We believe that consistency in our branding helps strengthen Atlanta Design & Build’s position in the Marietta marketplace. It illustrates the unique home remodeling niche we have developed and highlights what sets us apart from the rest of our competitors. It reminds you that we are a company you can trust to design and build the perfect living spaces for your home.
A part of our overall branding campaign for this year has been to update our company vehicles with our new logo. We are happy to announce we have reached that goal. When you see our snazzy fleet of trucks out and about in your neighborhoods, please snap a photo and post it to our Facebook page as a way of saying “Hello!” It will help everyone remember that Atlanta Design & Build is all about Transforming Homes and Enriching Lives.
Look below for the before and after pictures of our vehicles.
Atlanta Design & Build is pleased to announce that we placed at #194 on the Remodeling 550 list this year. The Remodeling 550 list includes the industry’s top full-service remodelers, replacement contractors, insurance restoration firms and franchise operations.
Remodeling magazine, the trade publication that sponsors this annual list of professional remodelers, stated, “The nation’s largest remodeling firms are bigger and healthier than ever, beneficiaries of the nation’s busiest time in recent history for repair and rehab work.”
It’s an exciting time indeed for ADB to be active in our industry! We especially want to thank you, our clients, for trusting us with your magnificent projects. Without you, we could not have achieved this Remodeling 550 status. We appreciate your business, but even more we treasure the relationships we have built with you over the years.
Atlanta Design & Build is celebrating our 20th Anniversary this year. We also celebrate the addition of Keely Contant, who has been with the company three years now. Keely assists with both the production and administrative teams. She is the wife of H. Dale Contant, President and Principal Owner of Atlanta Design & Build.
Keely Contant and The Importance of Family
Keely and her twin sister, Kirby, along with four siblings, grew up in Boca Raton, Florida. In 7th grade, Keely met Dale, but they didn’t start dating until after high school. Once married, the newlyweds decided to move to North Carolina. Keely’s parents had already relocated to Bear Wallow Mountain in the Hendersonville, NC area, and NC seemed like a great place to start a family.
With the help of his father, Dale built a house for himself and Keely on top of Appalachian Ski Mountain between Boone and Blowing Rock where they lived for seven years. Keely was a certified travel agent and Dale worked as a mason contractor, eventually getting involved in the insurance industry. Their first daughter, Lindsey, was born in Boone. In December of 1988, pregnant with their second daughter, Sydney, they moved to Marietta, Georgia, where they have been ever since—almost 28 years. In 1993, last but not least, their twin daughters, Ali and Alex were born.
Dale and Keely decided that she would stay at home with their children and strive to be the best mom she could possibly be. It was Keely’s wonderful mother who inspired her to do this. “It was not the most popular decision amongst my peers, nevertheless one that made me who I am today. Staying at home and raising my daughters taught me what was most important in life, how to balance and prioritize my life, and certainly how to multi-task!”
Chuck and Sherry Kersey contacted Atlanta Design & Build because they had several projects in mind to transform their home. The Kerseys dreamed of a master suite addition that would be their special get-away space. They desired a screened porch that would give the feeling of being in their backyard environment without the mosquitoes. And there was a need for more garage space to house several vehicles.
Creating a Luxurious Master Suite
Atlanta Design & Build worked with the Kerseys to create everything they longed for. Their personal retreat provides the feel of a master suite. It is secluded from the rest of the home, but also still connected. Located on the home’s main level makes the suite conveniently accessible from the core living areas of the home. The bedroom portion is airy and spacious, with a wonderful cathedral ceiling. It opens directly onto an outside deck so the clients can enjoy the outdoors from the privacy of their bedroom. The spa-like master bathroom includes a double sink vanity, a two-person whirlpool tub, a large shower with frameless glass doors and a built-in bench. The large walk-in closet is highly functional with its bright overhead lighting and generous storage space.
Chuck and Sherry love the open feel of the space. “All our needs were met and the space was designed to look as if it were an original part of the house,” Chuck said. “That’s not always easy to do on additions.”
A Full Sunroom Provides the Perfect Outdoor Living Space
After discussing in depth our clients’ needs and desires for their screened porch area, the decision was made to build a full sunroom. This splendid room far exceeds the initial intent for the space, and they are thrilled. Rather than just being an outside area, the sunroom has become an integral part of the expanded interior of their home. The sunroom melds the indoors with the outdoors. “Our sunroom gives us the feeling of being outside in the woods, while using the space virtually year ‘round,” Chuck stated. “We are so happy that Atlanta Design & Build showed us the value of a sunroom rather than just a porch and to make the space larger than we originally envisioned.”
“Atlanta Design & Build put a lot of extra effort into the design phase of our project to make sure we got the right solution, and all the components of the build were followed through on,” Chuck remarked. “We are pleased with the decisions that were made.”
Are you wishing to transform the look and the function of your home? We invite you to work with our talented design and build team. We can help you create dynamic spaces that provide even more than you originally envisioned. Call 770.565.8999 or visit atlantadesignbuild.com
As Atlanta Design & Build celebrates our 20th Anniversary, we also salute our amazing Project Manager, Sydney Contant, who has been with the company eight years now. Sydney was born and raised right here in Marietta. As a child she loved sports and was active on the swim team, earned her black belt in karate, and played soccer for many years up through high school. Her other main interests were art related. While in high school she studied photography, linoleum carving and printing, painting and pottery.
Growing up she didn’t learn much about the construction industry from her father, H. Dale Contant, since she didn’t accompany him while he worked on ADB projects. However, shortly after high school, with Dale’s encouragement, Sydney decided to try her hand at working for her father’s company. “I most likely would not have chosen this as my career path, if my father had not given me the opportunity,” said Sydney. “I’m glad I took the offer!”
In the beginning: Apprenticeship
Sydney worked as an apprentice for five years under ADB project managers, Mike Pike and Jamie Franks. Everyday she would learn something new. With Mike, she learned more about the rough end of remodeling—demo, grading, digging footers (LOTS OF FOOTERS!), framing, and trim work. With Jamie she learned more about the finishing part of the job—paying close attention to all the small details. Each part of her training was just as important as the rest.
Eventually, Dale challenged her to study for the Certified Remodeling Project Manager (CRPM) certification exam through the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). “That class was intense!” said Sydney. “It lasted eight weeks, with just as much reading and paperwork as a college course. I would never have had confidence in myself to take that class if my father had not pushed me in that direction.” Sydney is very proud to have passed the test. It has opened the door to a whole new world in the industry for her.
Sydney Contant, Project Manager
With the CRPM under her belt, Sydney’s official title at ADB is now Project Manager. Her main job responsibilities are: creating schedules for her projects; selecting her sub contractor team; meeting with subs to walk through each job at the beginning, middle and the end; reviewing sub contractor quotes; communicating with customers; demolition; framing; trim work; reviewing sub contractors’ work; ordering materials, and meeting with inspectors for all trades. Her detailed note taking throughout the various stages of each project helped win Sydney the “40 Under 40” award this year from Professional Remodeler magazine. This award commends the best practices of remodeling’s best and brightest professionals under 40.
One of the things Sydney enjoys most about working for ADB is the fact that it is a small company. Teamwork is crucial, since the team members all depend on each other. A job would not be able to be completed without everyone’s hand in it, at least at one point. “Considering the length of time the majority of the people have been at this company, we have grown to be almost like a family,” Sydney said. “We trust and rely on each other.”
Sydney also enjoys every day bringing something new. She has the opportunity to continuously learn. One day she will be helping out at one of Mike’s jobs with the whole crew trying to jack a room on a house back to level, and the next she will be installing trim and doors on one of her own jobs. Or changing a window out. Or assisting a customer in choosing the perfect paint color, etc. It’s always something new.
Outside of work
Repelling into a cave in North Georgia
Sydney spends the majority of her free time making art of all kinds for friends and family. In the past couple of years, the artwork that has taken up most of her time has been letterpress, stained glass, wood working and painting. In the past she has enjoyed screen printing, linoleum carving and printing, photography, woodblock carving and printing, pottery, and much more. She hopes to have time in the future to learn more about all printing processes and marble making, among many other arts.
Other activities Sydney enjoys include scuba diving with her father, traveling, and minor gardening. She stays active trying out hole-in-the wall restaurants around the city, camping, caving, hiking, exploring Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park with her boyfriend and three dogs, and spending time with her friends and family.
“I am one of four daughters in the family,” Sydney explains. “My parents had my older sister and then me. They wanted a boy and decided to give it one more shot and ended up having twin girls. I have always been a tomboy—I’m the boy they never had. My older sister lives locally, while the twins are currently living in other states, but we all remain very close. We (10 of us including all of the significant others) get together for Sunday dinners as often as all of our busy schedules allow.”
My immediate family at younger sisters special day in college
My cousin Kyle and I, he is a huge inspiration to me with all of the challenges he has overcome in his life, he never gives up.
Acting dramatic while getting sprayed with a hose by my cousin Kyle when I was a kid.
My sisters and I at my eldest sisters (Lindsey) wedding.
Patrick O’Toole, publisher of Qualified Remodeler magazine, recently invited Dale Contant to serve as a judge for the 38th annual Master Design Awards competition. The judging took place in Chicago from June 29-30, 2016. This award recognizes remodelers, architects, builders, kitchen and bath specialists and other professionals for outstanding project design and construction.
“Visiting the Sola Group QR corporate offices was a special treat. It was a great honor being on the panel of judges with such an excellent team of industry experts”, Dale commented, “and not an easy job, since there were so many incredible projects to review.” Winning entries will be featured in the September 2016 issue of QR. Awards will be presented at a special reception on October 5 in Baltimore, the evening before the Remodeling Show.
