Photos: AcmeStudios "Eichler inspired single - story home with a modern twist." is the developers description of this property we recently photographed in the Los Angeles area.

Ranquist Development - Basecamp River North
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Chicago

Envision Virtual Tours, Stuart Wade Envision Virtual Tours and High Resolution Photography is your best choice to find just what you are looking for in the Blairsville Area . Knowing the areas and resources of Lake Nottely is our specialty. Whether you're looking for fishing on Lake Nottely, information and history of Blairsville, Ga. Learn all about Blairsville, Ga. here! Blairsville, the county seat of Union County, was incorporated on December 26,1835 and remains the sole incorporated community in the county. At the heart of Downtown Blairsville is the Historic Union County Courthouse, constructed in 1899, and now home to everything from the Union County Historical Society and Friday Night Concerts to a military museum and dollhouse collection. Nearby is the Blairsville City Hall (formerly the "old" jail built in 1934). Both historical buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Blairsville's Town Square is frequently the venue for annual events such as the Downtown Spring Arts & Crafts Festival, the Memorial Day Parade, the Green Bean Festival, the Bluegrass Festival, the Sorghum Parade, Hometown Halloween on the Square, and the Christmas Parade. Everyone is invited to these family orientated celebrations! Just south of the Square, the Historical Society develops and maintains the Mountain Life Museum. It is home to the 1906 Grapel Mock House, the 1861 Payne Cabin, and annual events such as the Mountain Market and Heritage Festival. Look for live animals, heritage demonstrations, and hands-on activities such as panning for gold. There are many exciting destinations in and around Blairsville. Meeks Park, Butternut Creek Golf Course, Lake Nottely, Helton Creek Falls, and the Appalachian Trail are a few of the most well-known attractions. Blairsville is the place to be for outdoor fun. Nearly two-thirds of Union County is in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It includes Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald (with a visitors' center at the summit), Vogel State Park (the oldest and most popular state park in Georgia), and the Richard Russell Scenic Byway. In 2011, Blairsville was designated as an official Appalachian Trail Community. This designation recognizes Blairsville for its part in promoting awareness of the Appalachian Trail as an important national and local resource. In 2007 Blairsville was recognized as a Georgia Better Hometown, largely due to the community volunteer efforts of the Downtown Development Authority of Blairsville. Blairsville has many dedicated individuals and organizations that work together to make the city a great place to live (and to visit). Welcome to Blairsville, Georgia!

Luke Gibson Photography. Renovation by McCraw Design & Development. http://www.mccrawdesigndevelopment.com/

Example of a mid-sized cottage backyard rectangular lap pool design in Phoenix

YD Construction and Development
Mid-sized elegant master black and white tile and stone tile bathroom photo in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, an undermount tub and marble countertops

Inspiration for a contemporary white tile freestanding bathtub remodel in Chicago

Example of a tuscan u-shaped travertine floor and beige floor open concept kitchen design in Orange County with dark wood cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island, multicolored countertops, a farmhouse sink and raised-panel cabinets

This historic Cleveland Park home has housed a Georgetown Professor and a well known cartoon artist for the New Yorker and Washington Post. The front as shown here has original beautiful masonry details and a charming facade, but had not been maintained and was in ill repair when our client Hans and Ginny Wydler purchased the property. Hans Wydler is owner of one of the most successful real estate firms, Wydler Brothers and his wife Ginny loves interior design and the two decided to start a development team to create spec home developments that are finished to a very high level. They hired Ballard Mensua to help them to expand and renovate the home. We then hired Kathryn Everett as our landscape designer and Clemens Group Construction as our builder to complete the team. We believe the project to be a successful example of maintaining historic charm while adding modern amenities. Some day, we will do the same thing for Seth Ballard and his wife to move into .. it is a great house for a young family or for empty nesters who want to sell their large suburban home and move to where they can walk to restaurants and the park.

Inspiration for a large mediterranean marble floor and beige floor enclosed dining room remodel in Orange County with white walls

Dan Conklin
Example of a mid-sized tuscan dining room design in Other with beige walls and no fireplace

Example of a tuscan freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor home office design in Orange County with brown walls

Luke Gibson Photography. Renovation by McCraw Design & Development. http://www.mccrawdesigndevelopment.com/

Example of a trendy dark wood floor living room design in Chicago with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

4 Steps to Achieving a Rewarding Cost Effective Home Renovation 1 Home Renovation an Introduction A home renovation due to changes in family needs and space requirements can be a challenging, but also a rewarding experience. As a homeowner, gathering and coordinating resources and possibly help from professional consultants are required. Once the construction phase has started, patience, endurance and commitment to follow through are necessary. Despite the challenges, the rewards of a well-planned and successfully completed project are meaningful, adding aesthetic and economic value, also providing the opportunity to personalize a home, encompassing the function, comfort and aesthetics to accommodate individual taste and lifestyle. A renovation of an existing home is a viable alternative to moving or building a new home, assuming that a home is structurally sound, the expenditure to enlarge or improve can be a cost effective alternative. A home possessing charm, style, historical significance, established landscaping or an exceptional location could be a significant motivation to consider purchasing another home with the intent to renovate. The complexity of a project could be relatively simple, changing the use of a room, consolidating two rooms into one, or opening up a room to the outdoors. It could also be a more involved task requiring planning, design and construction documents to build a second floor addition, the addition of a new wing or completely gutting the interior. Some projects could be completed in a weekend’s work or more complex projects, using a “Master Plan”, a plan which provides overall guidance; a renovation can be accomplished all at once or divided into manageable projects over a period of time. With the home evolving gradually allowing the renovation to be planned, timed and tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances. The due diligence phase should precede the decision to renovate whether it’s an existing home or a home that is purchased with the intent to renovate. The due diligence phase will reveal the factors affecting the nature and scope of the project or if a renovation makes sense. Every renovation project is unique relative to personal requirements, architectural style & construction type. This guide will be helpful in developing an understanding of the preliminary groundwork required to realize a successful project. If properly planned, a home renovation project can be a positive and rewarding experience resulting in a comfortable, practical and an attractive living environment. The first step of the planning process is documenting the goals and long-range plans referred to as the “Project Program”. This will dictate the nature, scope and feasibility of the project. Providing a guide to achieving defined goals, the timing or phasing of the project and budget required to achieve the desired end result. 2 Documenting Existing Conditions Once the “Project Program”, has been established, the next step is to determine what there is to work with. This requires documenting the home’s floor plan and site elements which includes drawing an “as built” floor & site plan consisting of the existing exterior walls, interior rooms, doors, windows, etc. and surrounding site elements, landscape and other significant exterior features. Additionally understanding and noting on the “as built” plan, the structural, mechanical and electrical systems as necessary. Gathering the “existing condition” information defines what there is to work with, creating the framework from which to facilitate and organize the decision making process and develop effective “project program” solutions. 3 Evaluating Existing Conditions The goals and long-range plans have been established, and the existing floor plan and site elements have been documented. Before developing design solutions, the next step is to evaluate existing conditions. The evaluation includes: a detailed analysis of the structural, mechanical and electrical systems, determining the condition of the house, noting functional and aesthetic deficiencies. At the same time recognizing the home’s strengths, assets and evaluating its relationship to its site. The remaining parameters will be defined by the local jurisdiction’s zoning regulations, these regulations will define the “envelope”, within which the proposed project will be required to fit: •required front, side & rear yard setbacks •maximum allowable lot coverage & height The previous three steps have provided the necessary foundation to start the design phase. The goals and long range plans have been established, existing conditions have been documented and the evaluation of what there is to work with are now in place. This will provide the framework from which to facilitate and organize design solutions. The consolidation of this information is manifested in the development of the “Master Plan” which will become the road map by which sound decision-making can be made as a home renovation evolves. Keeping the project, on a linear path, avoiding redundancies and back tracking, on time, within budget, concluding with a well crafted finished product. After all the “up front” research and documentation has been completed, the design phase of the project can now precede, with the creation of diagrammatic design drawings. Organizing interior spaces, taking into account the external elements, prevailing breezes, solar orientation, view, existing outdoor features, etc. Through the development of schematic sketches themes will emerge followed by design development drawings. Wise planning and renovation decisions can save money and time at the same time provide a well crafted finished project. The “Master Plan” provides a strategic path in the planning and decision making process leading to a successful and rewarding home renovation, which will add value and considerable enjoyment, for many years, living in a newly renovated home. By virtue of having gone through these steps, frustrations sometimes encountered during a home renovation will be minimized, allowing the renovation to be a gratifying and rewarding experience. Being aware of the process allows one to become an “Educated Client,” which is worth quite a bit more than one might realize. The uneducated client may not realize the benefit of going through the planning, evaluation and documentation groundwork. He will only realize its benefits after having completed a prior renovation project. This rational approach keeps the design process on a direct path to achieving prescribed goals. 4 Exploring Design Solutions & Developing a Master Plan The previous three steps have provided the necessary foundation to start the design phase. The goals and long range plans have been established, existing conditions have been documented and the evaluation of what there is to work with are now in place. This will provide the framework from which to facilitate and organize design solutions. The consolidation of this information is manifested in the development of the “Master Plan” which will become the road map by which sound decision-making can be made as a home renovation evolves. Keeping the project, on a linear path, avoiding redundancies and back tracking, on time, within budget, concluding with a well crafted finished product. By virtue of having gone through these steps, frustrations sometimes encountered during a home renovation will be minimized, allowing the renovation to be a gratifying and rewarding experience. Being aware of the process allows one to become an “Educated Client,” which is worth quite a bit more than one might realize. The uneducated client may not realize the benefit of going through the planning, evaluation and documentation groundwork. He will only realize its benefits after having completed a prior renovation project. This rational approach keeps the design process on a direct path to achieving prescribed goals. After all the “up front” research and documentation has been completed, the design phase of the project can now precede, with the creation of diagrammatic design drawings. Organizing interior spaces, taking into account the external elements, prevailing breezes, solar orientation, view, existing outdoor features, etc. Through the development of schematic sketches themes will emerge followed by design development drawings. Wise planning and renovation decisions can save money and time at the same time provide a well crafted finished project. The “Master Plan” provides a strategic path in the planning and decision making process leading to a successful and rewarding home renovation, which will add value and considerable enjoyment, for many years, living in a newly renovated home.

Living room - traditional dark wood floor living room idea in Chicago with white walls and a standard fireplace

Nassar Development
Kitchen - farmhouse galley dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and gray countertops

This article is posted here with the consent of the author. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, view, or opinion of Crestron Electronics, Inc., or of any of its employees. Crestron Electronics is not responsible for, and does not verify the accuracy of, any of the information contained in this article. By Jeff Singer The “smart” revolution began several years ago with smartphones (a.k.a phones) and has extended in recent years to thermostats, doorbells, alarm systems, and kitchen appliances. Smart devices are so ubiquitous that the term “smart” is overused to the point that it is almost meaningless. Companies are eager to jump on the bandwagon and claim their products are “smart,” and consumers proudly claim they have a smart home because they have lighting control. Misconceptions about smart homes are prevalent and create confusion in the marketplace. This can have deleterious effects on businesses and underserve consumers. Here are seven of the most popular misconceptions about smart homes: 1. Apps are smart Apps are convenient and easy to use. Yes, it seems there’s an app for everything. People expect to be able to download an app and do just about anything. App developers and many companies do not disavow consumers of this myth. On the contrary, they promote this idea with carefully worded descriptions. The promise of having the world at your fingertips for $1.99 is very enticing. Although it sounds too good to be true, it is also too good to pass up for many people. This leads to undervaluing home control and disappointment when the apps don’t work, which undermines confidence in our industry. The fact is that apps are not smart. They do not control anything. They must connect to and communicate with a control system or cloud service that processes, prioritizes, and executes commands. That’s the real magic and what most people do not understand. 2. Smart devices work together With so many smart appliances and devices on the market today, it’s understandable that the average consumer might think that they actually communicate and work together. This is simply not the case. Smart devices are not that smart. They are designed and manufactured by different, often competing, companies. There are no national or industry standards governing these products. Even if they all operate using Wi-Fi® communications, that doesn’t mean they work together. Some companies promote a home control platform, which unites different devices from different companies – in theory. The platform is yet another third-party software totally dependent on other companies developing APIs and writing control modules for their hardware to run on that piece of software. The devices are not independently compatible. Also, when updates are made to either the hardware or the software, functionality may be affected for some period. That’s a nice way of saying the device or system won’t work and there’s no way of knowing for how long. 3. It’s a DIY project Which brings us to the next myth, which is that the average person can do it themselves. Unless you are a skilled professional, I would not advise taking on a smart home project. You want to make a light turn on and off with your Alexa® or Google Assistant™ virtual assistant software, go for it. A smart home takes much more planning and expertise. I have no problem changing a light bulb or hanging a light fixture in my dining room; however, I am not going to rewire my house. I may change the flush valve in my toilet, but I’m not going to replace the pipes in my house. You get it. Integrating devices and systems, establishing different zones, creating scenes, designing the UI with a balance between control, feedback, and simplicity – all takes experience and skill. 4. Need a programmer to make changes Early adopters may have experienced the pain of trying to make a simple change or update to their home control system. Years ago, if the cable provider changed the channel line-up, the homeowner would have to call the dealer or programmer to make an appointment for them to come out to the house to reprogram the system. The system wouldn’t work as expected until it was updated, which often took several days and beaucoup bucks. Not anymore. Technology has evolved so now it’s easy for system owners to change favorite channels, create scenes, rename buttons, update images, and more. While a professional is needed for the initial installation and setup, the system is easy to manage once it’s up and running. This makes life so much easier for both dealer and customer. 5. Tech becomes obsolete quickly Similar to updating the UI, updating firmware or hardware used to be a stressful process. A smart home should be intelligent enough to update itself. Apps don’t become obsolete. Updates are constantly pushed out from the cloud, making them better all the time. The same is true for a good smart home system. New features, functions, and device support gets added in the background consistently, so the system you installed (or purchased) yesterday gets better over time. Swapping out decorative elements, such as keypads, dimmers, and touch screens is also seamless. When a new device is added, all the settings are pulled down from the cloud and it just works. No system interruptions. No sunk costs. No imposing house calls. No surprise bills. 6. Lighting control saves energy and money Lighting control is one of the most popular smart systems, but it takes more than just one system to make a home smart. On the surface, it makes sense that if you dim the lights ten percent, then you save ten percent of energy costs. If the shades are raised during the day to take advantage of sunlight so the lights don’t need to be on (or at least not 100%), but that causes the room temperature to rise a few degrees, which triggers the air conditioner to run longer and more often, was energy usage (or cost) reduced? A smart home integrates all the various systems and technology to optimize comfort, convenience, safety, and sometimes energy. 7. Home technology is easy to hack Security is at the forefront of people’s minds these days. Personal identities are stolen; email accounts hacked; private photos publicized; and more. A smart home must outsmart those who don’t respect privacy. Crestron control systems adhere to the strictest security standards. The same Crestron control system that goes into a home is also installed in secure government and military facilities, global banking institutions, hospitals, and other mission critical applications. When installed correctly by a trained professional, a Crestron smart home is the gold standard for security, comfort, and convenience.

Envision Virtual Tours, Stuart Wade Envision Virtual Tours and High Resolution Photography is your best choice to find just what you are looking for in the Blairsville Area . Knowing the areas and resources of Lake Nottely is our specialty. Whether you're looking for fishing on Lake Nottely, information and history of Blairsville, Ga. Learn all about Blairsville, Ga. here! Blairsville, the county seat of Union County, was incorporated on December 26,1835 and remains the sole incorporated community in the county. At the heart of Downtown Blairsville is the Historic Union County Courthouse, constructed in 1899, and now home to everything from the Union County Historical Society and Friday Night Concerts to a military museum and dollhouse collection. Nearby is the Blairsville City Hall (formerly the "old" jail built in 1934). Both historical buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Blairsville's Town Square is frequently the venue for annual events such as the Downtown Spring Arts & Crafts Festival, the Memorial Day Parade, the Green Bean Festival, the Bluegrass Festival, the Sorghum Parade, Hometown Halloween on the Square, and the Christmas Parade. Everyone is invited to these family orientated celebrations! Just south of the Square, the Historical Society develops and maintains the Mountain Life Museum. It is home to the 1906 Grapel Mock House, the 1861 Payne Cabin, and annual events such as the Mountain Market and Heritage Festival. Look for live animals, heritage demonstrations, and hands-on activities such as panning for gold. There are many exciting destinations in and around Blairsville. Meeks Park, Butternut Creek Golf Course, Lake Nottely, Helton Creek Falls, and the Appalachian Trail are a few of the most well-known attractions. Blairsville is the place to be for outdoor fun. Nearly two-thirds of Union County is in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It includes Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald (with a visitors' center at the summit), Vogel State Park (the oldest and most popular state park in Georgia), and the Richard Russell Scenic Byway. In 2011, Blairsville was designated as an official Appalachian Trail Community. This designation recognizes Blairsville for its part in promoting awareness of the Appalachian Trail as an important national and local resource. In 2007 Blairsville was recognized as a Georgia Better Hometown, largely due to the community volunteer efforts of the Downtown Development Authority of Blairsville. Blairsville has many dedicated individuals and organizations that work together to make the city a great place to live (and to visit). Welcome to Blairsville, Georgia!