December 15 Christmas at Callanwolde Hours vary Callanwolde.org

WHATS HAPPENING THIS MONTH

For more event listings, visit AtlantaHomeImprovement.comHave a home improvement question or news tip? Send to editor@

homeimprovementmag.com.

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1115_014-015_home-fronts.indd 15 10/20/15 3:23 PM


Before you start

installing your holiday

lights, there are a few

things that you

should check for

safety.

Dedicated circuits.

You might think that

it is only a few

(hundred) lights.

Those little lights do

add up. Each mini

light is 5 to 7 watts.

(100 lights x 5 watts =

500 watts.That equals

4.16 amps.)

Please keep in mind

your 15-amp breaker

safely holds 12 amps.

Plug into GFI outlets

only. The cords for

your lights need to be

protected so everyone

has a safe holiday.

Inside and out!

The holidays can be a stressful time for parents. The Christmas tree can be a particular source of concern with its twinkling lights and colorful decorations. So be sure to only use non-breakable ornaments and place them out of reach of babies and young children.

Make sure the tree is well-anchored in an appropriate stand to reduce the risk of it tipping over if a child was to pull on its branches. The presents under the tree can also be a hazard. Be sure to only allow children to play with age-appropriate toys and always check for loose or broken pieces or uncovered batteries.

expertpanel

Holiday Home SafetyKeep Your Family Safe and Sound for the Holidays!

The safety of your pet

is key to your holiday

happiness and theirs.

We all know the

streets can pose a lot

of dangers, but

beware of those inside

the home as well.

Open trash cans,

pesticides, unsafe

electrical wires and

disinfectants can all

cause harm to your

pets. Start actively

looking for these

dangers around the

house this holiday

season. Dont forget

those seemingly-

harmless holiday

decorations! Make

sure there are no

tempting dangling

ribbons or string that

could entice them to

pull heavy items off

tables and onto your

unsuspecting pet.

TERRY ARONSON Ackerman Security

AckermanSecurity.com

TIM CLARK Invisible Fence

Peachtree.InvisibleFence.com

JOHN POPLIN Pat Murphy Electric

PatMurphyElectric.com

RYAN SCHECTER Safe Nest Baby Proong

SafeNestBaby.com

Phot

os

cou

rtes

y of

(le

ft t

o ri

ght)

Ack

erm

an S

ecu

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Sys

tem

s, C

ard

inal

, Rya

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chec

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lark

, A

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man

Sec

uri

ty S

yste

ms

During the holiday

season, the risk of

home res rises

dramatically. It is

estimated that

someone may have

fewer than two

minutes to get out

after a re starts in

their home.

There are two simple

steps that can save

lives: check existing

smoke detectors

and practice re

escape drills at

home. Every family

should develop a re

escape plan and

practice it. The most

important part of

that plan is to have

an agreed upon

meeting place that

all members of the

family go to

immediately upon

escaping from the

home.

JIM CALLAHAN Ackerman Security

AckermanSecurity.com

1240 Old Chattahoochee Ave. Atlanta, GA

Hours MON/SAT 10am to 5pm

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Increased awareness can decrease your chances of becoming a victim of a home burglary. For instance, by realizing that there is a greater chance of a break-in during the day, you can try to create the illusion that people are actually home during daytime hours. Editors note: Set lamps on timers.

Did you know that 40 percent of annual household burglaries are not forced entries? This means someone was easily able to walk, climb or crawl into the house! So make it a habit to check all door and window locks regularlyespecially after kids or guests have been in the house.

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Heres what curb appeal really means to todays savvy residential real estate consumer.(For the rst ve tips,

please see the rst part of

this series on our website:

AtlantaHomeImprovement.com.)

Here are the nal ve tips

in this two-part series about

creating outstanding curb

appeal:

Lightness and

brightness, always!

Dark rooms, weak

lighting and dated

nishes (like worn out door

hardware) can crush a buyers

enthusiasm for a property.

Brighten things up! Even from

the outside, a house should lift

a persons spirits and inspire

good feelings.

Follow proven

models. Success

leaves clues! The

top-dollar sale down

the street or the remarkable

story of a house transformation portrayed on television

are just two examples of successful curb appeal today.

Follow the success of others. Ask for helpand invest in

great help. At closing, you will not regret prioritizing your

curb appeal!

Want top dollar? Hide evidence of pets! Not every

buyer is going to be an animal lover. If your yard

is patchy from Fidos markings, consult a lawn or

landscape professional to x the problem. If you

have a lot of I love my cats! porch dcor, remove that before

showings as well. The fewer reminders that animals live in

the home, the better.

A prettier porch or patio. No matter how small or

simple your front area is, make it the best it can be.

Clear off clutter, x any tears in the screen, give your

concrete porch oor a fresh coat of paint. If its in

your budget, installing a swing with a few colorful

throw pillows can really amp up your curb appeal!

Outdoor housekeeping is a daily chore. Get with

the program and stay with it until you reach the

goal of a top-dollar sale! When your property is for

sale, do not slack on keeping the yard mowed, the

hedges trimmed, the leaves raked, the gutters clean,

the owers watered, etc. Make a point of viewing your home

from the street every single morning to ensure its making a

beautiful drive-by impression every single day!

5 Curb Appeal Tips The Second in A Two-Part Series

LeeTaylor is a 16-year veteran Georgia

Realtor and a Charter Member of

Keller Williams Realty in Georgia.

Hes a graduate of Furman University

and a former U.S. Army ofcer, and

he currently serves on the PTA for

Oak Grove Elementary School. Visit

Intownatlantahouses.com for more details.

ThePayoff Real Estate ROI

When your property is for sale, do not slack on keeping the yard mowed, the hedges trimmed, the leaves raked, the owers watered, etc.

Phot

o co

urt

esy

of T

racy

Cox

Ph

otog

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hy

1

2

34

5


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Remember Rosey, The

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from cooking to cleaningat the

push of a button or a simple voice

command. In fact, that futuristic family

had an array of enviable technology at home. The bad news is

that Rosey doesnt really exist.

The good news? Loads of innovative home gadgets and gizmos do!

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Safe and SecureSome of the most popular home automation products are related to home security.

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The technology available today provides homeowners

with an affordable means to be protected and connected,

says Jim Callahan of Ackerman Security Systems. The ability

to use technology we are all familiar withsuch as smartphones,

tablets and computersprovides a new gateway of accessibility for

homeowners.

From providing live video and allowing you to manage your homes

locks and lights remotely, todays security systems can be paired with

almost any device to give you a new level of control from anywhere

in the world (provided you have Wi-Fi, of course). The security portion

of these systems is about life safety, Callahan notes. The automation

portion is about lifestyle. These devices and services not only protect your

home, but they also give you the opportunity to know what is going on in

your home as often as possible.

In addition to whole-house security systems, there are innovative

individual products that up the security factor for your home. Kevo by

Kwikset ($199) is the rst door lock to turn your smartphone into your key,

giving you hands-free access to your home. The battery-operated deadbolt

lock, which requires no hard wiring and boasts a simple DIY installation,

pairs with your smartphone and comes with an additional key fob.

Once you have the Kevo installed, you enroll your fob and your phone via

an app. Its quite simple, and it offers great convenience and security for

homeowners, says Marty Hoffmann of Kwikset. Whats more, you can send

eKeys to other peoples phones, giving them different levels of access to

your home, from between certain hours of the day to unlimited access.

Amazing OutletsHome automation has even brought standard outlets to a

whole new level. Leeo Smart AlertTM ($99) is a small

device that plugs into the wall and connects to all of

your currently installed smoke and carbon monoxide

detectors; if any of them go off, the Leeo will call

your smartphone with a recorded clip of the

alarm. If you dont pick up, you can program

the Leeo to call backup phones on an

emergency contact list. It can even

call 911 for you. It works with iOS

and Android, and it doubles as a

nightlight, letting you choose any

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Kevo turns your smartphone into your door key. $199

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Rachio Iro sets your watering schedule by assessing your yards sun exposure and weather conditions. $249

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Dollars and SenseAnother benet of

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With many of todays

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much more control over the

devices and appliances in your

home. A popular place to start is with

the Nest Learning Thermostat ($249), which

uses a combination of sensors and algorithms

to teach itself the temperatures you like, when

to turn off if nobody is home and more.

It can be installed as a DIY project and takes

about a week for it to program itself. In the

meantime, the thermostat also allows you to

control the temperature of your house from

your smartphone. According to Nest, The

Nest Learning Thermostat has been proven

by third-party researchers to save people,

on average, about 10 to 12 percent on their

heating bills and about 15 percent on their

cooling bills.

The savings dont only apply to your

homes interior, of course. You can save

on your water bills with the Rachio Iro

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itself to your particular yard, assessing

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Sometimes things are so high tech they are scary.

Technology that tracks our heartbeats! Speakers you, um,

actually speak to? Makes you wonder whats next. An app

that breaks up with your boyfriend for you?

Then again, sometimes we come across high-tech

gadgets that make the world feel a bit less scary.

Here are a few great products designed to provide

you and your family with some real peace of mind.

Ring DoorbellThe concept is simple. And simply awesome.

When someone rings your doorbell, your

smartphone instantly shows you who is

standing at your door. Even if you are on

a different oor, around the corner or even

around the world! Better still, you can hear

the visitor and speak to them! A built-in

motion detector records activity by your front

door, even if the bell isnt rung. Starts at $199. See

more at Ring.com.

Protect America Smart Connect AppThis is just one of many home security systems that allows

you to control everythingright from your smart phone

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disarm your security system, lock and unlock doors or

simply check camera feeds if something goes bump in the

night. All from the comfort of your own bed! See more at

ProtectAmerica.com.

gadgets that make the world feel a bit less scary.

Here are a few great products designed to provide

you and your family with some real peace of mind.

The concept is simple. And simply awesome.

a different oor, around the corner or even

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companys product lines, allows you to use your smartphone

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You can program it to open your bedroom blinds slowly in

the morning to wake you gently or close the shades in a sun

drenched room in the late afternoon each day.

According to Robin Vance of Enhance Floors & More, Hunter

Douglas window coverings can be installed with a satellite

pack in the headrail that then connects to the Platinum

App. The one-time investment will cost around $500 per

window, but its an amazing feature to enjoy for years to

come.

LiftMasters entrance into the home automation market

has given homeowners control over something they

often forget about: the garage door. The companys MyQ-

enabled garage door opener allows you to operate your

garage door or property gate remotely from your iPhone or

Android device. It also provides a new level of monitoring,

as you can check the status of your garage door on your

smartphone. It will even alert you when your garage

door opens or closes. All you need is a module ($59) that

connects to your currently installed LiftMaster garage door

opener, and youre on your way. One module can control

multiple garage doors, reveals Tim Yeager

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and useful. And for

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Platinum App acts as a gentler alarm. The blinds in your bedroom can be programmed to open slowly in the morning to wake you. $500

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really cool hands-free devices that have taken the home

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Robot has been slowly cleaning its way

through homes across the country.

The company recently released the

iRobot Roomba 800 Series (starting at

$509), which features the new AeroForceTM

Performance Cleaning System. The device

now removes up to 50 percent more dust,

debris and hair from your oors by using

AeroForce Extractors instead of traditional

bristle brushes. The press of one button

allows you to enjoy hands-free vacuuming

on carpet and hardwood, and the Roomba

docks and recharges itself when its done.

Alexa! Youll be calling that name out

often thanks to the Amazon Echo ($179.99),

a hands-free device that lets you ask for

information, music, news, weather and

more from across the room. It uses voice

recognition technology and answers

instantly.

Want to hear your favorite tune? Ask Alexa to play it for you.

Want to know the latest news? Alexa will give you a news

ash brie ng from your favorite media outlets. Worried

about your commute? Ask Alexa for the best route to work

each morning. Its an incredible technology that uses the

Cloud and Amazon Web Services to get smarter and more

functional all the time.

(Come to think of it, maybe Rosey the Robot does exist

today?)

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Hm. I guess I would

call it Old World style,

says Jodi Nikolai, when

I ask her how she

would characterize her

Canton home.

Old World. Other

accurate descriptions

include: sprawling,

ornate, gorgeous and

completely, utterly

unique. We rst heard

about this castle-like

home from Alyson

Smith of Interior Evolutions, who was hired by Jodi to

elevate the design in many of this homes rooms.

And Alyson did just that, applying her faux nishing

talent and making absolute magic on many of the

homes walls and ceilings. (Most of the photos in this

spread feature Alysons beautiful handiwork.)

We recently sat down with Jodi Nikolai to nd out

more about the homes history, its design and lessons

learned from the process.

The homeowners moved to Atlanta in 2000 from St.

Louis and built this home in 2003. They chose this

specic builder because he had built another nearby

home which they loved. We fell in love with the look

of that home. Its on a street thats literally called the

Street of Dreams, Nikolai says. The new home took

almost a year to build, and, though they worked with

the same builder, they changed a lot of details, like

adding in Juliet balconies and transforming bedrooms

into ofces.

A few months after the house was complete, the

homeowners encountered a small nancial bump in

the road. So they shifted some money around and

ended up having to divert the funds theyd initially set

aside for furniture. For months.

It was like an echo chamber in here for so long! I

didnt like it because it felt very cold with no furniture,

and it didnt help that there were no color variations

on any of the walls, Nikolai says. Even when their

nances later righted themselves, the Nikolais decided

to upgrade their backyard rst and install a gorgeous

pool, waterfall and elaborate new landscaping.

1. SOARING TURRETS: Building their dream

home was a labor of love

for homeowners Jodi

and Kurt Nikolai.

2. OUTDOOR AREA: There used to be

absolutely nothing

out here. Just trees

overlooking the golf

course. Now our kids

love it out here. We

installed a diving rock,

and a photo I took from

a magazine inspired the

replace.

3. VANITY UPGRADE: This vanity was

originally a plain, boring,

white vanity. We had

Alyson repaint it, and I

put new knobs on there.

4. WALL STENCIL: This wall treatment

looks like custom

wallpaper, but its

actually a stencil! It took

her about a week to

nish.

Pho

togr

aph

y by

Ph

oto

sByH

eath

erFr

itz.

com

A Castle In Canton

REAL HOMEOWNERS STORY

JODI NIKOLAI, Homeowner

30 ATLANTA HOME IMPROVEMENT NOVEMBER 2015

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(Interesting note: HGTV

heard about the backyard

overhaul and decided to lm

the Nikolais journey for its

home improvement show,

Groundbreakers.)

Finally, they were able to

turn their attention to two

nal touches in their home

furniture and wall treatments.

Which brings us to Nikolais

most strident piece of advice.

Dont ever try to pick your

colors without advice from a

designer, she says. Even if

you have great taste, you need

professional help to make

sure it ows with the rest

of the house. For instance, I

picked what I thought was an

Old World paint color for the

kitchen wall. But once it was

up, it looked like mustard! For

my living room, I chose this

forest green colorand it was

horric!

Instead, she advises

homeowners to always check

to see if their furniture store

offers free design services. She

found out later that one of

her favorite furniture stores,

Home Fashion Center, did.

They sent designer Sandi

Fogarty out to the home,

and Nikolai now calls her a

great personal friend and

incredibly talented. She

credits Fogarty with pulling

the homes dcor together so

beautifully.

5. TOP TO BOTTOM TREATMENT: Originally, this

room was all

bright blue and

mermaids. When

my daughter

turned 13, we

brought Alyson

in to redo

everything. I love

this crocodile

detail. The only

thing we bought

new was the

bedding.

We recovered a

chair, which was

originally orange.

6. FAUX FINISH DOORS: The homeowners

asked Alyson to

add a wood tone

nish to the less

expensive builder

grade door (on

the left) to match

the real, heavy

wood doors (on

the right). Even

with the faux

treatment, it still

cost much less

then a real wood

door would!

REAL HOMEOWNERS STORY

Faux Finish Artist: Alyson Smith, Interior Evolutions, InteriorEvo.com

Designer: Sandi Fogarty, Home Fashion Center, HomeFashionCenter.com

Pool Installer: Todd Rogers, Atlanta Classic Pools, (678) 880-3240

ATLANTA HOME IMPROVEMENT NOVEMBER 2015 33


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Home Improvement?

GiftGive A of

Reader Focus Group, Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom

Our Reader Focus GroupSays Yes!


1115_036-051_Gift-Guide-Focus-Group.indd 36 10/20/15 8:43 AM

Home Improvement?

The holidays! Malls! Trinkets and traf c! Complete

department storeoverload.

Its the same old, same old.Maybe its time to think

outside the box. Or rather, in it.

Inside the beautiful big box we call our home. Its where we lay

our heads, raise our families andideally nd fun, peace and

relaxation.

But thats not always the case!Unfortunately your favorite persons

home is often a source of frustration and work. Sowouldnt you love

to help them enjoy their most valuable investment a little bit more?

Put that giftmoney that would otherwise go into another cashmere

sweater or piece of expensive jewelry towards a gift for the home.I know what youre thinking. Youre worried that yourgiftwill be as warmly welcomed as giving

them an iron. Or a new vacuum cleaner. Merry Christmas, honeynow get to work!

Sure, if you dont choose yourgiftwisely, it can be interpreted that way.

(We can help you avoid making those awkward mistakes. Just read the Ho-Ho-NO sidebar on P. 47) But if

you plan yourgiftwisely, you may just give them the bestgiftthey have ever received.

We pulled together a few dozen of our most discerning, opinionated and funny readers and invited

them to a focus group! Heres a roundup of some of their most unique home gift ideas.



Seven Stone Atlanta Home Improvemen.indd 1 9/14/15 3:30 PM1115_036-051_Gift-Guide-Focus-Group.indd 38 10/20/15 8:28 AM

Julie: A Sub-Zero and Wolf toaster oven! That would be a great investment in somebodys kitchen.I need to warm up these quesadillas and I didnt want to heat up my whole oven to do it.Its more energy ef cient, more green, more simple!

Lindsay: Yes! Call it a

countertop oven! It modernizes it and really makes it sound more fun. Its so far beyond just toast!

Jesse: Im more of a tools guy. Id rather the kids pool their funds and buy me a great new toolmuch more than a new sweater.

Jennifer: I think a wine cooler is a greatgift.Add in a high-end wine

bottle opener.

GiftideasOur focus group says give a gift of home improvement

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Lindsay: Matching Hangers! It will make them feel like they have a custom closet. Surprise them by rearranging their closet with new, matching hangers and then having the present be you opening the door and showing them their newly organized closet. I think that would be a greatgift!


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Heather: A wall-

mounted replace. Theyre very

affordable and can go anywhere

in the house. Its a luxury

item, and most people wouldnt have it. And its

romantic!

Connie: I come from a designer perspective,

but I think a set of nice, high-end picture frames is a greatgift, especially if someone

were to frame some of my favorite family photos in them. A lot of people wouldnt spend that money

for frames for themselves.If you dont know what size, a safe bet

is 4x 6.

Jennifer: I would love nice matching throws. I have a nice afghan my grandmother made and another blanket we use for the dog, but nothing matches. It would be great to have nice, high-quality throws for each member of the family. When you buy them all together as a set like that, you help upgrade the design of the room, too!


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Kristin: I think a rainfall or

massage showerhead would be a great gift. Its affordable for a

gift but not something most people would buy for themselves. It would make any

shower feel that much more luxurious!

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A D E S I G N / B U I L D C O M PA N Y1115_036-051_Gift-Guide-Focus-Group.indd 42 10/20/15 8:28 AM

Connie: This is de nitely a luxury gift, but I would love an all-terrain

golf cart. Not only can you get around the neighborhood in it, but you can also carry heavy items and do yard work with it!

Deborah: I would

love a small refrigerator for my craft studio! I can have friends over and have wine and cheese and crackers.Turn it into an actual entertaining area!


Jo Ann: This is dreaming big and de nitely in the luxury category, but I would love to have my

patio or deck covered so I could use it year round.

Michelle: Solar light sculptures. Metal sculptures with solar lights that light up every evening. Some local artists make gorgeous ones!

that light up every evening. Some local artists make gorgeous ones!

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FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

FOR OVER 30 YEARSSpecializing in Kitchens & Baths

Basement Build-OutsRoom AdditionsCovered PorchesSunrooms

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A D E S I G N / B U I L D C O M PA N Y AtlantaHomeImprovement.com ATLANTA HOME IMPROVEMENT NOVEMBER 2015 431115_036-051_Gift-Guide-Focus-Group.indd 43 10/20/15 8:28 AM

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A Pros Take: HGTV Designer Chip Wade Weighs InMy advice for gifting home improvement-related items is a lot like the advice I give for any home improvement project. Always start with a master plan!

Take the time to draw out a scaled plan or hire an architect to provide you with as-build documents. Brainstorm how the proposed gift interacts with other parts of the home. Better still, invest in a consultation with your favorite designer who can help you create a true vision for the gift.

Overall, I recommend combining a gift item with an experience. Arrange cooking classes to go with the new oven or schedule an appointment with a personal shopper for their new customized closet. Buy them a woodworking class for their new set of tools! An experience like that will become a treasured memory every time that item is used.

Want to really swing for the fences when it comes to a personalized gift? Go for high sentiment and emotion. Consider hiring an artist or fabricator to repurpose a family heirloom that currently serves no purpose in your home into something your loved one can actually use.

Ive seen pianos used for art installations and an old chandelier made into a necklace. Ive even seen doors turned into vintage coffee tables. These pieces provide function while, at the same time, serve as greatand meaningfulconversation starters.

Chip is host, designer and executive producer for several shows on HGTV. To learn more, visit ChipWade.com or follow him on social media @chipwade.



Alicia: My husband wants to use the garage as a workshop, but we dont have a lot of outlets out there. So it would be

nice to have an electrician install more wiring to make it more useful. Editors note: Have the wiring installed right before Christmas Day and hide new outlets with boxes, hanging items etc. On Christmas morning, surprise them by bringing them out to the garage, icking on the light switch and having new lamps turn on all around the garage!


Deanna: Id love any

kind of rollout shelves for my lower cabinets. {Editors note: No more crouching and digging, and they are surprisingly affordable.}

Judy: I would love one

of those slide-out appliance shelves. Its getting harder and harder to haul appliances out of the cabinet, and it makes me want to use them less. If I knew I could just slide it out and use it and slide it back in, Id de nitely get more use out of my big mixers, etc.

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Frankie: I would

love a Seiko coffee maker. You pour the whole beans in the top; it grinds them and then can make just one cup of coffee. Its a little more green and better for the environment since they dont use individual disposable cups.

Photo courtesy of Miele

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Julie: I would love

a new mailbox. Not only would it make me happy coming and going each day, but it also would make the whole street even prettier.If someone gave me a catalog and let me choose which one I wanted myself, that would be great. Maybe pair it with agiftcard to a local nursery so I could plant around it myself too!



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