If these walls could talk, right? Old homes have their own character and appeal. The very quality of having been lived in and enjoyed beyond our lifetime gives us a sense of connectedness to the past. With that connection and history, it's no wonder our homeowners wanted to preserve the history of their home and the stories the walls had to tell as they brought their 1930's Craftsman style home up to date.  Still rooted in the past, but open and inviting to the present. 

Our 80's remodel is coming along -- this week we focused on finishing up flooring. It's amazing what an effect the change of one surface in a room can make. We finished laying hardwoods in the redesigned open concept kitchen and dining area, and replaced all of the carpet upstairs for a simple but total upgrade of the bedrooms. 

As we walk through the changes from this week, keep an eye out for another amazing 80's holdout that is getting a boost into this century. 

They say that the 80's are coming back -- hello high waisted jeans and bold floral prints. Well, this home never left behind its 80's roots and our homeowners are ready to say goodbye. Behold, a time capsule from 1988 -- beautifully finished at the time with all the accents of the period -- floral wall paper, exquisitely draped valances, long low rooms that made for intimate gathering spaces, and flourescent lighting in the kitchen, just where you need it most. 

Renovating kitchens, the hardest working room in a house, can be tough. Homeowners ask themselves if it is really worth the disruption to renovate command central. We eat (a lot it seems), do homework, chat, and even entertain in them. For our homeowners, the phrase "heart of the home" is apt -- several hallways, the sunroom room, back door, and family room all flow in and out of this one room. They took on the challenge and asked to help them re:fresh their kitchen by gutting it and installing all new cabinets, new counter-tops, and new appliances. 

We're celebrating a bit of an anniversary at Benjamin Andrew Construction -- it's been one year since we launched our blog that goes behind the scenes, offers project updates, and design insights. Our goal is to show our readers amazing pictures of quality work,  ideas to inspire, and the stories and people behind our company and our motto "Making Dreams into Reality." That is our mission. 

With Valentine's around the corner, you gents may be wondering what on earth to get for your sweetheart this year. Another dozen roses? Another night out for a candlelit dinner? So Hallmark. Of course, you don't want to make the mistake of going for the straight up home improvement gift like a trash compactor or vacuum cleaner. That speaks of a relationship grown a bit TOO comfortable. And perhaps a predictor of a few nights on the couch or worse yet, the doghouse. 

One of our 2016 projects began as a completely bare basement. We blogged about it here. A blank slate slowly being formed, framed, and filled in. In collaboration with Southern Cinema Design and our homeowner's collection of movie memorabilia, the project has gone from a blank slate to a space brimming with originality and style. In our homeowner Bill's own words, "this was my once in a lifetime project."

Ian Hastings has been remodeling houses for over 30 years. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Ian is a skilled carpenter with an eye for detail. Although woodworking is his specialty and particular passion, he has been involved in all aspects of renovation and new construction from project management to counsel on design and guiding homeowners through all parts of the process. Ian has a unique ability to connect with homeowners and treat their homes as if it is his own. 

One of Benjamin Andrew Construction's core values is building relationships both with clients and across our industry with vendors, sub-contractors, and show rooms. This project was another collaborative effort with a forward thinking landscape design company, Ed Castro Landscape, to produce a backyard oasis in Buckhead -- one that bespeaks relaxation and peace, along with easy maintenance (no vast lawns for summer mowing!). 

This project is a great example of a #lovewhereyoulive project. These homeowners upgraded their previous deck into an expansive screened porch and grilling deck  -- a remodel that will add lots of value, both to our homeowner's hospitality and family fun space and to their home's overall value as well.