April 2013 Issue
Jacksonville New Homes and Communities Magazine and Guide
Northeast Florida has been called an undiscovered gem, but more people are recognizing the Jacksonville area for its southern hospitality, its rich history, its natural beauty and its unspoiled beaches. Lovely historic neighborhoods and amenity-rich master-planned communities offer an array of housing options and the arts are emphasized. Football fans can't enough of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.
FROM THE EDITOR
When we first began publishing Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville a decade ago, I quickly found out that there were a handful of people in our industry who had earned universal respect, and about whom no ill was ever spoken.
FEATURE
Builder Glenn Layton always acts and looks like the respected professional that he is. But he could be forgiven for taking a little extra time in front of the mirror before heading to a particular jobsite in Paradise Key South Beach.
REMODEL
It has been said the heart of the home is the kitchen, and recent trends in the remodeling industry certainly support that statement. While economic conditions have caused many of us to re-set our goals and re-evaluate our priorities; one truism still resonates in our core: "There's no place like home."
Selecting a qualified remodeler to work inside your home can be a scary proposition. Everyone has heard horror stories about people who've experienced long delays, cost overruns, lost deposits and unfinished jobs.
When you're ready to select a remodeler, there are many advantages to using a design-build firm. Through the design-build approach, your remodeler "drives the bus" during the entire project, from conception through completion, and is your single point of contact.
Thinking of remodeling your bathroom or kitchen? An interior designer should be part of the process from the very beginning to make certain that the new and improved space is both beautiful and functional.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, now more than ever. Plus, kitchen improvements tend to offer the strongest return on your investment when it's resale time.
Light fixtures are an important design element in any room. Not only do they provide illumination, but they also contribute to the overall look and feel of the space and help to set the mood. The right lighting, in fact, is crucial whether you're cooking, working or relaxing.
Jon and Vivian McDonald loved their home on the Intracoastal Waterway. But they didn't love their small, inconveniently configured kitchen. The room had several problems that the McDonalds wanted to resolve. It was situated between the breakfast room and the family room, giving it a closed-off feeling and limiting their ability to entertain.
Rebecca and Gary Bone were thrilled to be moving back to Northeast Florida after work had taken them temporarily to Atlanta. Because they love living on the water, they immediately began looking for a home in Queen's Harbour, where a deep-water lagoon is connected to the Intracoastal Waterway via a navigational lock system.
Albert and Elisa Lopez both love to cook, and to have their family around them while they busily rinse, slice, dice, mix and knead. So having a roomy kitchen was high on their priority list.
At the recent Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), sponsored by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, "Best of KBIS" awards were presented to manufacturers of an eclectic array of kitchen and bathroom products. The annual confab, held this year in New Orleans, showcases the industry's newest and most innovative offerings. Awards are based on excellence in design, functionality and aesthetics. Here are this year's winners.
With more people choosing to stay put, remodeling is faring well. And, as usual, kitchens and bathrooms are the most popular remodeling projects, both locally and nationally.