Open House – South Charlotte Lifestyle Magazine

Premier Storage in South Charlotte

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:01:48 +0000

Trust Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre to Keep Your Belongings Safe and Sound

Article Emily Shea

Whether you’re in the process of moving or building a home, decluttering or maybe in need of some storage space for your child’s belongings as they move to college, Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre is South Charlotte’s premier storage facility.

Units

Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre has 14 different unit sizes available. All units have at least 10 feet of vertical space. Their smallest unit comes in at just 5 feet by 5 feet, allowing 25 square feet of space to store everything from personal items to small pieces of furniture and business records. The largest unit is equivalent to the size of a one-car garage. Offering 250 square feet of storage (10 feet by 25 feet), this unit could potentially hold furniture for a four- or five-bedroom house with room for major appliances and boxes.

Location

Located right off Ballantyne Commons Parkway next to the Promenade Shopping Center, the storage center is easy to access with large truck accessibility. The office is open Monday through Saturday, but gate access hours are seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Amenities

Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre is a four-story building that is fully temperature-controlled. The building also has elevators, free on-site use of moving equipment and moving supplies available for purchase. A conference room is available for tenants’ use, as well as Wi-Fi access and faxing.

Security

Keeping your belongings safe is a top priority for Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre. The facility is fully equipped with surveillance cameras for your safety and peace of mind. Access to the building is coded with a personalized code issued to each tenant.

Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre

5527 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte

704.814.0884

Building Better

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 08:10:26 +0000

Article Jessica Plassman

Chelsea Building Group, a residential builder headquartered in Matthews, was founded on a simple yet very radical idea: to build better homes.

“We had all been around the business, on many sides of the equation, from the trades through materials and finance, and we saw an industry that focused on size and appearance factors and placed very little emphasis on technical aspects that can profoundly impact the experience of living in a home. We decided to see if we could change that for the better,” says Marc Bickler, Chelsea Building Group’s CEO.

With that aim in mind, the company began operations at The Bridge at Sharon View, building custom homes, all with open floor plans, custom cabinetry, hardwood flooring, Italian tile and premium appliances, the things a high-end homebuyer would want and expect. The company then went about engineering the functional attributes that it believes will matter to the homeowners long after the initial heady days. According to Vice President of Construction Jeff Conger, the team started with a list of “benefits” like comfort, healthfulness and economy, then developed a strategy for achieving them.

“We had the idea of ‘the things you’ll thank us for later.’ These were things like walking barefoot on a floor that doesn’t feel cold, or not being awakened by a noisy garage door opener when someone has to leave early, or not being bothered by cooking smoke. We put them down on paper, and there were quite a few. Then we researched solutions.” –Jeff Conger

Chelsea works closely with its architect and engineers on the structural attributes, and also extensively with its subcontractors, to develop the right standards and practices to realize its goals. It then engages with third-party experts Top Build in addition to its own on-site supervisors to inspect the house at various stages of construction.

One of the main areas of emphasis is on the building envelope, which is the skeletal structure and skin of the building.

“It needs to be tight, to keep the elements out, but then it needs to breathe properly to maintain a healthy environment,” Jeff says.

Chelsea consulted with building systems experts to develop a system of framing, insulation, sheathing and HVAC to strike the right balance.

Upon completion, Top Build tests and certifies every home according to standards of efficiency and comfort. The top rating it issues is the Diamond, which every Chelsea home to date has met. This provides a real, tangible benefit to the homeowner in the form of a Comfort Guarantee, which states that the temperature in any room won’t vary by more than 3 degrees at any point. It also provides an energy cost guarantee, so the homeowner will know very specifically what their energy will look like going forward.

In the last few years, Chelsea has focused on bringing its unique philosophy of superior construction to its planned communities. At ReAlta, the company added solar power and digital control to its mix of amenities. The resulting homes feature striking contemporary detailing, most with rooftop decks, open floor plans and all the visual components that make new homes so alluring. They also realized some of the best HERS (Home Energy Rating System) numbers—the lower the better—ever recorded in the Carolinas. Combined with the solar power, the fortunate homeowners in these buildings will experience the pleasure of near-zero electric bills.

The company has several projects underway around Charlotte. All will be built to what the company calls “Chelsea standards,” which is to say beyond what is required by the code. They wouldn’t have it any other way.

Lap of Luxury

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 08:11:56 +0000

Article Emily Shea | Photography Joe Purvis Photography

Deb White of Helen Adams Realty has been a licensed realtor since 2003. She has assisted countless buyers with everything from new construction projects to relocations. As someone who has been both a home buyer and seller on several occasions during the past decade, she understands that buying and selling real estate has many moving parts and can juggle the process from beginning to end.

Currently, she has a handful of luxury listings, including this beautiful home in Waxhaw. This blissful two-story home is over 4,500 square feet and contains four bedrooms and five bathrooms. It’s located in one of the South Charlotte area’s premier gated communities and overlooks the fourth fairway of a Jack Nicklaus golf course.

Its Arthur Rutenberg open floor plan flows beautifully for easy entertaining, and the professionally designed interior boasts wooden ceiling beams, a custom kitchen island and family room built-ins.

The first-floor master suite features a large walk-in custom closet, golf course views and a spa-like ensuite with marble countertops and a garden tub. The upper level contains the other three bedrooms of the house, as well as a bonus media room and a potential recreation room or fifth bedroom.

The awe-inspiring home also has a covered and screened-in back porch with a stone fireplace. But if you’d like to spend some time truly outside, it has a custom-built stone patio with multi-level seating, a hot tub and a built-in grill and bar that overlook the golf course. To seal the deal, it also has a three-car garage, a cobblestone driveway, state-of-the-art appliances and a breakfast bar.

For more information about this home or other listings available through Deb White of Helen Adams Realty, call 617.417.6070 or visit DebWhite.HelenAdamsRealty.com.

Fit For A Queen

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 08:10:44 +0000

Luxurious Living in the Heart of the City

Article Melinda Burris Willms

511 Queens Apartments are located in beautiful Myers Park, a premier, historic Charlotte neighborhood, minutes from downtown. 511 Queens offers residents the best of both worlds with its relaxed, picturesque setting in a quiet, suburban neighborhood within walking distance of Charlotte’s finest cultural, culinary and entertainment destinations.

They offer residents a choice between two spacious open floor plans: the 1,155-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence or the 1,552-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence. Both floor plans offer plenty of room for comfort, daily living, work-from-home and elegant entertaining. A nice bonus: Residents can enjoy premium views of the Uptown Charlotte skyline from the privacy of their covered terrace.

The apartments at 511 Queens are large and airy with nine-foot ceilings, ample closet space and two master bedrooms per unit. Luxurious interior design details include Cathedral-style, soft-close cabinetry, porcelain-tile bathrooms, crown molding, custom trim work and hand-scraped hardwood floors. Units are designed in a neutral gray palette, providing an elegant setting that highlights the sophisticated finishing details throughout.

Each apartment is also equipped with a spacious kitchen complete with ‘London Gray’ Caesarstone countertops and GE profile appliances, including double ovens, allowing you to entertain all of your friends and family members. Units feature stylish, recessed lighting which allows you to create the ideal ambiance for any occasion. When it comes time to entertain, 511 Queens offers its customary flexibility, giving residents the option to take the party outside to the outdoor gazebo with a community gas grill and fireplace.

511 Queens offers convenience with a full range of residential services including an onsite community manager, secure and high-speed Wi-Fi, elevator access throughout, valet waste and recycling service and a secure building with access controlled by a call box. Each unit is also equipped with a full-size washer and dryer set.

Additional amenities that enhance 511 Queens’ welcoming atmosphere are its pet friendly policy, covered and gated parking for residents, business center and conference room facility availability onsite and daily complimentary offerings of Starbucks coffee or TAZO tea. It is also conveniently located less than a mile from Novant Health, within walking or easy driving distance to Charlotte’s top dining, shopping and cultural attractions and close proximity to the event destinations, Bank of America Stadium, BB&T Ballpark and Spectrum Arena.

511 Queens is the perfect choice for those currently on the market for real estate. Thanks to their flexible homeowners leasing program, you are given the time needed to complete the search for your new home, construction in progress on your new build or to finalize the sale of a home currently on the market.

Visit the informative 511queens.com to take a virtual tour, view the two available floor plans and complete your lease application. To book a model and community tour or for more information, call 833-227-5996, visit their website or visit in person: 511 Queens, 511 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC. Lease with 511 Queens in the month of December and qualify for your first two months free!

Lullaby Land

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 20:09:24 +0000

Article Emily Shea | Photography Decorating Den Interiors

Perhaps you are looking for something unique, something that isn’t found in every store or on so many social media posts. But when you use your imagination for a decorating a kid’s room, the creative possibilities are endless. From custom bedding to hand-painted wall murals, you can dream up some fun and exciting possibilities for your little one’s room that can last well beyond infancy.

First, you may want to come up with a theme. If you know it’s a boy and your family loves camping, that’s a great theme. For a girl whose family loves animals, try a bird, butterfly, or jungle motif. What do you do if you are waiting to be surprised by your bundle of joy’s gender? How about something geometric that brings in pattern and movement? Or perhaps a theme based on color or a favorite children’s book?

You will be amazed at everything that is available today! Designer fabrics are available for customizing your baby’s room. There are hundreds of fabrics that we as interior decorators can offer that can be the room’s focal point and coordinate with existing designs in the home. Wallpaper is big now! Wallpaper and decals can be the design catalyst for an entire children’s room. Custom headboards can also be the spring board for a child’s room design with bold shapes, colors or cut outs.

When selecting colors for the nursery, it’s so easy to be tempted by those dreamy, gentle pastels. Remember, however, that babies love black and white, as well as bright primary colors. Of course, you will be spending many hours around the clock in that nursery, so be certain that you, as well as the baby, enjoy the outcome of the room.

No matter what themes or colors you choose in the nursery, you will spend some precious moments in there with your little one. These are memories that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life so, above all, put a lot of love into decorating it, and you will have created the perfect lullaby land for your baby.

Decorating Your Nursery

First Things First: Make it easy for you! Consider selecting a room in your home that’s close to your master bedroom. Pay attention to the direction your nursery faces. Sunlight streaming into your child’s room during most of the day or even streetlights beaming into your nursery during the evening might make sleeping a bit difficult.
Have Fun With Colors: While the most popular colors for nurseries are gentle pastels like mint green, sky blue, pinks and creamy yellows, psychologists say children like -and thrive- around primary colors.

Safety is a Must!

Be sure to child proof all locks and outlets.
Anchor furniture, so you’re sure it won’t accidentally tip over.
Avoid using space heaters.
Check on “hand me down” products to be sure they haven’t been recalled and are in good, safe working order.

Create a Room Your Child Can “Grow Into”!

Select furniture that will grow with your child. For instance, a baby armoire is a great idea for storing those precious little clothing items. And once your child ages, this same piece of furniture could easily be converted to a computer desk.

Furniture Arranging Is As Easy As 1 – 2 – 3!

Don’t place your crib close to a window, try an inside wall or angle instead.
In the beginning, it’s wise to keep your room arrangements simple and functional for YOU!
Select furnishings that are as maintenance free as possible.
Remember, your baby will be growing by leaps and bounds! Don’t forget to look for furniture that will grow as your child grows.
As in all decorating, start with the largest areas first – your walls and floor
A rocking chair is a great addition to any nursery’s floor plan.
Allow for plenty of light in the room. A ceiling light is not enough, so consider adding lamps at the bedside or on the walls.

Windows, Walls, And Floors – Oh My!

Wonderful Windows! Break Away Tassels are a must on all alternative window products. Room darkening treatments topped with a fun, light hearted, thematic top treatment might just help insure a good night’s sleep for your newborn.
Whimsical Walls! Have fun with wallcovering! A light-hearted border applied over neutral walls will give your nursery its own personality. When painting your walls be sure to use washable paint. Try adding a few cheerful pictures to continue your room’s theme.
Fabulous Flooring! From braided area rugs to rugs featuring light hearted colorful patterns, this great and practical accent will not only help warm your nursery area, but will also add that whimsical touch.

Office Official

moconnell — Fri, 04 May 2018 17:37:28 +0000

Decorating Den’s Ladylike Office Design

Article Patrice Hawkins & Valery Huffenus of Decorating Den Interiors | Photography Julie Legge

Gone are the days when women only had clunky desks and chairs in their office! Now a work space not only defines your business, but you as well. Many offices, like this one in Ballantyne, now incorporate personal details from home for a look that’s representative of the women who work there.

Women require more space than a traditional desk provides. Workstations are a great solution; an L-shaped configuration provides twice the workspace plus storage like cubbyholes, and the office armoire—with two tall doors open to reveal a drop-down work surface and plenty of storage space—is compact and cool.

Chairs, too, have vastly improved in aesthetics and comfort, now designed to fit the female body. You can put a personal stamp on your office with the color, look and design of a chair that matches your personality, whether that be a traditional wing chair, a modern white leather number (like in this Ballantyne office), or a refurbished vintage piece.

Another important consideration? Storage! Computers, files, mail, magazines, and office equipment and their wires take up tons of linear space! Many companies design work furniture with storage in mind with inventive options, like hiding wires in the legs of a desk.

Don’t forget furnishings that will put your personality into the office. Art, accessories and accomplishments displayed say "This is my space!"

+ Lift desks and standing desks are appealing options that keep your physical health in mind and save precious office space.

+ Decorative lighting, art, accessories, custom window treatments, and area rugs make you space personal for you, and approachable for outsiders, too.

+ Chairs in classic and modern shapes alike can be comfortable and stylish in any office.

Desk, Standing and Office