Making a House Your Own
Written by JACKIE KENNEDY
For inspiration and guidance on constructing or renovating a home, Cowetans need look no further than local builders, designers and service providers.
For updates on the latest trends – and for age-old wisdom when pursuing home projects – we sought input from first, second and third place winners in our Best of Coweta Readers’ Choice Awards contest.
At Lichty Brothers Homes, Daniel Lichty says kitchen remodels continue to be the most popular projects with exterior work like new decks, screened porches and covered patios following closely behind.
“We continue to see homeowners wanting to create that open concept in the heart of their home and make their homes more functional for their lifestyle by modifying how spaces are utilized and maximizing thoughtful storage areas,” says Lichty, noting that other popular projects include free-standing garages, basement finishes and bath remodels.
Choosing a well-reputed local business is key when entering a remodel project, according to Lichty.
“Don’t choose the pop-up contractor here because of the latest tornado or hailstorm – or the new guy just because he is the cheapest,” he said. “We have a lot of calls from people who have been scammed by contractors that took money and disappeared.”
To avoid scams, homeowners must do their homework, he adds: “Make sure your contractor is licensed and insured. Read reviews. If you’re considering a couple of different companies, ask for references. A good contractor would be happy to provide you with projects to walk through or prior customers to talk to. Make sure you’re getting a well-detailed quote that spells out the entirety of your project. Be prepared to make decisions and understand that the process isn’t going to go perfectly, so choose someone you think has the most experience and that you will be able to work with when things are going well – and when they aren’t.”
When it comes to decorating the interior of a home, Lori Duncan at Blue Fern Interior Design says the latest trend is choosing a cohesive color palette for the home and using it for each room, whether it’s neutral and/or bold colors, in wallpaper, fabrics, tile and more. To get the biggest bang for your remodeling buck, Duncan reminds homeowners to share their goals and preferences with their designer.
“Always give us an idea of what you like and don’t like, so we don’t have to guess at what you love,” she says. “We are there to help narrow down ideas and make it simpler for you to create amazing spaces. Our goal is to inspire and make the process fun and easy for you.”
Designer Lori Harris of Swoon Designs echoes the importance of sharing your individual taste and desire with your home decorator.
“Before hiring a designer, it’s essential to conduct some preliminary research,” says Harris. “Take the time to narrow down your preferred style and color palette. Gather inspiration photos that resonate with you, and explore your existing space to identify elements you love. By doing so, you’ll provide valuable guidance to your designer, enabling them to create a customized plan that aligns with your preferences and ensures a result you’re bound to adore.”
Current trends in home decor include warm, earthy color palettes and furniture with soft curved edges.
“Curves and color are back,” says Harris. “We are seeing shades such as terracotta, ochre, deep greens and rich browns.”
While the visual exterior and interior of any home are vastly important, the comfort provided by adequate heating and cooling can make or break the ambiance.
Samantha Brazie of Progressive Heating, Air and Plumbing advises homeowners to discuss ductwork, efficiency and dehumidification with their heating and air professional.
“That’s where you will get the best bang for your buck in Georgia,” says Brazie. “Homeowners lose a lot of money through attics and crawl spaces and spend a lot of money on electric bills because units constantly run due to being undersized, lots of humidity or because they just can’t keep up in general.”
Higher efficiency systems that pull humidity out of houses help address these issues, according to Brazie, who says, “Even though I’ve been in HVAC for 16 years, I truly didn’t understand the power of a system with dehumidification until I replaced my upstairs unit in early May. It has changed our entire house comfort, and we have even turned our thermostats up because of the lack of humidity. It’s a huge money saver and stress reliever.”
Tim Scott of Scotty’s Heating & AC says his company has seen more clients upgrading their HVAC systems to new 2023 Department of Energy-compliant equipment.
“With interest rates still remaining high, customers appear to prefer upgrading the homes they are in rather than building or purchasing in the new construction market,” says Scott. “With the cost of equipment today, it’s important for our customers to know that we have finance options available for them.”
These Best of Coweta winners all agree their businesses excel due to exceptional employees who work as a team to get the best job done.
“We have a very strong team of employees from the first point of contact at the front desk, to the designers and estimators who meet with our clients to discuss their projects, to our superintendents and trades,” says Lichty. “We strive to build good relationships within our company and with our customers.”
“We don’t take our customers and our community for granted,” says Brazie. “By doing business with Progressive Heating, Air and Plumbing, you are employing your neighbors, supporting nonprofits that help our neighbors, and keeping business in Coweta versus sending it to Atlanta.”
The winners agree also that building and keeping relationships with their clients is both central to their success – and one of the joys of doing business in Coweta.
“We pride ourselves in our service to a multitude of Coweta County friends and neighbors,” says Scott. “Serving this area since 1996, we have enjoyed so many great relationships with them.” NCM
