If you’re looking for fun, educational ways to be a part of Martin Luther King Day 2013, there are a variety of events being held close to our Atlanta new homes:

• MLK 5k Drum Run: Get fit and enjoy yourself with the MLK 5k Drum Run on Monday, January 21 in Piedmont Park. Make your way on a course that winds through the park beginning at 9 a.m., and then enjoy a post-race party with live music and activities related to the day.
• Imagine It! MLK Birthday Celebration: Join a “Child’s Day of Service” with children’s hand print wreath making from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and more at The Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
• Atlanta History Center: Brush on up the history of Atlanta with free admission to the Atlanta History Center all day on Monday, January 21. You and your family will enjoy access to the Centennial Olympic Games Museum, Swan House, Smith Family Farm and 22 acres of gardens and trails.
• Sandy Springs Seventh Annual MLK Celebration: Join the city of Sandy Springs at the City Hall Council Chambers beginning at 10 a.m. on January 21 for a celebration and presentation of the 2013 Humanitarian Award.
• Cobb County 27th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration: Attend this tribute to the man himself at the Cobb County Civic Center from 9 to 11 a.m. Acts will include dance interpretations, dramatic readings and musical presentations.

These events are just a few of the many happening in the metro area. North Fulton and Cherokee County Sharp Residential new home residents and their families can participate  in these and others like them just a short drive from their community all year long.

If you’re searching for the perfect new place to call home, be sure to tour any of our metro area communities to learn more about our gorgeous properties and convenient locations!

For more information, please visit www.SharpResidential.com.

This month, Sharp Residential was honored to be featured as the Atlanta Builders Club Rewards featured builder. Builder Club Rewards allows builders like us to earn reward points for doing business with leading industry suppliers, and we are a proud participant in this unique and exciting program.

Here’s a look at some of what the article had to say about company founder and president Tom Sharp:

Tom Sharp founded Sharp Residential in 1991 with a dream to be known for his architectural creativity and customizations in a community environment backed by the best in value and integrity.

Originally a pre-law student, Tom realized early on that home building was his true calling. After graduation, he worked with General Homes and Stancraft Homes before recognizing that there was a need for a creative builder focused on consumer needs.

Throughout the years, Tom has stayed true to this original dream, “Our mission is to produce quality homes with innovative features for growing families,” Tom said. “What makes Sharp unique is our ability to change our product based on current demands of the customer.”

Even when the market hit rough times and the company had to be scaled back, remaining true to brand was at the forefront of the company’s efforts. Tom said, “By virtue of being good stewards of our product and our process we were able to survive…we were able to continue to build our brand with integrity.”

Others look to him as a beacon of hope in the industry. Tommy Fuqua of Fuqua & Associates, a custom homebuilder for more than 30 years, notes that Tom will survive in this industry for as long as he wants to, and that Tom’s persistence to constantly developing new products and staying on the cutting edge sets him and his company apart.

Another sticking point is that since day one, Tom has remained completely submersed in every decision the company makes whether it’s talking to homeowners, agents and builders or walking a home for inspection, no detail is too small to overlook.

It’s all of these details and the many more that are present throughout the buying process with Sharp Residential that have truly allowed us to become a hands-on, custom homebuilder that is proud to stand behind our mission.

To read the full article as well as the rest of the January Builders Club Rewards newsletter, click here.

It’s official, for the third year in a row,  Atlanta was the nation’s most popular place to move to last year. With a wide range of attractions for shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation and culture as well as major interstates and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, it’s no surprise that families and organizations are constantly moving in. If you’ve recently moved to the area or have lived here for awhile, but want a change of scenery, we offer a wide range of communities that can suit your needs.

• Ashebrooke: This new home community in Cummings offers our luxurious homes priced from the $200,000s to $400,000s. Buyers enjoy a selection of six unique floor plans with four to five bedrooms, two-story family rooms, window walls, upgraded kitchens, hardwood flooring, three-car side-entry garages and much more. Community amenities include a junior Olympic swimming pool with cabana, tot lot, lighted tennis courts and sidewalks.
• LakeStone: Now in its second phase, this stunning community of homes offers a desirable Woodstock address. Buyers will find seven home designs priced from the high $200,000s with open floor plans, brick and stone exteriors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and spacious decks. Residents enjoy private amenities such as a lake, tennis courts, swimming pool and sidewalks.
• The Highlands: These wonderful homes are under construction and are selling fast! Located in Milton, these estate properties offer large homesites, basement lots and elegant finishes from the $400,000s. Amenities in this community include greenspaces, a pool with cabana and of course, sidewalks.

These three communities are just a sampling of the new homes and locations we have to offer! Be sure to visit our website for more information or give us a call at 770-518-4896.

Sharp Residential is excited to announce our newest collection of Milton homes at King Estates Manor. This intimate enclave of just 14 homes will feature 12 new homes from Sharp Residential, many of which will be located on cul-de-sacs.

Our 12 gorgeous new homes will all be estate-sized homes on basements with pricing starting in the $600,000s. Homes will be situated on one-plus acre sites with four-sides brick exteriors, three-car side-entry garages, 10-foot ceilings on the main floor, oil rubbed bronze fixtures, keeping rooms with fireplaces and much more.

Residents will enjoy a convenient location within the city of Milton, but still very close to Roswell. Popular local businesses include Bella Luna Cafe, Only Ewe and Cotton Too, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Millie Huckabay’s American Country Antiques, Olde Blind Dog, The Broadwell Cottage, Zola Italian Bistro, Allypop and the Union Restaurant. For those seeking activity, Birmingham Park, Providence Park, the Crabapple Community Center, Bethwell Community Center and Friendship Community Park are all close by.

Children will attend top-ranking schools in North Fulton including Sweet Apple Elementary, Elkins Pointe Middle and Roswell High.

Presale appointments can be scheduled by calling Michael Barsky at 678-522-0954. For more information, visit www.SharpResidential.com.

We’re proud to congratulate agent Carol Chiofalo for winning an iPad as part of our 2012 $harp Buck$ agent rewards program. Carol sold two of our homes, one at Vickery Crest and one at The Highlands, during 2012. You too can feel like a winner with one of our new homes at Vickery Crest or The Highlands!

We have just started construction on one of our final homes at Vickery Crest. Located on lot 63, the Rosehill II features five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, two-story stacked stone fireplace and more for $570,000. This home will offer a stunning three-sides brick and stone exterior with three-car side-entry garage on a spacious estate lot with pond. The owners of this home will also enjoy a swimming pool, tennis courts and a location just one mile from downtown Alpharetta in the new Cambridge High school district.

At The Highlands, home sales are really taking off. We currently have three beautiful new homes under construction or ready for move-in including two homes with our popular Highcroft II plan and one featuring the Rosebriar. All three homes are priced from the mid $400,000s to $500,000s with five bedrooms, four to four-and-a-half bathrooms, open floor plans, gourmet kitchens, full unfinished daylight basements and more. We’re also offering $5,000 in closing costs with use of preferred lender. Community amenities include sidewalks, greenspaces and a pool with cabana, and children will attend the new Cambridge High school.

For more information on these and our other communities in metro Atlanta, call 770-518-4896.

When you find your perfect new community, it can be hard to wait until your new home is ready. This is why Sharp Residential is delighted to let our buyers know that we currently have two move-in ready homes at out popular LakeStone community in Woodstock!

Lot 188, which is priced at $330,900, features the popular Newbury plan with five bedrooms and four bathrooms in two stories. Buyers who love to cook will delight in an upgraded kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, Maple cabinets and a tile backsplash and offers views to the breakfast nook and two-story family room with bowed wall of windows. Other popular inclusions in this home are extra hardwood floors and a bedroom suite on the main level.

Priced at $285,900, we have a five bedroom and three bathroom home on lot 47. This home offers the look and feel of a ranch plan, but with a few bedroom upstairs! Features include a master suite and guest suite on the main level, stained cabinets throughout the home, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors in the kitchen, breakfast nook and foyer.

Residents also enjoy access to private community amenities including a lake, swimming pool, tennis courts and sidewalks throughout.

The community’s Woodstock location off of Highway 92 is just minutes from downtown Woodstock, Towne Lake and a wide assortment of additional shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and recreation areas.

Children will attend Cherokee County schools including Little River Elementary, Mill Creek Middle and River Ridge High.

Stop by today to tour these homes that are waiting just for you!

For more information, please call 770-928-4063.

Sharp Residential is delighted to let our buyers know that our new model home for our Cumming community of Ashebrooke is now open. Potential buyers are invited to tour the new model home and community to see why it’s so irresistible!

The new model home on lot 186 features our popular Highcroft plan on a basement. Inside the home, potential buyers will find the latest in decor trends that create a cool and crisp environment. The kitchen is the crisp side with white cabinets and granny smith apple green walls, while the family room offers a more cozy feel with a warm shade of green and cherry red accents.

In addition to our model home, we have four new homes currently under construction from the high $300,000s. Three of these homes including the Canterbury on lot 315, the Thornberry on lot 192 and the Highcroft on lot 191 are slated for a late March or early April completion date, while the fourth, the Rosehill on lot 193, will be ready in late June or early July.

All four of the homes feature spacious five bedroom layouts with stunning architectural details both inside and out. Features include upgraded kitchens with Maple cabinets, granite countertops, tile backsplashes and stainless steel appliances; bedroom suites on the main level; hardwood floors in the main living areas; three-car side-entry garages and full unfinished basements.

In addition to our new homes, residents enjoy a fantastic amenities package which includes a junior Olympic swimming pool with cabana, tot lot, four lighted tennis courts and winding sidewalks throughout.

Ashebrooke’s location is convenient to The Avenues-Forsyth, Midway Park, Sawnee Mountain Preserve, Lake Lanier, Stars & Strikes, GA 400 and additional shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation options.

Children attend top Forsyth County schools including Kelly Mill Elementary, Liberty Middle and West Forsyth High.

Stop by today for a tour, you won’t be disappointed!

For more information, please call 678-513-6420.

Spring is in the air and Easter is right around the corner. If you’re looking for the perfect spot to hunt Easter eggs in Alpharetta this year, you won’t want to miss The City of Alpharetta’s event on Saturday, March 23.

Hop on over to the North Park softball fields for inflatables, exhibits and visits with the Easter Bunny beginning at 10 a.m. Then, at 11 a.m. children ages three through 10 will hunt by age group to find the perfect egg(s)!

After your child hunts down their prize at this festive event, continue hopping your way over into our Alpharetta new homes community, The Highlands.

We currently have one new Highcroft II home under construction to be ready in April. Priced at $460,300 after our $5,000 closing costs with preferred lenders discount, this home offers five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Inside, you’ll find an open floor plan with a bedroom suite on the main level, stainless steel appliances, full unfinished daylight basement and granite countertops in the kitchen and master and main floor bathrooms.

Also for sale is a completed Rosebriar home with five bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. This home includes the same features at the Highcroft, but with an extra bedroom. We are also offering $5,000 in closing costs through March 31 with use of our preferred lenders on this home, meaning it is now priced at $534,100.

Finally, we are ready to start construction on another Highcroft II home on lot 65 once you sign the contract!

House hunters have certainly been liking what they find at this gated community. Almost 70 percent of the 64 homes have already sold or been placed under contract, so time is running out!

Community amenities include sidewalks, greenspaces and a pool with cabana.

Located on Freemanville Road in Alpharetta, The Highlands is convenient to local shops, restaurants, parks, entertainment venues, major highways and more.

Children attend top Fulton County schools including Birmingham Falls Elementary, Hopewell Middle and the new Cambridge High.

The spring is the perfect time to jump into a new home from Sharp Residential, so give us a call at 678-467-2039.

Sharp Residential is pleased to let buyers know that sales at King Estates Manor in Milton are now underway! Our sales trailer is up and construction will begin on April 1, so be sure to stop by today to see this intimate 14 home community.

The Barrington is a beautiful four-sides brick home with three-car side-entry garage,  four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, two-story stacked stone fireplace, bowed window wall and more for $722,900.

For $727,900, you can enjoy a gorgeous five bedroom and five-and-a-half bathroom Rosebriar plan. This two-story home offers a four-sides brick exterior, side-entry three-car garage, chef’s kitchen, two-story stacked stone fireplace, spa-like master bathroom and much more.

Located in Milton, King Estates Manor is within one mile of desirable Crabapple district with local businesses such as Bella Luna Cafe, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Millie Huckabay’s American Country Antiques, The Broadwell Cottage and Allypop. Also close by are Birmingham Park, Providence Park, the Crabapple Community Center, Bethwell Community Center and Friendship Community Park.

Children will attend top-ranking North Fulton County schools including Sweet Apple Elementary, Elkins Pointe Middle and Roswell High.

For more information, please call Michael Barsky at 678-552-0954.

Sharp Residential is proud to announce that Vickery Crest is sold out! However, Milton new homebuyers need not worry as they still have one more opportunity left at the nearby community of Milton Place.

The home on lot 25 is currently under construction, and it will have five bedrooms and four bathrooms when complete. This Highcroft II plan features a three-sides brick exterior, three-car side-entry garage, gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, two-story stacked stone fireplace and much more for $496,900.

Residents of this gated community enjoy exclusive memberships to the swimming pool and tennis courts at the sold out Vickery Crest community, which is located directly across the street on Hopewell Road.

Local points of interest include Alpharetta North Park, Alpharetta Athletic Club, Providence Park, Alpharetta National Golf Course, North Fulton Regional Hospital, North Point Mall and additional shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation opportunities.

Children attend top Fulton County schools including Cogburn Woods Elementary, Hopewell Middle and Cambridge High.

Don’t delay as this is the last opportunity to own at Milton Place!

For more information, please call 770-752-0738 or visit www.SharpResidential.com.

Don’t miss out on the amazing furnished model home for sale at Vickery Crest!

fully-furnished model home for sale

Since our recent sell-out in Vickery Crest, we have been working hard to prepare our model home to sale. That’s right—we are offering you a completely furnished home in one of the best swim and tennis communities in Milton. With over 20 years of building experience, you can trust that this model is not one to pass up. Did you know the community of Milton has been recognized as having the highest quality of life in the state of Georgia and 9^th highest in the country? It’s no surprise to us; who wouldn’t love the lush greenery and quiet serenity of Milton’s suburban comfort?

Our last home for sale in Vickery Crest features energy efficient building standards, including top-of-the-line glass vinyl windows, thermal wrapping for extra insulation, and low impact termite baiting systems. Our appliances are also environmentally efficient and significantly reduce energy costs. At Vickery Crest, you can also fine features, such as raised shaving sinks in the master suite.

This model home won’t last—we are offering it fully furnished! In addition to stunning marble showers and “one-touch” faucets, our final home is completely outfitted to the highest standards of interior design. Forget the hassle of finding furniture and painting walls—this home takes the hard labor and gruff out of moving. Don’t forget—this is a sold out neighborhood. This fully furnished model home for sale at $699,900.

If you are interested in this home, please don’t hesitate to call our Sales Agent Michael Barsky at 678-522-0954. You can schedule a viewing or ask questions at any time. Thanks for stopping by!

Fun things to do close to  new neighborhoods in North Fulton County

If you’re looking for new neighborhoods in North Fulton County to explore, you will truly appreciate the variety of fun things to do in Milton, Georgia.  This stunning community is located just outside of Atlanta. Sharp Residential offers several new neighborhoods in North Fulton County with stunning single family homes.  With a restaurant scene to die for, there is no shortage of fun things to do in Milton, GA. Sharp Residential is excited to announce pre-selling opportunities at Kings Estates Manor. The newest collection of estate homes starting in the $600s, residents can enjoy the intimate comfort of an enclave of 14 one-acre home sites with remarkable features. It doesn’t matter if you are a movie buff or hiking expert. Milton has something for everyone. Looking for some family friendly spots to take the kids? Look no further!

Wills Park is located at 11925 Wills Road in Alpharetta and offers everything from swimming and trail running to disc golf and a dog park. Just an easy drive from Milton, Wills Park is famous for its wide range of activities. Families travel from Cobb, Forsyth and DeKalb to take advantage of free concerts, rodeos and basketball and tennis courts. This park is the jack of all trades–it will surely provide your family with a day filled with fun things to do in nearby Alpharetta, Georgia.

Alpharetta-Milton is famous for its booming restaurant scene and wide variety of culinary endeavors. You can find delicious bites from around the world right in your own backyard. Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is the perfect date night spot for mom and dad. Leave the kids with the babysitter and let the savory flavors take you away. Residents at The Highlands are not only close to downtown Alpharetta, but they are also close by BB’s Bagels. If you don’t feel like putting that large gourmet kitchen to work, visit BB’s for the best breakfast in town. Let them worry about the cooking and keep those GE premium stainless steel appliances clean for a few hours.

Are you one of those “can’t-ever-freaking-decide-where-to-eat” types? You won’t want to miss the legendary Alpharetta Food Truck Alley this spring. On Thursday evenings, food vendors sell delicious and culturally inspired dishes for a reasonable fare. You can have some pho from Viet-Nomies or a lemongrass rosemary Popsicle from King of Pops.

There is no shortage of fun things to do in Milton or Alpharetta. Visit the city of Milton and Alpharetta’s websites to learn more about the busting, new neighborhoods in North Fulton County.

The post Explore New Neighborhoods in North Fulton County appeared first on Sharp Residential Blog.

Homesite 25 can be your move-in ready home today!

Nestled in the heart of Woodstock, GA the community of Old Heritage has an amazing offer on a move-in ready home just for you. Sharp Residential has the perfect move-in ready home with awesome features for any family’s lifestyle. This uniquely designed single family home comes with a spacious five bedroom, four bathroom floor plan. Nicely priced at $379,000, let’s take a look at what Homesite 25 has to offer.

If you are looking for a floor plan with a keeping room, look no further. Picture this – a two-story family room with a wall of windows that provide great natural lighting. The over-sized gourmet kitchen comes with an elongated island for table-top seating. Not to mention the kitchen opens to a keeping room with a vaulted ceiling. Want a cool space to entertain guests? Of course you do. Not only does this move-in ready home come with a guest room on the main floor, it also comes with a full, finished basement. You can turn it into a media room with comfy seating for movie nights or add a pool table for some friendly competition when friends come over. We almost forgot. There is also a 3-car garage to park just in case that teenager of yours has a set of wheels. You can also cozy up with a book in the sunroom on a lazy day.

Sharp Residential builds each home with integrity based on over 20 years of home building experience. Our exceptional homes are constructed with energy efficient materials to help you save money over the life of your investment. For more information on the move-in ready home at Old Heritage, please contact Michael Barsky at 770-480-0993 or Rebecka Mendenhall at 678-898-4350. Can’t wait? Take a scroll through our virtual tour of Old Heritage online.

The post Move-in Ready Home at Old Heritage appeared first on Sharp Residential Blog.

Psychedelic home décor of the 1970s is a thing of the past.

If you’re currently looking to purchase your first home and start a family, you are most likely a child of the 70s. The good thing is that you don’t have to make a purchase with 1970s home décor in mind. If you close your eyes, I bet you can picture your parents’ bathroom with floral patterns or maybe your bedroom.  1970s home décor definitely had a style of its own, moving along with the fashion and trends of that time. Home décor in 2013 is also fueled by modern times, but my have the times have changed. The Sharp Residential Design Center is the power house behind how we personally design each home with unique details. Our new homes come with color schemes and styles that can suit any homebuyer’s personal taste. Let’s take a journey back onto the 1970s and compare new home decor then with the new homes now.

Walking into a home for the first time always has a level of excitement. Imagine the look on your parents’ faces when they saw that wonderful avocado green in their dream home. Well – it is actually called “world peace”, but you know the color. Or maybe recall that bright yellow better known as “peace and love”. Trendy colors were the thing. The color palette in the 70s included creams, oranges, greens, blues and of course white. Background colors blended in with an over use of white. Furniture, accent pillows, tables and chairs, it was everywhere. Unlike the color palettes of today which display rich colors that are earthy and inviting.

In 2013 we definitely have some patterns in home décor but the technique is more subdued. In the 70s patterns were everywhere, hence the term psychedelic, and layering different patterns was the thing. Today we use layering and patterns but in moderation. For example, “world peace” and “peace & love” are used in small increments as accents instead of being all over a room. The color palette of today focuses on monochromatic schemes with little layering. The 1970s didn’t see a lot of gray but today’s home offers grays and metallic colors. Rooms are basic with splashes of color instead of the color overload of yesteryear. We have learned how to tone down the use of color everywhere so it is more appreciated through subtlety. We can even see it in apartment living. Now most apartment complexes come with an accent wall in which the tenant can choose one wall to paint a bold color.

So what do you have in mind when you think of decorating your dream home? Are you a harvest gold kind of person or does slate gray sooth your senses? Stay tuned for Part of our series as we tackle the topic of flooring.

The post 1970’s Home Décor vs. 2013 Home Décor: Part 1 appeared first on Sharp Residential Blog.

Shag carpet for home flooring is a no no.

Home flooring is one of the most important interior design pieces in a house. It adds to the overall look and feel of a home room by room. In the 1970s, our parents were plagued by a type of home flooring that reminds our generation why we switched from regular mops to swiffers. You guessed it – shag carpet. Who thought of this fabric one, and two who thought it would look good as carpet? And yes, it also came in the same colors we mentioned in part one of our home décor series, harvest gold and avocado (“world peace”).

Home flooring has taken a step away from shag carpet. In fact it has taken a leap, brisk walk and a train. Nowadays new home owners can enjoy the smooth texture of Berber carpet. Want to know why? Because it is modern. Seriously, Berber carpet can be found in most homes in 2013. It has actually been around for many years, but didn’t get to shine in the spotlight until people started to realize that shag had some pitfalls.

Shag carpet could be the reason why new homebuyers today have allergies and asthma. God bless you kids of the 1970’s that sat on shag not knowing it held in dirt, dust and everything else between those silky fibers. Looks like that carpet rake didn’t do the job. However, it did groom the appearance…until years of traffic made it look like a shaggy dog instead of home flooring Berber came in like a design omen and interior designers haven’t looked back since. Well some did. In the past ten years, shag carpet saw resurgence, but it left quickly.  Home builders, such as Sharp Residential, realized low cut pile was the way to go. Berber offers full home flooring with low maintenance. It is easy to vacuum and easy to shampoo in case someone pills the wine while trying to dig that girl at your house warming. Berber also offers home owners a more sophisticated look through traditional woven patterns, and it’s affordable. Berber also covers different colors from neutrals to burgundy, or you can get a wool texture with multi-color flecks in the fibers. Simply put, Berber carpet is the way to go in 2013.

So there you have it. When you’re looking at new homes around metro Atlanta, look for Berber carpet. If you see any shag carpet, even a throw rug, run. Join us next time in our home décor series when we climb the walls with wall paper and paint.

The post 1970’s vs. 2013 Home Décor Part 2: Home Flooring appeared first on Sharp Residential Blog.

My how the wall treatments have changed in 40 years.

Wall treatments not only make rooms, they also drive your sanity. How you ask? Well think about it. What color are the walls in your home? Are they a plain eggshell color or a vibrant shade of eggplant? One color running throughout the entire house can make you feel like you need sizing for a straitjacket. However, adding accent walls to your wall treatments can make you feel happy and settled. In this third look at the 1970’s vs. 2013 home décor series we’re going to take a look at wall treatments.

Wall treatments in the 1970’s consisted of two things: wood and wall paper. EEK! Wall paper might be any wall’s arch nemesis. You can blame that on patterns in the 1970’s. Picture it. Your grandparents’ bathroom – or better yet, here’s one for you: a bathroom with complete wall paper. The pattern has a white base with bright green, yellow and blue strips and in between each strip there is a yellow and blue then alternating yellow and green daisy. This along with other retro wall treatments are on the walls in a house in Mobile, AL to this day. Luckily it’s only in two bathrooms. Grandma and grandpa knew better.

Most modern homes in 2013 follow this theory. Wall paper is used in 2013; however, it is only really used in specialty rooms, not through the entire the home. For example, wall treatments with wall paper are most likely in a powder room. It is only used in small rooms to liven up the atmosphere, not drown one’s whole living the space. Home buyers today don’t have to worry about walking into a Sharp Residential home and seeing scenic patterns of cabins and trees or floral patterns tripping on LSD. Today’s wall paper patterns have a more calming effect to the senses. Colors fall in the metallic family and there are still some floral patterns, but the colors are beige, brown, rust, or cream – you now – natural.  Even the “bright” colored wall paper isn’t that flashy today. It only pops; there’s no snap and crackle. Plus wall paper is truly peelable in 2013 so if you do choose to add some wall paper for texture, you can easily peel it off once you realize paint is the way to go.

What about the wood panel look? You thought we forgot. Nope. Grandma still has that on one wall in the den. There was a movement in wall treatments in which some offspring of David Crocket thought it was cool to use wood panels in home décor. Not so much in 2013. We have taken the wood paneling down and used it to make awesome furniture instead. As we mentioned in Part 1, paint is seeing a different color palette. Today’s interior design team is focusing on monochromatic schemes with a little layering. It’s all about subtleties to make elements stand out in a room.

Join us next time for our grand finale in the home décor series when move into the kitchen to discuss appliances. Move over white refrigerator; stainless steel is here. We’ll look at why the old coffee pot just ain’t what she used to be and more. Stay tuned.

The post 1970’s vs. 2013 Home Décor Part 3: Wall Treatments appeared first on Sharp Residential Blog.

Goodbye colored kitchen appliances, hello stainless steel and technology

In this grand finale of 1970s home décor vs. 2013, we will take a look a kitchen appliances and how they have improved as technology continues to grow. We saved the best for last in our four part series. Most people would agree that the kitchen is usually the best room in the house. Mom always had something hot and delicious brewing on the stove or in a crockpot. Everything matched exactly in color and for its time, the appliances were modern.

In the 1970s you may recall what was on your parents’ kitchen countertops. You know the descending canisters for flour, sugar, coffee and tea. They sat on the Formica countertops next to the two slot toaster. You may have missed them because they blended in with the scenery like spy kitchen items. The counter was probably “world peace” or avocado green and the canisters and toaster were the exact same color. Wait…the laminate flooring was the same color too, along with the stove, refrigerator and whistling teapot. If you were really living it up, you also had the matching dishwasher. The whole kitchen was the same color except for the places where everything else was wood. All cabinetry was wood. It basically looked like mother nature decorated the room. If she didn’t use avocado green, she used orange or sunshine yellow. Does this paint a pretty picture for you?

Kitchen appliances in the 1970s were made to fit in the kitchen as if the home was built around them. The refrigerator fit snuggly into a space almost like a murphy bed, so did the embedded wall oven. Three guesses what color it was. Back in the day they didn’t have the modern household kitchen appliances that we have in 2013. There was no Keurig coffee maker, but they did have an electric coffee pot that knew how to percolate. There was no fancy Kitchen-Aid mixer. When mom baked a cake she truly put in a big effort as she mixed the cake batter by hand or with a hand mixer. What about a microwave oven? The microwave oven was introduced to households in the late 1960s and by 1971 plenty of homes had one, but it was still a luxury. The microwave oven was in about 25% of households by the mid-1980s. Nowadays it’s an expected kitchen staple with almost every home having one on granite countertops. Oh yeah, it had wood paneling on the side in the 1970s to blend in with the rustic oak cabinets. You know the microwave oven had to match too.

We have stressed color matching in this post, which leads to the difference in kitchen appliances in 2013. Oddly enough there isn’t that much difference. Homes in 2013 have matching kitchen appliances just like they did in the 1970s. The only difference is that today we strive for stainless steel. The days of colored appliances aren’t fully gone, but most homes today are chromed out to the max. Everything is silver and shiny, not sunshine yellow bright. In some instances you can still have that 1970s look with brands like Big Chill that strive to bring homeowners modern technology in kitchen appliances that looked like they stepped out of a time machine. You can even have those retro colors if you like. It’s really been the journey in technological advances that has changed kitchen appliances over the years. Everything has become more efficient to flow with our age of convenience. Who wants to stand over a mixing bowl and use a hand blender for 30 minutes straight when they can use a stand mixer that. Why wait eight hours for a pot roast to cook in a crock pot when it can cook in three hours in a slow pressure cooker. Time is what really comes down to. The change in décor is just a bonus. We cook smarter, not harder.

This has been an incredible journey through four areas of home décor. Thank you for taking the time to travel back to the 1970s with us. We hope you had a groovy trip. When you get ready to move into your new Sharp Residential home, you might get that feeling of nostalgia just remembering the home you grew up in compared to the home you will grow old in. Just think; your kids will have a home more advanced than yours thirty years from now. Maybe they’ll teleport you over for dinner sometime.

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The post Welcome to the First Day of Summer. Is Your Summer Maintenance Schedule Done? appeared first on Sharp Residential Blog.

You have completed the interiors but the exterior summer maintenance schedule is nest.

So we covered the interior tasks for your summer maintenance schedule. You had a full weekend to complete the interior maintenance checklist. Nope…no excuses. Now it’s time to get a little dirty as you tackle the exterior of your home. You knew this was coming, but relax; the checklist isn’t bad. As previously mentioned, take the list in smaller pieces to ensure and easy summer on you, your wallet and your home.

Exterior Summer Maintenance:

Trees & Shrubs
When Mother Nature pushes spring in full gear, every plant around your home is awakened. Some of them can hit some growth spurts, causing tree limbs and shrubs to brush up against your home. Pruning trees and trimming shrubbery is important to the exterior of your home and the interior. How so? Well..trees and shrubs that brush against the outside of your home can lay down the red carpet for unwanted pests to enter your home to cracks in the windows. Remember those Saint Andrews spiders you saw sleeping on the bushes. Please believe they belong outside, not in your living room. Also, other pests like ants can find their way inside your home form tree limbs. They are always looking for food, and you don’t want them to turn you kitchen in to a person golden corral. Be sure to give the trees one good pruning and manicure the shrubs each time you mow the lawn.

Lint Dryer Vent Cleaning
Honey, are the clothes dry yet? Does that sound familiar? The dryer has to work extra hard during the summer. It uses more energy if used during the heat of the day; however, it uses even more energy when it is dirty. That’s right; your lint dryer vent gets dirty each time you do a load of laundry. Dumping the lint tray helps but it doesn’t account for all the lint that travels throughout the dryer vent hose to the outside of the house. If you have never cleaned it before, bless your heart. Just grab your household vacuum and use the longest attachment. Push the dryer out from the wall and remove the foil hose that connects to the dryer vent. Use the vacuum to suck out as much lint as possible. Remove the vent from outside the house and use the vacuum all the same. Pesto! Your clothes will get dryer faster and you will use less energy when doing the laundry.

Pest Control
The summer is when every critter in Georgia likes to resurface to annoy you all summer long. Remember when we said to trim those tree limbs and shrubs? Insects and other pests are always looking for way into your home. Rodents, bees, ants, spiders, you name it. If it crawls or flies, it’s lurking around your home. Pest control should really start in the spring, but it’s not too late to get a plan in place, so critters don’t enter your place. You can go to your local Home Depot for some great products that keep the creepy crawlers at bay for up to twelve months. Products such as Ortho Home Defense Max and Bayer Home Pest are great and they kill almost every insect known to this area. Don’t be afraid to go to no man’s land: the attic, basement or crawlspace. If you live near water or wooded areas, rodents and snakes like to make a home in your least visited spaces. Check them to be sure you and your family are safe from dangerous invaders.

Painting
The harsh cold winter winds may have done a number on the exterior of your home. Grab a can of paint and do a little touch up painting. It will keep your home looking fresh and oh so pretty in the bright Georgia sun.

So now you have an exterior summer maintenance schedule. We’re heading into July, so get cracking this weekend. You don’t want to fall behind and have all these things to do in the fall. Plus you can start saving on your energy bill and avoid any pesky visitors. For more helpful tips on home maintenance, check the Sharp Residential Blog for seasonal updates. Have a great summer all!

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What you need to know to keep your wood or metal windows in great condition.

So, you’re a homeowner and you notice that your windows could use a little maintenance. Maybe you’re not sure where to start. Do you have wooden windows? We have some tips for you! Maybe you have aluminum or metal windows? We can help you there, as well. So, read on for some helpful information about troubleshooting and maintenance of wood or metal windows from us here at Sharp Residential. By the way, did you know (according to nps.gov) while metal windows gained the most popularity in the 1970′s they have been found in homes dating back to the 1930′s? That’s given homeowners and home builders a long time to learn some great troubleshooting and maintenance ideas. Wood or metal, old or new, we here at Sharp Residential have some ideas for how to tackle common maintenance for wood or metal windows. So, let’s get to it!

Tips for Maintenance of Metal Windows:
Although Energy.gov lists aluminum windows as virtually “maintenance free,” there are a few things you still need to know. Thanks to Reader’s Digest, Gsa.gov, Energystar.gov and others for the following maintenance ideas for wood or metal windows.

• Problem: Buildup of dirt, other corrosive substances or early signs of mold.
Although aluminum windows are nearly maintenance-free, over a very long period of time it is possible for organic compounds and some corrosive substances from the environment to accumulate on the surface. Also, if you are in an older building and the window frame isn’t the correct size or has damaged seals, moisture could leak in leading to mold. Thankfully, early intervention can prevent all of these problems.

• Solution: Simply wipe down your metal window surfaces with a simple household cleaning product, or create your own using bleach and water. And remember! Never mix bleach with ammonia or other chemicals!

• Problem: Old seals or improperly-sized and/or warped frames
If you have an older home with aluminum windows, it is possible that they were not installed correctly by the previous homeowner. Perhaps the previous homeowner installed the wrong size frame or failed to properly seal the frames, leading to leakage of water or air, or possibly warpage of the frame.

• Solution: Remove the old window frame and replace it if the frame is warped. Or, simply replace/recaulk the seals. Thankfully, aluminum is completely recyclable and replacing the frame yourself isn’t too difficult. Here’s a link to a tutorial from eHow on replacing aluminum frames. Of course, if you don’t feel confident yourself then please contact a professional.

What if the frame is fine but you need to redo the seals? Not too hard, especially if you’ve ever used a caulking gun before. Simply remove the old seal using the appropriate tools, such as a putty knife, available from your local hardware store. Next, remove any dirt or residue from the surface you intend to reseal, making it as smooth and clean as possible. Apply the sealant using a caulking gun, about one-quarter inch thick. Be sure to apply smoothly and evenly. Finally, use a tool such as a craft stick or a wet spoon to smooth out the caulking, finishing the seal. Repeat for each seal. Again, if you do not feel confident in performing this task yourself, please contact a professional.

• Problem: Rust or old paint.
Sometimes, if you’re dealing with steel window frames instead of aluminum, it is possible for rust to accumulate. Or, perhaps the previous homeowner painted your metal frames. Time for a change, right?

• Solution: This assumes you are looking to remove rust or old paint and re-paint the window. This mostly applies to steel windows, not aluminum. While wearing gloves, use a paint scraper to remove any rust or old paint, finishing the removal job with a fine wire brush. Then, to avoid future rust, prepare the frame with rust remover and a zinc-based primer before doing further painting.

Tips for Maintenance of Wood Windows:
What if you have wood frame windows? As promised, here are some common problems, solutions and tips from Sharp Residential for keeping wood windows in great shape.

• Problem: Your window is stuck! Wooden windows respond to temperature, expanding or contracting based on weather and moisture conditions.

• Solution: First, DIY Network recommends trying a little candle wax to get things moving again. If that doesn’t work, you may need to actually “shave down” or plane your windows. You do this by removing the casement of the window and using a planing tool, available from a hardware store, to remove some of the mass of the frame. Unless your windows are stained, be sure to leave enough room for future painting!

• Problem: The glass has a persistent fog inside.

• Solution: This usually applies to windows with dual-pane glass. Looks like your seals and/or gaskets have gone bad! Time to replace them, or perhaps replace the entire window. Professional installation is best, but if you are determined to do it yourself, check out this article from San Francisco Gate which walks you through the process. You’ll need some tools, including a utility knife and silicone sealant, available at your local hardware store.

• Problem: Part or all of my windowsill is rotten! Sometimes, if the previous homeowner did not properly paint or seal your windowsill, the wood may rot.

• Solution: If the sill is only partially rotten, you can remove the part of the sill that has gone bad, cutting it down to the ‘good’ part of the wood and replacing it with a correspondingly-shaped piece, resealing or repainting the wood. If the entire sill has gone bad, you will have to replace it, as you do not want to encourage rot in the rest of the frame.

So, there you go! We hope that these tips on maintenance of wood or metal windows were helpful to you. As always, by keeping up with your home maintenance schedule you can stay on top of keeping your windows in the best shape possible. Thanks from all of us here at Sharp Residential!

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