A BACKYARD RETREAT

An Outdoor Retreat Story by John Riddle

MARTY AND LESLIE MCGHIN WANT ED MORE FROM THEIR BACKYARD EXPERIENCE – THEY GOT IT!

BEFORE

Marty & Leslie McGhin

GARDEN

Marty and Leslie McGhin were tired of having to position their lounge chairs sideways on the pool deck. And, they also wanted a fi re pit. They had no idea those two requests would lead to a reenvisioned backyard retreat o ering so much more.

The McGhins, who are very involved at VSU and in their local church, have always enjoyed having groups of people over to their home in Kinderlou Forest. But the pool deck was only four feet wide with an iron fence around the perimeter.

“We wanted more room to host people and not be so crowded on the pool deck. We also wanted a covered section to provide some shade,” Marty explained. They contracted with Brent Moore, Jr., of Outdoor Living by Profi cient Pool & Landscaping, who gave them all they wanted and more.

Brent suggested a fi replace and an outdoor kitchen under a covered area on the pool deck extension. At fi rst, Marty and Leslie didn’t think they’d use a fi replace. “We’ve used it much more than we thought we would,” Marty said.

“Everything around the pool was relandscaped and the lawn was resodded with centipede,” said Moore, whose company designed and installed the silver travertine tile (which is made to go over the existing pool deck), retaining/seat wall, fi re pit, outdoor kitchen, lighting, and the new covered area.

The McGhins’ new backyard retreat is all they wanted and more. And, with their daughter graduating from high school this year, Marty said, “We’ll be spending much more time out here now.”

Left: Brent Moore, Jr., CEO of Outdoor Living & Profi cient Pool & Landscaping

229-560-7421

admin@propoollawn.com propoollawn.com

WHAT IS QUARTZ? Q uartz is one of the hardest minerals on Earth. Quartz is a crystalline form of silicone diode and second most common mineral found on this planet. It is found typically in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, colored by impurities found within it, such as in amethyst, citrine, and cairngorm. Even though Quartz is a widely occurring mineral, pure, high quality quartz crystals are rarely found. Quartz is found all over the world but, Arkansas and Brazil are two places with the largest natural quartz mines. The primary ingredient in Quartz countertops is 93% ground quartz, which is combined with polyester resins to bind it together. Pigments are added to give it color; and some designs even incorporate small amounts of recycled glass or metallic flecks into it. Due to the durability and special type of resins mixed within the Quartz during production, Quartz countertops are resistant to stains. Quartz is both plentiful and durable, used in production in diverse ways from electronics to building materials. Because of its strength and abundance, Quartz is a popular and reliable choice for countertops. Quartz countertops are sometimes referred to as “engineered” or “man-made,” but Quartz is in fact a natural stone. The amount of natural Quartz in a slab depends on the quartz manufacturer. Quartz countertops are sold under brand names such as Cambria™, Hanstone™, Silestone™, etc. The different companies offer different colors and warranties (Cambria offers a lifetime transferable warranty).

Quartz is a low maintenance countertop, unlike granite & marble which typically requires a protective topcoat/sealer at least once a year. Quartz surfaces never need to be sealed. We recommend using cleaning products with a pH between 5-8, as products outside this range may damage the surface. Cleaning products such as oven grill cleaners, floor strippers, toilet bowl cleaners, oil soaps, tarnish removers, furniture cleaners, drain products, etc. could be damaging to your Quartz countertop. If your Quartz surface accidentally is exposed to any of these potentially damaging products, rinse with water immediately. They are a nonporous surface, which means staining substances do not settle in small pores, causing discoloration.

BY MATTHEW DOUGLAS, PARAMOUNT GRANITE

369 Connell Road Valdosta, GA 31602 229-244-4992

Callie and Gabby:

Callie Shaw, Owner and Lead Designer Gabby Powell, Assistant Designer

You can fi nd Tin Lily Design on Facebook (Tin Lily Design) and Instagram (@tinlilydesign_callieshaw).

4476 Val North Dr., Suite B Valdosta Ga 31602 229-262-4817 (Business) 229-563-1689 (Mobile) cshaw.design@yahoo.com

TIN LILY DESIGN was started in 2014 by Callie Shaw and focuses on both residential and commercial design. They work on projects all over South and Middle Georgia as well as North Florida and even both East and Gulf coasts! Callie carries a variety of fabric samples, furniture, and accessories from many di erent vendors and with many di erent price ranges. Tin Lily Design can help with new construction and remodels as well as redesigns using your own items to help freshen up your spaces. They love to do custom bedding and draperies with the help of their local seamstresses to give that fi nished look! Callie and her Assistant Designer, Gabby Powell, are more than happy to work with you on your current or next project!

FAR LEFT: At Tin Lily Design, they can help you design and select beautiful custom bedding and semi-custom bedding to suit your individual tastes.

IMMEDIATE LEFT: A staged bookshelf of a recent new construction project designed by Callie.

BELOW: Callie worked with this client to change the paint color, lighting and furniture of this Dining Room. She also found and arranged/hung the accessories that completed the look.

RIGHT: A gorgeous sampling of pieces that Callie was able to use to create this fun and colorful china cabinet arrangement.

ABOVE: At Tin Lily Design, they can help you coordinate fi nishes from the beginning so that you end with a cohesive design. ABOVE: They have hundreds of fabric swatches to look through at all di erent price ranges and can help guide you with your selections. ABOVE: Callie had a great time working with this client on creating a fun wall collage with wonderful texture and soothing colors.

COLDWELL BANKER CAREER?

Written by TOM CALL

Our agent priorities survey fi ndings paint a very clear picture of what makes Coldwell Banker the best in the industry and why agents continue to a liate with the brand. The report’s fi ndings reveal that agent priorities among the real estate brokerage community are now more important than ever.

One of the key highlights of the research was a rming just how satisfi ed Coldwell Banker a liated agents are compared to agents from other brands. For the third time, Coldwell Banker Real Estate ranked #1 in agent satisfaction. Coldwell Banker agents surveyed said they were extremely or very likely to recommend their current company to another agent. Our network of more than 100,000 agents are heard, supported and well-equipped by the brand to adapt and prosper – making them happy, motivated, and successful.

Coldwell Banker a liated agents are less likely to change a liation in the next two years than any other company’s agents according to survey results.

• Agent A nity is Growing: Agents a liated with the Coldwell Banker brand are less likely to change a liation in the next two years than any other company’s agents. • Gold Star Opinion: Agents’ opinion of the Coldwell

Banker brand is higher than any other real estate brand.

Brand reputation is key.

Real estate brands have more competition than ever to retain and attract their top talent. A notable brand reputation will prevail, as most agents agree that their company’s reputation is important to their business success. This sentiment is believed even more fervently among Coldwell Banker a liated agents.

Tom Call, Broker Premier Real Estate VALDOSTA, GA

What matters most among agents open to a liating with Coldwell Banker?

• Leading edge tech & tools: 98% • A strong brand image: 97% • Best equipped to navigate future of real estate: 97% • Most knowledgeable agents: 96% • Local expertise: 94% • Recognized by buyers/sellers: 93%

Coldwell Banker brand tools and network support are unmatched, and a liated agents surveyed have a lot to say about their experiences:

“People trust the Coldwell Banker brand, and I get referrals because I work there. They also have a lot of training and support for new or busy agents. There are so many apps available, such as Listing Concierge, MOXI and InTouch that help me stand out from other agents.”

“Its reputation is unmatched. Everyone recognizes the brand and correlates it to excellence and professionalism,” said one Coldwell Banker survey respondent. “I appreciate its reputation and Coldwell Banker has assisted me in my transactions and assisted me in gaining listings.”

“The company is very ethical, and the top people are great. They are very responsive to the agents’ needs, and the company enjoys a great reputation. My customers and clients realize Coldwell Banker’s reputation, so it makes it easy to do business.”

As a leader in the industry, it is important to understand what attracts agents and what keeps them satisfi ed with their a liation so we can ensure we’re always delivering. To do so, we commissioned a survey of 1,405 residential real estate agents, half of which are Coldwell Banker-a liated agents and the other half are from a national panel of agents.

Advance your career with Coldwell Banker Real Estate and visit ColdwellBanker.com to get started. If you’re looking for a brand that supports you with the products, tools and services that work for agents, contact me today! | VM

Today’s security market is abundant with o ers of systems that promise to accommodate your lifestyle and provide security and life safety at the same time. Fairly new features of convenience have become standard and essential to most security systems. The ability to look in through a smart camera lens to check on your property and loved ones and even carry on a conversation over an app, have certainly provided many homes and business owners with even more peace of mind.

Alert-Tech Systems, Inc. 916 Marion St, Valdosta GA 31601 229-244-7777 www.alert-tech.com

How Smart Technology Can Work for You

BY JULIA ALFERYEV

Alert-Tech Systems, Inc. has been the regional leader in security and alarm monitoring for over 40 years and o ers an array of security solutions enhanced with modern smart technology to accommodate anywhere from essential to particular needs for protection. Count on our expertise to professionally design, install and monitor 24/7 a smart security system for your home or business. Our goal is to create an ecosystem that looks after people inside. From res to oods, carbon monoxide to smoke, — even medical emergencies — our systems can timely alert everyone, no matter where they are in the house, if they need to get out quickly. Intrusion detection can be backed up by cameras and “motion viewers” that send owners video clips to verify events — such enhancement helps reduce false alarms caused by mischievous pets, for example.

A security system from Alert-Tech can go beyond life safety — it can bring all smart home devices in unison, allowing owners to manage them from one single system. Amazon’s Alexa is built-in with the latest touchscreen keypad from Resideo to control security settings, raise temperature, adjust lights and much more; all with the touch of a button or a simple voice command. When you’re away, the Total Connect app ensures you stay in touch with your home. And when you get back, scene setting functions adjust lighting and thermostats automatically as you disarm the system — so you can enjoy a warm welcome. Hands free disarming allows the system to disarm without the need to enter a code and the new ProSeries panel will snap and send a picture of a person on site disarming the system — we are truly getting spoiled by 21st century technology!

Trust your local security company to protect what matters most! Remember, when you join the Alert-Tech family of clients, we will be here long after the sale to service your equipment when your system needs attention. You always have access to 24/7 customer service, support, and company management. From start to nish, we are involved in every step to make sure you have the best experience and peace of mind.