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In every issue of Forsyth Family, we celebrate families, and for many of us, home is our favorite place to gather with our family. It’s the place where we feel safe, loved, comfortable, and special. Our homes are more then just houses, apartments, or condos, they are spaces where families travel through life and make memories together.

Because of the vital role “homes” play in family life, the April and October issues of Forsyth Family are our home editions.

They are chock full of relevant topics to make your home an extraordinary place to be. Also, there are tips for making the most of your personal decor.

Enjoy!

If your business is interested in advertising in the spring home issue, please email us at Advertising@ForsythMags.com.

PEOPLE want an opportunity to express love and care through creating a beautiful, inviting space. Regardless of their design skills, they want to make others feel special when they walk into their home. Fiddle & Fig provides customers with inspiration, products, and support that enable them to achieve their design goals. This experience removes the intimidation and frustration that many novice decorators feel. It makes everyone feel like, “I can do this.”

Karin Head HEAD

REAL TY GROU P

RESIDENTIAL | LUXURY | COMMERCIAL

A Karin Head Realty Company

Your Real Estate Partner for Life

BY MARTIE EMORY

From finding a family home or the perfect business location, to zeroing in on your dream “second home” retreat, Karin Head and the Head Realty Group, EXP Realty, take their roles very seriously. Call it full-service, one-stop, or ultimately, your “realtor for life”—it all signifies this conciergestyle team’s commitment to every client’s needs. “We connect clients with resources they may need along the way,” Karin explains. Best of all, her 12- agent group is number one in communication with both clients and each other—so that means customers never miss a beat. If one teammate is away or ill, other agents are already up-to-speed and stepping in to assist the client. In 2018, Karin aligned her group with EXP Realty, a unique, cloud-based model with a global community of agents, which has enhanced the way realty teams collaborate. “There are 86,000 agents who are part of EXP,” says Karin. “The opportunities for our team are endless, with the emphasis on technology and professional development, and with agents in 20 countries ready to work right alongside our group.” Since realtors are actually shareholders in the EXP company, it’s easy to grow your own portfolio, as well as assist others with being successful as well. The marketing strategies and global access can be game changing. From Burlington to all across the Triad, and now reaching the Charlotte area, Karin knows her business is sometimes a tedious mix of lenders, vendors, attorneys, and mounting details. “Even when things go well, it’s a hard business,” says Karin. “It’s physically and emotionally draining; after all, you are moving your entire life!” Once you’ve settled into your new space, the Head Realty Group continues to stand ready with the very best resources. Those times when a pipe bursts or an air conditioning unit fails, they know the resources to contact. And even later—once you might be ready to refinance, they will connect you with the experts. Is an even larger move on your mind? Relocation is another big part of the business, explains Karin. “We relocate folks across the world and have amazing connections for our clients. We do a deep-dive analysis,” she says. “What are their hobbies? Where do they spend most of their time?” The ultimate goal is not just a new home, but a completely new community, with all the elements in place to make your relocation a smooth, happy experience. If you’re reading this issue with thoughts swirling around, regarding putting your house on the market, your timing may be right on target. “People looking in the fall are usually serious buyers,” says Karin. “It can be a great time to sell, as many families are searching for new properties to be in by the holidays, especially if they want to entertain and perhaps host large events. Home prices have settled down, but are still higher than before.” With a little help from nature, fall is also an ideal time to spruce up your yard—curb appeal with the season’s warmest colors! Besides being completely focused on clients, Karin says her group is also known as “the team who has fun together,” and has certainly learned the importance of sharing a few laughs along the way. That includes keeping the mood light when real estate stresses set in. “We’ve created a comfortable, inviting office space, where we offer clients coffee, or even a beer,” she says. “Every single day in real estate is different, with a lot of emotions along the way!”

Head Realty Group, EXP Realty is located at 380 Knollwood Street, Suite M, in Winston-Salem. Contact Karin at Karin@KarinHead.com, or call the office at 336-283-8687. Be sure to like Karin Head, EXP Realty on Facebook and follow her on Instagram (@karinheadexp).

WINSTON-SALEM WEST A design above the rest!BY MARTIE EMORY

If you’re looking to accomplish a bathroom makeover as painlessly as possible, meet the professionals, with over 60 years combined experience, at Bath Tune-Up Winston-Salem West! You might be in the market for a new bathtub, a new shower, an updated vanity, or even a full bathroom remodel—and Bath TuneUp is more than ready to help you realize your updated vision. Customers consistently offer rave reviews about how seamless coordinating with their subcontractors is, as well as how the team is always mindful of a client’s budget. Owner Patrick Frye introduced us to what makes this business a success, also a customer favorite, all across Forsyth County.

FF: How long has Bath Tune-Up been open in Winston-Salem?

PATRICK: We opened in WinstonSalem in March 2022, and serve Lewisville, Pfafftown, Bethania, Clemmons, Bermuda Run, and Advance. I currently have three employees, with an amazing 60 years of expertise combined among them.

FF: What do you feel sets Bath Tune-Up apart from other bath remodeling companies in the Triad area?

PATRICK: My family has been here for generations. I was born in Winston-Salem and have lived here all my life, so I have a deep connection to all the communities that make up the Triad. Bath Tune-Up strives to provide our fellow members of the community with an excellent service that will enhance their homes and their everyday lives.

FF: You have your own style “Collections,” so clients aren’t overwhelmed with choices when they first start the remodeling process. How has that been most helpful to your customer base?

PATRICK: When remodeling you are faced with thousands of choices and combinations of product and material, which can be extremely overwhelming to most people. We decided to build “Collections,” created by our in-house designer, to take away a lot of the stress that remodeling can bring on and provide the client with the peace of mind that since these products have been grouped together by a professional designer, they will look beautiful together! The “Collections” consist of sets of tiles, flooring, vanities, and finishes, hand-picked by our design professionals, complete with all the complementing accessories.

FF: In your FAQ section on your website you pose the question, ‘What do I need to do to prepare for my renovation?’ Could you expand on that?

PATRICK: Remodeling can be a big headache! That’s where our team comes in to take the stress and uneasiness out of your redo experience. There is so much variance between homes these days, and preparation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Most clients don’t consider the cost of a full remodel of a primary bathroom, and it does require a commitment by the homeowner to set aside time and make some big decisions, while planning ahead to have the bathroom under construction for a week or two.

FF: What is your team seeing as current trends in showers and tubs? Anything new?

PATRICK: Free-standing soaker tubs are popular currently— always loved for their aesthetic and functionality. Yet, there is also a trend of people wanting bathtubs completely removed from their primary bathrooms to make room for large walk-in showers. Complete with multiple showerheads and waterfall features, of course, walk-in showers offer more space and easier accessibility. Over-sized jetted bathtubs seem to have really fallen off in popularity.

FF: What’s currently trending in bathroom countertops and vanities?

PATRICK: Floating vanities are becoming more popular. Quartz is all the rage for countertops—based on its durability—but marble and granite are still the classic materials most customers select.

When you are ready to begin your home project, Bath Tune-Up checks all the boxes for communication and custom service, backed by subcontractors who are the best in the business. Reach Patrick and the team to schedule a free in-home or virtual consultation at 336-296-9848. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Saturday by appointment. Visit their website, bathtune-up.com/winston-salem-west, for more information.

heart of the home BY KALI NEWLEN-BURDEN | PHOTOS BY J. SINCLAIR

Icon ICON Custom Builders is just as excited as its clients are about tackling a kitchen remodel. Project and design coordinator Katherine Yeager shares why: “The kitchen is not only the heart of the home, but the control center for many families.” It is where conversations are enjoyed, meals are prepared, plans are made, and memories are shared.

In her role, Katherine listens to clients’ challenges in their existing kitchen and learns their daily routines. Then she reimagines the design to make the space more functional – perhaps installing new cabinetry or adding a large island with ample seating. The newly-remodeled space is the perfect spot to gather and connect with friends and family. Katherine asks, “Isn’t that what we all want more of?”

WEEKS HARDWOOD FLOORING

Family Owned and Locally Loved

BY AMY HILL / Photos by Micah Brown Media

Does outdated and dull flooring have you feeling down this fall? Revamp your living space and treat your family’s feet to brand new hardwood floors. Support local businesses and skip stressful trips to major hardware stores by find competitive pricing and hard-to-beat floor installation services closer to home. Greensboro-based Weeks Hardwood Flooring was created in 1979 by carpenter James Weeks, who installed hardwood flooring on nights and weekends and turned it into a full-time career. Decades later, Weeks Hardwood Flooring is a second generation family business with 40 full-time employees. As a full-service flooring company, Weeks performs residential services throughout the Triad, as well as commercial services throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Hardwood services provided include installation, refinishing, and even services for tile floors, carpet, vinyl plank flooring, and laminate. Customers flock to locally-owned Weeks for their flooring needs for a plethora of reasons, with one being its comprehensive one-year labor warranty on every product installed by the company. Alongside competitive pricing and a team of experienced staff, customers can rely on Weeks Hardwood Flooring for top-notch services with long-lasting results. In fact, Weeks Hardwood Flooring is the largest and longest running full-service turnkey flooring store in the Triad. They perform their work using an in-house foreman for install and finish work, while many local competitors primarily use subcontractors. Using in-house foremen drastically improves the quality of services, not to mention allowing customers to relax and trust in the reliability of the Weeks team. When comparing Weeks to a big-box store, their biggest advantage is that they are locally and family owned with one single location. If customers have any issues with the work or materials provided by Weeks, they are encouraged to call the Greensboro office directly at (336) 856-0202 for a quick and straightforward answer. Customers appreciate that calling the Weeks Hardwood Flooring office does not require them to connect through a remote call center, unlike big-box stores who often hand warranty items off to third-party services. While Weeks performs high quality installations and refinishing services, accidents do happen, especially with children, pets, and house parties. Although the best way to prolong the life of your hardwood floors for as long as possible is to avoid having dogs inside the home, animallovers shouldn’t have to sacrifice inviting their furry friends inside to maintain the integrity of their floors. Even store owner Cameron Weeks has three indoor dogs, and refuses to send them packing to avoid floor damage. More practical and palatable ways to preserve your floors include making sure all furniture with legs have fresh felt pads under their feet to avoid scratches, along with strategically placing area rugs. Additionally, re-coating hardwood in high-traffic areas throughout the home every 5 to 10 years prolongs the overall timeframe of the original stain and finish. Fortunately, re-coating is inexpensive and commonly performed by the Weeks team. Weeks also repairs damaged flooring from water, mold, pets, fire, and more. Interested in taking on a DIY project and installing your own hardwood floor? With a team full of flooring enthusiasts, Weeks understands its customers’ desires to try their hands at something new. Weeks advises all aspiring hardwood installers to be fully prepared and ensure that all necessary tools and materials are on hand from start to finish to help the process flow smoothly and as quickly as possible. Stock up on flooring, trims, underlayments, adhesives, and tools ahead of time to prevent interruptions. Not sure where to start? Weeks is more than willing to help DIY customers find their materials and provide them with a list everything they will need to get the job done.

Ready to shop for your home’s new floor? Visit Weeks Hardwood Flooring Monday through Saturday at 107 Guildford College Rd. in Greensboro, or email office@weekshardwoodflooring.com for any questions and inquiries.