The Atlanta-Hartwell Connection

Outdoor cooking

2010-06-11T06:39:00.004-04:00

Last night, I had dinner overlooking Lake Hartwell with my friends, Ed and Linda. They prepared the entire dinner at their new outdoor kitchen which has just been completed. Give me a call if you would like the contact information for their contractor.

Lake Hartwell photos - Tom Miller - 11-5-09

2009-11-06T08:08:00.001-05:00

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - The Day After

2009-04-13T08:47:00.004-04:00

The owners of the Lake Hartwell Dream home closed their construction loan on Friday, and this is what they woke up to on Saturday morning - thrilled that they were not dreaming. Let the memory making begin!

Lake level trivia

2009-04-06T08:15:00.002-04:00

In the one week period between March 27 and April 3, 2009, Lake Hartwell gained just a tick under two feet of elevation. Trivia question: What is the highest elevation change in any one week period? In February of 1966, the lake gained 5.7 feet of elevation in one week. In recent history, there was a five foot gain in one week in September of 2004.

Source: http://water.sas.usace.army.mil/cf/DataQuery/DataQuery.cfm (plus a little help from MS Excel)

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - pushing for the close

2009-04-02T18:01:00.003-04:00

I thought this was supposed to be the part where things slowed down. I cannot believe the changes since my last update. The driveway has been installed which well help to make clean up easier on the the property. The exterior colors have been locked in and the stone steps and porch have been built. The muted exterior colors blend perfectly with the stonework. The fireplace inside has been stoned from floor to ceiling. The huge master shower has been completed and the tub has been installed. The kitchen appliances are in and most of the lighting fixtures have been hung. The owners are trying to get this project closed out by the end of the month.

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - colors emerge

2009-03-16T09:16:00.003-04:00

The hardwood floors have been finished and covered for protection. The cabinet man has been hard at work in the kitchen, bathrooms and in the basement. The owners have added built-ins on either side of the entertainment center in the basement. Outside, they are experimenting with colors to make sure that everything coordinates with the roof and stone.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream home - Paint and Stain

2009-03-02T09:06:00.002-05:00

The dream house picked up some color last week. The interior painting has begun and the floors have gotten their first coat of stain. The owners picked a warm medium darkness stain for their solid oak floors. I included a picture of the stain on the steps, but the floors on the main level were still wet when I was there. I included a shot of the lake below to remind everyone what the owners have to look forward to. What a view!

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Spindles and stone

2009-02-17T21:00:00.003-05:00

The Dream House has seen a lot of change since the last update. Outside, the stone has been added to the front exterior and the fireplace on the porch. Inside the trim work is continuing with the rails for the stairs. The owners picked iron spindles to capture the look they wanted inside.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Wood and stone

2009-01-22T13:05:00.004-05:00

The dry wall has been completed and now that the mess is gone, Phillips Brothers got right onto the hardwood floors. No veneers here - this is solid oak and the owners continued it into the kitchen and into the master bedroom. I can't wait to see the finish that they choose. The owner spent a lot of time making sure that the stone exterior is exactly what they want. The sample is pictured below and this will really set off the front elevation. This is a manufactured stone that you can barely tell is not the real thing. For more information on what was selected, click here and look for Meseta Fieldledge: http://www.eldoradostone.com/flashsite/

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Rock and Mud

2009-01-07T20:21:00.004-05:00

Faster than you can turn around, the dream home has walls. The sheet rock hangers were in and out in a couple of days and the mudders have been through for the first coat. Outside, the drainage guys are installing the pump for the septic tank that will take everything up to the septic field in the front yard. You may remember, the owners put the field in the front in order to push the house as close to the lake as possible - a small price to pay for the improved view and a shorter walk to the dock.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - View from deck

2008-12-18T07:43:00.004-05:00

It has been a busy December at The Dream Home. The electric work has been completed, and when I was there over the weekend, the exterior decking was being installed. A no maintenance Geo-Deck is being used that has a great look and no exposed screw-heads. All of the porch posts have also been installed, and the copper roof over the front door will really set off the front elevation.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Shingles and siding

2008-12-01T08:24:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the delay in getting you updated pictures. The pictures below are from before Thanksgiving. I will try to get updated picutres early this week. Outside, the hardy board siding and shingles are being installed. Inside, the rough plumb and HVAC have been completed and the electical work has begun. Let me know if you would like to drop by and take a look.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - A door can make a house

2008-11-05T17:47:00.003-05:00

When you and your guests arrive at a lake home, one of the first things noticed is the front door. The owners of this home made a great decision by choosing an 8 foot wooden door with a large glass pane and side lights allowing you to see the lake even before you come into the house. The interior doors on the main level are 8 feet as well. Around back, the covered porch is taking shape.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Shingles, Shower and a Shave

2008-10-25T09:56:00.006-04:00

This week, Phillips Brothers got the Dream House fully dried in with a great architectural shingle. This shingle has good color and texture variation providing a great custom look. The plumbing rough-in was begun and should be completed in the next week or so. I also included a shot of the rear stairs leading up to the bonus room over the garage. The owners have included a full bath off of the bonus room, making this a great private suite.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Roof and Wrap

2008-10-14T21:12:00.003-04:00

Now that the framing is complete, the house gets wrapped to help with insulation and humidity contraol. The felt paper has dried the house in and the shingles are on the roof ready to be installed tomorrow. Some of the windows have been installed and both fireplaces are in place. What would this great covered porch be without a fireplace?

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home-Framing Complete

2008-10-06T13:51:00.003-04:00

The framing is 99% complete and the dream home should be dried in this week. The homeowners loved the openness in the great room so decided to replace the coffered ceiling with a dramatic vaulted ceiling. See the first interior picture of the great room below. The view will improve with underbrusing and COE approved limbing up of the trees.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Roof system framed

2008-09-26T16:49:00.004-04:00

What a difference a week makes! The roof structure has been framed and should be decked by the end of the week. The house should be dried in early next week. The pitch of this roof gives this home a very high-end look. The interior common areas are large and spacious. Shoot me an email if you would like to drop by.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Main level framing

2008-09-18T08:01:00.004-04:00

These pictures are from last weekend. Sorry for the slow post. The basement has been framed and the main level framing has begun. This is the fun part of the project where a lake lot turns into a house very quickly.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Hammers and nails

2008-09-09T18:21:00.002-04:00

No more concrete for a while. The lumber and the framers have arrived and have already framed out the basement level. The first two walls on the main level were erected today. This is the fun part. This should look like a house in a week or so, weather permitting.

Tom Miller
tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Grading-Plumbing

2008-08-25T12:26:00.004-04:00

At the end of last week, Phillips Brothers completed the plumbing in the basement and finished the rough grading. Gravel was delivered and the house is now ready for the basement floor to be poured. It looks like there will be quite a bit of dirt left over. Let me know if you know anyone who needs it. While the rain may delay progress this week, you won't catch any of us complaining!

Tom Miller - tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Walls poured

2008-08-18T15:01:00.005-04:00

The basement walls were poured last week and the septic tanks have been installed between the house and the corps line. These tanks will pump the sewage to the septic field which will be between the house and the street. The doorway in the second picture is to the area underneath the front porch which is typically wasted. This room makes an excellent safe room during storms or a great wine cellar since it is completely enclosed in concrete. The basement floor will be poured after the plumbing has been completed.

Tom Miller - tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Concrete Forms

2008-08-11T13:19:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, Phillips Brothers put the forms together for the poured foundation walls. The concrete is expected early this week.

Tom Miller, 678-469-9917 - tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Footers Poured

2008-08-07T10:13:00.003-04:00

I know footers might not normally be too exciting, but these are some killer footers!!! See for yourself.

Lake Hartwell Dream House - Digging basement

2008-08-04T08:05:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the delay in getting these new pictures posted. Caroline and I were celebrating our 25th Anniversary in Alaska for the last 10 days. The owner forwarded these pictures to me of the basement being dug.

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Clearing complete

2008-07-21T07:39:00.008-04:00

The clearing has been completed and the homeowner met with Phillips Brothers over the weekend to confirm the build site. The site work will continue this week with the digging for the foundation. Phillips Brothers will confirm the grading with the owner before pouring the concrete. There has been a lot of whining recently about the lack of water in the lake. Picture three was taken near the build site at sunrise on Sunday. Looks like water to me.

Tom tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Clearing

2008-07-15T08:06:00.003-04:00

The homeowners have met with Phillips Brothers to finalize the site plan and mark the exact location of the home. The septic system will between the house and the street to allow the house to be close to the lake. They have also marked trees that they would like to try to save. The bulldozer arrived yesterday and clearing has begun!

Tom - tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Lake Hartwell Dream Home - Day 1

2008-07-11T08:13:00.004-04:00

One of my clients is starting a build project on Lake Hartwell in the Lavonia/Poplar Springs area. Phillips Brothers will be building the house, and I will be posting pictures so you can keep up with the progress. Luckily, my client has his dock and boat in place already, so he can enjoy the lake while watching his house go up.

Tom - tmiller@atlanta-hartwell.com

Tom Miller

2007-10-16T13:26:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta-Hartwell Connection is an organization of people who live in metro-Atlanta and have an interest in Lake Hartwell. I have just set this blog up to allow members of the Atlanta-Hartwell community to share ideas and information. Feel free to contribute things that you would like others to know about.