Take A Break And Enjoy This Home In Providence Oaks

Are you looking for an ideal home and ideal location? Look no further than 375 Providence Oaks Circle. A gorgeous neighborhood with swim/tennis and favorite Alpharetta restaurants such as Pure Tacqueria, Village Tavern and more all under five miles away. And of course top rated schools including Summit Hill Elementary.

Beautiful traditional home in Providence Oaks has been completely updated.

The approximately 3,000 square foot house has four bedrooms and two and half baths and has been completely remodeled. The main floor has new hardwoods throughout which are noticeable from the minute you stand inside the foyer.  There is an open living room or office space that flows into a gorgeous professionally decorated formal dining room.  A stenciled tray ceiling, wainscoting and amazing color combinations are all showcased.

The dining room is breathtaking and captures your attention as you enter the home.

The kitchen and family room are open to each other also. The kitchen has granite countertops,  stainless appliances, updated fixtures and contrasting island.  Both rooms are wonderfully light filled from the wall of windows in the family room and bay window in the breakfast nook.

Family room and kitchen combo is bright and welcoming at 375 Providence Oaks

The master suite has stunning custom finishes everywhere from paint to cabinet colors. The room is open and will feel dreamy to the new owner. You will want to spend a relaxing evening in the larger corner jetted tub. One of the additional bedrooms upstairs has beadboard work surrounding  the room.

Beadboard bedroom, a great guest room or child’s room.

The property’s landscape is well laid out and has a brick firepit, and paver patio. It is a beautiful place that everyone will enjoy.

Enjoy the brick firepit when you are relaxing outside.

These pictures are only a glimpse of all the wonderful assets this home offers, click here to view a full slide show of the property.

Read Full Post »

Video of an Equestrian Estate in Alpharetta

Tour this breathtaking equestrian estate on 11 acres in Alpharetta, complete with 6 stall barn and caretakers apartment. Casual elegance abounds in the main house. Exquisite finishes include exposed cedar beams, stone fireplaces, reclaimed wood and unsurpassed attention to detail. The luxurious master suite is on the main level with access to the outdoor living spaces. Spectacular views from every room. The quality finishes and amenities continue throughout the terrace level where you’ll find a home theater, recreation room, fireside great room, and additional bedrooms. Walk out and enjoy the heated saltwater pool and spa.

115 Crowe Road – Equestrian estate for sale in Alpharetta. Offered at $1,378,000. Click on the image to search for properties over $1 million in Alpharetta.

115 Crowe Road
Alpharetta, GA  30004

Seven bedrooms, six full and two half baths

This property is no longer listed. Please click here to view properties for sale over $1 million in Alpharetta.

For more information, please contact:
Andrea Cueny
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
404.695.7040
andreac@atlantafinehomes.com

or

Rhonda Haran
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
404.556.5600
rhonda@atlantafinehomes.com

Read Full Post »

How do you vent?

It may seem like a weird question, but tell me how do you clear the air in your kitchen? After a weekend breakfast complete with applewood-smoked bacon or a pasta dinner filled with garlic, ventilation is key to removing the lingering aroma and smoky haze.

The typical options found in Atlanta homes for sale include:

Extractor fan

If you rarely cook or have a tiny kitchen, an extractor fan might be a reasonable cure for your ventilation woes. Microwaves mounted above a cooktop often include extractor fans. 

If you rarely cook or have a tiny kitchen, an extractor fan might be a reasonable cure for your ventilation woes. These ceiling- or wall-mounted fans are designed to draw in air from both sides, thus delivering high performance at minimal power consumption rates. A real downside is their appearance; there simply is not a sleek looking extractor fan on the market. Microwaves mounted above a range often include extractor fans.

Downdraft ventilation

Venting “downward” is primarily used in kitchen islands or peninsulas — places where a traditional hood might be difficult to install or where you don’t want to block the view. This type of unit can also be used for a cooktop near a wall — perhaps under a window, another location where a hood doesn’t make sense.

Downdraft ventilation is primarily used in kitchen islands or peninsulas — places where a traditional hood might be difficult to install or where you don’t want to block the view. This home for sale at 527 Birch River Drive uses downdraft ventilation, as the cooktop is centrally located in the island. Click on the image for more photos and information from my website.

This vent style draws fumes downward, under the floor and out (like a clothes dryer). Low-powered models, appropriate for an electric or small gas range, generally have the power pack placed in the cabinet beneath. A high-powered unit is usually placed in the basement, avoiding the loss of kitchen storage space.

Range hoods

Many luxury homes make the vent hood a focal point within the kitchen. This custom hood at 115 Crowe Road is trimmed in stone to correspond with the recessed refrigerator. 

In these systems, the exhaust fan is tucked under a decorative wall mounted or overhead hood and is available with multiple speeds. This is the most popular type of venting system for a number of reasons: it’s effective, it’s logical (hot air does rise, after all) and it saves space. Range hoods can be used with either ductless or duct systems.

Duct range vents direct cooking smoke and steam outside the home. These vents may or may not have a filter connected to them. Ductless range vents rely exclusively on filters to clean the grease and grime from the smoke and circulate clean air back into the kitchen. Those that use charcoal filters can remove odors, but they must be periodically replaced. Some use an aluminum filter that can be cleaned with soap and water. Filters must be washed or replaced every 3 to 6 months to maintain the vent’s peak operating efficiency.

Do you have a dream kitchen in mind? If so, what method would you use there? I have been pinning kitchens with dramatic range hoods on Pinterest. Follow my Gourmet Kitchens Pinterest board for more kitchen eye-candy!

Source: Zillow blog

Read Full Post »

Homes for Sale in Crabapple Crossing Elementary School District

Crabapple Crossing Elementary is one of the best schools in North Fulton and was named a 2012 National Blue Ribbon school. Check out this selection of homes for sale in the Crabbapple Crossing district.

Secluded private estate with 7 bedrooms, 6 full and 3 half baths. Offered at $1,999,900 by Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for more photos and additional information.

Custom showcase home on lake with 7 bedrooms, 7 full and 3 half baths on 2.43 acres in premier neighborhood. Offered at $1,250,000 by Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for more photos and additional information.

Surrounded by award winning schools, parks, and dining why not call this 6 bedroom, 6 full and 2 half bath estate home! Offered at $999,000 by Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for more photos and additional information.

Wonderful traditional home with finished terrace level located on a private professionally landscaped lot with 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 1 half baths. Offered at $399,000 by Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for more photos and additional information.

Beautiful five bedroom home in sought-after swim/tennis subdivision, Brierfield. Offered at $364,900 by Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for more photos and additional information.

Also to search more homes for sale in Crabapple Crossing Elementary click here to search homes for sale in this area on my website.

Read Full Post »

Safe at Home

Home Security Technology Gets Tougher as Usage Gets Easier

5215 Estate View Trace in Suwanee features a home security system and is currently listed at $489,000. Click on the image for more photos and information from Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

What a difference a millennium makes.

Today, whole-home automation integrates security, energy and comfort into one centrally controlled system. You can not only keep a watchful eye out for intruders, but also monitor children, elderly relatives and caretakers for peace of mind. What’s more, the same system manages appliances, climate, lights and entertainment for added ease and convenience.

Home security has been reconceived and engineered to be proactive rather than passive. It monitors, senses, triggers, engages, warns and communicates, all of it on the homeowner’s terms. Standard systems set off a burglar alarm once a breach has been detected. New systems offer perimeter protection incorporating discreet visual monitoring and live audio warnings that deter criminals from entering the property. Even minor activity is tracked around the clock through interactive technology. More advanced systems use vehicle detection sensors and thermal imaging surveillance.

Buyers in the high-end home market don’t just ask for it, “they expect it,” says San Francisco real estate broker Arthur Sharif of Sotheby’s International Realty–San Francisco Brokerage. “If you’re in the $6 million and above price range, it’s expected that every home is going to have very sophisticated wiring.”

The security may be sophisticated, but the functionality is getting easier. There was a time not long ago when homeowners didn’t engage their security systems because they were just too complicated. That’s changed. Now the technology is controlled through smartphones and tablets. Consumers have mastered the learning curve of mobile devices, which, in turn, has fueled growth in home automation adoption and usage, according to Jay Kenny, vice president of Alarm.com, a provider of interactive home security and monitoring technology. The company reports that 75 percent of its customer base now logs on via mobile apps. Homeowners can get text messages alerting them to the comings and goings on their properties. More sophisticated systems recognize activity patterns that can help owners make smarter decisions about security and energy usage settings. “The message is that consumers should be able to get all this new value out of their security systems,” says Kenny. “In the past, it was really a passive system, just waiting for something to happen. But now that you get all this active information out of it, there’s value every day.”

The larger the home or compound, the more sophisticated the system is likely to be. Remote camera monitoring and control capabilities are important selling features in the secondary market. 2300 Loring Oaks in Marietta features an extensive security system and is currently listed at $1,500,000. Click on the image for more photos and information.

Interactive security technology is popular in the vacation home market, though sometimes for intruders of a different kind. “People who come from urban settings are accustomed to being concerned about intruders, whereas here in Colorado, you’re more likely to have a deer or coyote come onto your property,” says Bill Fandel of Peaks Sotheby’s International Realty in Telluride. “Security would alert motion detectors to the fact that a bear is in your trash or out on your deck. If your kids are out there or you’re planning to walk the dog, that’s a major concern.”

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to a home security system. Very often it’s a housekeeper or even a houseguest at the helm of the controls, so a system needs to be engineered for the individuals who will be using it. And, of course, a security plan must be built to match the need.

Like all technology, home automation evolves rapidly. What was state-of-the-art a decade ago may be outmoded today. Security systems should be reviewed at three- to five-year intervals for upgrades or modifications, either because the technology has improved or an owner’s security needs have changed, such as having a child or acquiring a valuable new asset.

Source: Sotheby’s International Realty via The Wall Street Journal

Read Full Post »

Video of a Home for Sale in Dahlonega’s Achasta Golf Club

Achasta, a gated golf community in Dahlonega, offers a lifestyle unsurpassed with a mountain setting and luxurious amenities. Inside this home you will find highly appointed finishes including a light and open kitchen with granite countertops, new stainless steel appliances, a large island for cooking and entertaining that opens to the great room which features exposed beams, a stone fireplace and built-in cabinetry. Walk out to the screened porch and enjoy views of the golf course. The master retreat is on main level with a spa like master bathroom. Two private suites and a recreation room are in the lower level.

Take a moment to view this short video of the home for sale in Achasta.

527 Birch River Drive in Dahlonega’s Achasta Golf Club. Offered at $475,000. Click on the image for more photos and info from Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

527 Birch River Drive
Dahlonega, GA  30533

Three bedrooms, three and a half baths

Offered at $475,000

For more information, please contact:
Andrea Cueny
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
404.695.7040
andreac@atlantafinehomes.com

Read Full Post »

Walkway Landscaping Offers a Friendly Welcome

Add color and curb appeal to your home with a statement-making front landscape

Sprawling and beautifully manicured front yards line the streets of Metro Atlanta, no doubt about it. A well-landscaped yard creates curb appeal and helps your property retain maximum value. The walkway to your front door is one of the most important elements of the overall landscape because it greets guests to your home even before you do!

So whether you prefer something simple to fit into your traditional exterior or crave something extraordinary for a grand estate, there’s a perfect landscape scheme for every front walk. Below are a few tips and tricks, as well as shining examples of how to spruce up your outdoor spaces.

Green up the grass

If your house has a front yard, make sure it‘s neat and green. You don’t want bare spots, sprawling weeds, or an untrimmed appearance.

“It’s so simple to go to Home Depot, buy fertilizer, apply it every six weeks, and water it,” says Mitch Kalamian, a landscape designer. “It will green up.”

If the yard looks really scruffy, you may decide to invest in some sod. According to the National Gardening Association, the average cost of sod is 15 to 35 cents per sq. ft. If you hire a landscaper to sod your yard for you, labor will add 30% to 50% to the total cost of the project.

This Milton home for sale at 545 Treyburn View features a very green, well manicured lawn. Currently listed at $559,000, click on the image for more photos and information from Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

Add colorful planting beds

Flower beds add color and help enliven otherwise plain areas, such as along driveways and the edges of walkways. In general, annual flowers are a bit cheaper but must be replaced every year. Perennials cost a bit more but come back annually and usually get larger or spread with each growing season.

If you’re not sure what to plant, inquire at your local garden center. Often, they’ll have a display of bedding plants chosen for their adaptability to your area. Also, they‘ll be inexpensive because they’re in season, says Peter Mezitt, president of Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, Mass. Try pansies in the summer, and asters and mums in the fall to add vibrant color. “That’s what we do around the entrance to our garden center,” Mezitt says.

Line it up

A row of simple shrubbery flanking the walkway to your front door feels clean and classic. Boxwoods are a great choice for imitating the look of one cohesive hedge.

Currently listed at $369,000, this beautiful brick home in Marietta features shrubbery that lines the driveway and directs you to the front walk. Click on the image for more photos and information of 143 Gant Quarters Lane from Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

For longer front walks, try incorporating shrubbery with different layers of height. Multiple heights add depth to a landscape and tall shrubs can mimic the effect of a beautiful gate.

5215 Estate View Trace in Suwanee is currently listed at $489,000. Along the front walkway shrubbery with different layers of height frame the front porch and highlight the dramatic double doors. Click on the image for more photos and information from Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

Add landscape lighting

For homeowners who have made a sizeable investment in landscaping, it makes sense to think about adding another 10% to 15% to the bill for professional lighting. “You can’t see landscaping after dark,“ says Brandon Stephens, vice president of marketing for a landscape lighting firm in Lubbock, Texas, “and buyers are not always looking at houses on a Saturday afternoon.”

The cost of a system runs from $200 for a DIY installation to more than $4,000 for a professional job. If you‘re doing it on your own, the key is to light what you want people to see, such as mature trees and flowering shrubs.

Source: HouseLogic

Read Full Post »

Beautiful living rooms in homes for sale Intown Atlanta

This soothing living room is just the first lovely impression in a home that has been entirely renovated. Located ideally in Virginia Highlands at 890 Drewry Street. Offered at $595,000 by Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for more photos and additional information.

Only blocks from Atlanta/Midtown’s Piedmont Park, this renovated home located at 356 6th Street has beautiful hardwood floors and an exposed hardwood ceiling in this cozy living room. Offered at $415,000 by Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for more photos and additional information.

A beautiful townhome in Buckhead, 1101 Collier Road is located near the interstate, shopping and restaurants. The cheery living room features hardwood floors and is easily hosts large furniture. Offered at $141,900 by Andrea Cueny of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Please click on the image for additional photos and information.

Read Full Post »