A Home Filled with Hope
Since 2001 the combined efforts of a custom builder and a group of professional decorators have annually created a show house to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The resultant homes have been incredible showcases highlighting major builders, vendors and decorators in the Triangle and brought $1.5 million for blood cancer research, patient and family support groups, patient education programs and much more.

Water Wise Landscaping: Introduce Xeriscaping to your gardening Vocabulary
The recent drought left its mark on the landscapes of the Triangle. Lack of rain, coupled with watering restrictions left manicured yards with brown lawns and withering shrubs. Whether you are developing a new landscape or renovating an existing one, there are solutions that can not only go a long way toward ensuring drought survival, but will also yield a landscape that is less expensive and time consuming to maintain.

A PERFECT PARADOX
This home on Lake Drive is named “Magnolia,” but could very well be dubbed “Steel Magnolia” instead. Architecturally, it’s a perfect representation of the antebellum South, with its columned front porch, circular drive, floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive fireplaces and crystal chandeliers. But this traditional home’s Southern charm is surrounded by the very latest in technology and modern day amenities.

Bath Renovations: Refresh and Renew
The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house to its homeowners. Having a bathroom that fits your needs is sure to make life a bit more enjoyable. Read on to learn about four featured bathrooms, where the homeowners remodeled their own special space to their unique specifications. Also see the bathroom designs that are specifically made for man’s best friend.

All About Baths
A white porcelain stool and the simple luxury of privacy has always been enough to command the euphemism “throne room.” But today’s bathrooms—complete with a unified design theme, natural stones, striking hardware and indulgent, spa-like comforts—bring the bathroom to the level of real elegance.

A Bountiful Veranda: A Family’s Passport to Outdoor Entertainment
Melanie and Charles Abbott wanted more than a modest gray wooden deck with the basic circular table, chairs and grill. Loving the outdoors, the active family of five envisioned a living space for both entertaining friends and relaxing together at their North Raleigh home. And they got the ideal oasis of their dreams, thanks to local builder Harold Glazer.

Local Home Builders and Volunteers Take on a Huge Role in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Season Finale
Earlier this year Extreme Makeover: Home Edition executives contacted Triangle native Don Mead, Division President for Atreus Homes & Communities, to organize a coalition of past builders from all over the country for what the show considered “the toughest challenging industry to travel to Louisiana to rebuild both a home and a church.

2008 MAME Awards
On April 18, the best new home builder marketing and sales materials were recognized for excellence at the 2008 Major Achievements in Marketing Excellence (MAME) Awards. Held at the Embassy Suites in Cary, more than 750 people were registered to attend this black tie optional event.

The STARS were Big and Bright at the 15th Annual STAR Awards Banquet
The 15th annual Showcasing Triangle Achievements in Remodeling (STAR) Awards were held on May 8th at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC.

What's New Underfoot? The latest in Flooring Options
One of the best investments in a home comes with the flooring decisions made by the homebuilders and owners. Floors set the tone of any room. Whether formal or casual, the decorative ambiance for an area starts at the bottom and moves up.

Green Home Tour Branches out to Cover the Triangle
On May 3 and 4, 2008, the Third Annual Green Home Tour expanded to become a Triangle-wide event. 

The Experts Have Spoken: NOW is a Great Time to Buy a Home!
You may have heard the radio spots or maybe you’ve seen the TV and print ads with these messages: Mortgage rates are low and home inventories are up… Market conditions have never been as favorable as they are right now… Today’s economic climate is perfect for home buyers!

“Operation: Coming Home”
House for a Permanently Injured Combat Veteran & Family

WRAL Concept Home Raises $27,383 for the Wake Med Foundation
The 2008 ENERGY STAR-rated WRAL Concept Home was built by JM Davis Custom Homes and designed by Sam Young of Southern Designs. The home showcased fine living with 4 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths and featured a state-of-the-art theater room, a screened-in porch with a fireplace, gourmet kitchen and first floor master suite.

Remodeling your Kitchen?  Make your old cabinets count through the Habitat Wake Kitchen Cabinet Campaign
By collecting 40 pre-owned kitchen cabinet sets in 2008, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County can fund the building of an entire Habitat home. 

Raleigh: The Location Equation
Downtown plus its surrounding areas (think Glenwood, Crabtree, Five Points and more) equals “Uptown,” a centralized Raleigh location popular with businesses and homeowners alike.

Fonville Morisey & Barefoot President and CEO Helps Raise $3,400 for Meals on Wheels


Perry Builders Hosts Second Annual Aviation Day
Forty youngsters from North Raleigh United Methodist Preschool attended the second annual Aviation Day held by Perry Builders.

Friends of Fred Fundraiser
$9,025 was raised to benefit WakeMed Foundation’s efforts to expand pediatric serves at WakeMed North Healthplex

Habitat of Durham builds five homes, a playground and more through a week-long celebration
The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, & Chatham counties (HBADOC) and Habitat for Humanity built 10 homes in Durham, Orange and Chatham counties in 5 days during the week of May 31-June 5 as part of a national Habitat for Humanity Home Builders Blitz. Nationwide more than 250 homes were built during this week.

Duke Children’s Hospital Miracle House donates more than $70,000 to Duke Children’s Hospital


How to Chose a REALTOR
When the time comes to sell or buy a house, there are many decisions to make: How much do you list your house for? What area to move to? What house floor plan will work best for my family? Before you tackle these questions, the first question should be: Who is going to help my family with my real estate needs? Smart buyers today never buy or sell a home alone. They choose a professional REALTOR®‚ to represent them.

Go Green! Freedom Elevator and Breathe Easy Cabinetry
Featuring the Freedom Green Residential Elevator and Breathe Easy® Cabinetry

Selling Vs. Renting: The Pros and Cons of Each
At some point in time, many homeowners find themselves asking the question, “Should I put my home on the market and sell it, or should I keep it and rent it out?” As with most finance and tax-related questions, no simple answer exists. However, with issues related to each scenario pointed out by experts in the industry, perhaps the decision can become easier to make. Read on to acquaint yourself with the pros and cons of selling vs. renting, as shared by Gina Miller of RE/MAX UNITED and Mary Jo Ryan of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston.

Nurseries & Children's Themes
Today’s nurseries and children’s rooms— personalized, organized, and ever-evolving! If the emergence of Baby Gap, Baby Einstein, and gourmet baby food conveys anything, it's this: times are a-changing. Gone are the days when mothers and fathers were content to bring their bundle of joy home to a plain crib in a simple, white-walled room.

WakeMed Foundation Joins WRAL and JM Davis Custom Homes to Offer the WRAL Concept Home Tour
WRAL, the WakeMed Foundation and JM Davis Custom Homes is inviting the public to the WRAL Concept Home Tour.  The 2008 WRAL Concept Home will be a showcase of fine living with 4 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths and will feature a state-of-the-art theater room, a screened-in porch with a fireplace, gourmet kitchen and first floor master suite.

Woman’s Club of Raleigh teams up with the ASID for 2008 Showhouse
Once again the Woman’s Club of Raleigh (WCR) has partnered with the Carolinas Chapter of the American Society for Interior Design (ASID) to present the WCR 2008 ASID Designer Showhouse which will be held May 10 through June 1 at Ramblewood at North Hills.