400 Life: Welcome home!

400 LIFE APRIL 2020

Welcome home!

Renovated farmhouse one for the books

Also

Couple finds freedom in downsized living Popular restaurant unveils fresh new look

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contents from the editor

Behind most home renovations, there’s a story.

Sometimes it’s not a pleasant one. Like the time we had to remodel our kitchen because the dishwasher had been leaking water under the flooring.

Or the time we had to reroute the dryer vent piping that had been installed straight up from the first floor through the second floor and out the attic.

This month’s issue of 400 LIFE magazine brings you happy home improvement tales. From the Richards family honoring the past with their storybook farmhouse makeover, to the Hayes finding simplicity and serenity (and plenty of organization tricks) in RV life, to local favorite Marie’s Italian Deli finally getting the chance to grow its space.

Two ways to write your own feel-good home improvement story: use the color blue, and follow our handy home maintenance checklist.

By the end of this issue, we hope you’ll have a few tools and plenty of inspiration to have fond memories of your next home improvement project.

— Brian Paglia

4 On the Cover Brittany and Brooke Richards turned a charming family bookstore (where they lived for 10 years) into an even more charming farmhouse for their family of five. During renovation, the couple were determined to remain true to the integrity of the bookshop as well as the family legacy. They nailed it. See the results inside.

16 How one couple transitioned into a tiny home Renee and Kelley Hayes decided to give living in their fifth wheel camper a try after being transferred to Forsyth from Texas in 2018. The idea stuck. No mortgage, no yardwork, no HOA fees. Find out how the couple decided what to keep and what to purge.

contributors Editor Brian Paglia

Publisher Stephanie Woody

Production manager Tracie Pike

Advertising director Nathan Schutter

Staff writers Kelly Whitmire

Advertising Stacy Clark Stephanie McCabe

Photography Ben Hendren Micayla Wise Special contributors Becky Cahill Erin Collins Jennifer Colosimo

26

The Pantone reveals color of the year.

Circulation manager Alana Watkins This magazine is a product of the www.ForsythNews.com

22 Marie’s Italian Deli expands, remodels popular restaurant.

10 The John Cook Group,

Keller Williams Community Partners.

28 Must-read books for DIY projects, home renovations.

30 The Place gives vehicles to families in need.

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 3

Storybook farmhouse In turning their family bookstore into a home, the Richards celebrate past and present

Brittany and Brooke Richards renovated their two-bedroom, one-bathroom home into a beautiful farmhouse full of charm.

Story by Erin Collins | Photos by Micayla Wise

F

or nearly 10 years, Brittany and Brooke Richards lived in what was originally a small bookshop in the foothills of northern Forsyth County. They were in love with the charm and history of the structure, but with the birth of each of their three children, the Richards knew that it was time to renovate the two-bedroom, one-bathroom home into something more functional.

Brittany’s father-in-law, Dennis B. Richards, initially built the bookshop in 1995 after retiring from years of working as a partner in a ball bearing business.

The store, named D. Brooke & Son Booksellers, became the realization of a lifelong dream and passion. An avid reader and collector of Bibles, the store’s rich mahogany shelves housed over 16,000 volumes and quickly Continued on Page 6

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 5

Brittany Richards wanted to remain true to the integrity of the bookshop as well as the Richards’ family legacy.

became a bona fide internet book seller. After Denny’s death in 2001, Brooke and his sister, Pamela, kept the store going until 2005 when they shut down for good.

Brittany Richards’ No. 1 priority when renovating was to remain true to the integrity of the bookshop as well as the Richards’ family legacy. Her thoughtfulness can be seen in the careful details throughout their home. Choosing to repurpose original pieces where she could, like the hummingbird stained glass window in the kitchen her mother-in-law had picked out for the bookshop, Brittany’s attention to detail and preservation is

indisputable.

Recalling Brooke’s worrying about what his father would think of the renovation, Brittany responded with, “Honestly, I think he’s so happy to know that we still live here.”

Originally one large room housing row upon row of bookshelves, the main room has now been restructured to include a foyer, living room, dining room and an office for Brooke. As an homage to the building’s origins, the centerpiece of the living Continued on Page 8

Brittany said she prefers to add pops of color to contrast the clean look of the white paint.

6 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

Shiplap covering the walls in the main room, hallway, and kitchen have been painted in white chalk paint.

room is an entire wall of the shop’s bookshelves, including a sliding bookshelf ladder, packed with rare editions, Bibles, and other favorites.

The office and the boys’ two bedrooms also retained some of the original bookshelves.

Shiplap covering the walls in the main room, hallway, and kitchen have been painted in white chalk paint which is not only a durable choice for a family but “only becomes more beautiful and authentic looking with scuffs and marks,” Brittany said, adding that she prefers to add pops of color to the clean look of the white paint. She decorated the home herself with inspiration provided by her twin sister and professional decorator, Michelle Mentzer.

A small room off the kitchen, initially used to store books and later as a nursery for each of the three Richards children, is now a hair salon, complete with vintage barber’s chair, where Brittany cuts hair for close friends and family members.

8 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

When creating the new layout with builder Danny Ray Martin of New Home Construction, the goal was to make the home functional and livable. Literally every area is used for daily living, including the outside.

The wide front porch provides a comfortable and welcoming spot to greet friends or sit and watch two of the family cows, Dolly and Reba, graze in the small pasture in front of the home, or enjoy watching Brittany’s Mother’s Day gift of three donkeys as they run around with dogs Denver and Dawson.

To the right of their newly renovated house is Brittany’s favorite addition to their home, an in-ground swimming pool and a welcoming outdoor living area referred to simple as “the patio.”

The chimney from the original Richards home stands tall in front of comfortable furnishings. Strings of lights finish off the space to create a cozy outdoor living area for entertaining friends or just enjoying the beautiful foothills and Georgia weather.

A close second favorite addition is

the second bathroom featuring a sink for every child. The original bricking of the bookshop covers one wall of the bathroom, continuing the efforts to showcase the history of the home.

While taking on a project of this scale can be daunting, Brittany offers some helpful insights.

“Always plan for it to cost more and take longer than you thought it would,” she says, and if at all possible, move out of your home while the renovation is being done. Their family was displaced from the home for a total of six months but was fortunate to be able to stay with Brittany’s mother who lives nearby.

The final result is exactly what they were hoping for — a livable space that exemplifies their love of family, present and past.

Brittany’s favorite addition to their home: an in-ground swimming pool and a welcoming outdoor living area referred to simple as “the patio.”

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 9

400homes

Keller Williams Community Partners

The John Cook Group

Nick Alexander, Jennifer West, John Cook, Stephanie Ruckh and Michael Sapp make up the The John Cook Group.

Listens, cares, delivers

The John Cook Group’s simple formula keeps them among the best in the real estate market

J

Photos by Micayla Wise

ohn Cook has always been fascinated by real estate. He played basketball at South Forsyth High School, and every spring John’s team traveled to Hoosier-land, the sport’s one-time mecca, to watch Indiana’s high school state tournament. At stops along the way, John would go into gas stations and buy local real estate pamphlets, a quirk that always puzzled his coach.

“I’d be like, ‘Oh, you can buy land in Kentucky for $800 an acre,’” John said.

Soon after graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in business management/marketing, John started his investment journey and bought his first residential property. A year later, he bought another one.

John continued to purchase investment properties (John estimates he’s bought and sold Continued on Page 12 10 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

We are excited to announce a transformation here at the Keller Williams Realty Community Partners office located at 540 Lake Center Parkway. With our doors opening in December 2004, our belief is that real estate is a local business driven by individual agents and their presence within their communities.

After 15 years of service we felt it was time for a complete remodel on our Market Center. Our goal was to offer a collaborative work space for our agents and their clients offering a brand new work center with computers, and a technology driven development and training center.

In May our agents came together with local families and businesses to participate in our annual 5K Red Race. This past Tuesday we celebrated by giving a check for $15,000 to the Bald Ridge Boys Lodge as well as $5,000 to the Reading Education Association of Dawson County.

The KWCP Market Center has become home to over 240 agents and we would like to invite you into our family. We believe mindset matters and If you don’t decide what you want to be known for someone else will. “KWCP is to be a development center for agents providing culture, training, solutions and support to lift the lid in their personal growth and business.“

540 Lake Center Pkwy, Ste 201 Cumming, GA 30040 (678) 341-7400

It’s not just signing a contract and making sure that all parties adhere to that contract. We want to provide more service. — John Cook

more than 50 area investment homes and still maintains a successful portfolio to date). Seeing his success, friends and family started to ask John for help with more traditional real estate deals.

Seventeen years later, John has become one of the top real estate agents in North Georgia. John has won Best Real Estate Agent five of the past six years in the Forsyth County News’ Best of Forsyth reader competition, including in 2020. In addition, he’s among the top 5 percent of Keller Williams agents in the country.

Over the past four years, with the rapid growth in Forsyth County John has expanded and assembled a team of amazing agents: first Michael Sapp, in 2017, then Nick Alexander, Stephanie Ruckh and Jennifer West in 2019. John’s mom, Mary, has been the team’s executive assistant since 2009.

Together, they aim to provide clients with an unmatched level of customer service by providing a thorough analysis of inventory time on market, continuous communication through every step of the buying and listing process, and negotiation expertise from contract to close. And Mary is there to make sure that every “i” is dotted and “t” is crossed.

It’s all wrapped up in the team’s simple but powerful mantra, 12 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

“listens, cares and always delivers.”

“It’s about listening, caring about our client’s needs, and then really putting that into the process,” John said.

He breaks it down this way.

First, John’s team members really listen to a client’s needs. The team creates a custom home-buying plan by unlocking the client’s motivation and identifies their wants and needs in location and home features.

“The first two years in this business, I saw people going, ‘I told my Realtor I wanted to see this kind of house, but he showed me something else. I told my Realtor I wanted to spend this much money, but they’re sending me to see more expensive homes,’” John says. “We have to listen to what the client wants.”

Then, the team cares about their client’s needs and use them to guide them through the rest of the process while using the latest market analysis.

John has this example: “Your house is $350,000. There’s 10 more in North Forsyth High School’s district that are available, and two sell a month, so we’ve got a five-month supply. Do you want to wait five months to sell this priced here, or do you want to come down 2 percent from what we discussed and now be in

the top 3 of those 10 that are available and know that we’re going to sell in the first 30 to 45 days?”

Results matter to The John Cook Group. According to First Multiple Listing Service metrics, their clients’ homes sell for about $20,000 more than the average listing in the area and spend nine fewer days on the market.

And then, John’s team is determined to go the extra mile to deliver on the expectations they’ve set. Sometimes, it means emptying the trash at a client’s home before a showing, or painting trim before a closing. More often, John’s team will connect a client with someone in their vast network of contractors, even years after they’ve left the closing table.

“It’s not just signing a contract and making sure that all parties adhere to that contract,” John said. “We want to provide more service.”

The group’s sense of service extends out further into the community, too.

Last Christmas, they hosted a night of dinner and shopping for residents at Jesse’s House, a local emergency shelter for at-risk girls ages 7-17. They are involved with several organizations and civic groups, like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Life, YMCA and Mentor Me. They have programs to help teachers, first responders and service men and women purchase homes at a discounted price through the team’s trusted vendors.

And with each closing, the team donates $250 to the charity or nonprofit of a client’s choice and contributes money to the national KW Cares Foundation that is built to help KW agents when their is a hardship.

It’s a holistic approach because John remembers from his very first real estate deal that buying or selling a home is the single biggest investment most people make in their life.

So when John gathers the team in their office at Keller Williams Community Partners to set goals for the year ahead, they always have a picture of a family smiling in their dream home.

“Our goal isn’t just 120 closings for 2020,” John said. “It’s happily placing 120 families.”

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Contact info Website: lookwithcook.com | Email: jcook@kw.com Phone: 678-524-8573 | Facebook: John Cook Group at KW

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 13

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April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 15

Renee Hayes, above, and husband Kelley have transformed their life, moving from a home in Texas to living in their RV at a park in south Forsyth County.

Living out of life’s biggest suitcase

How two transplants redefine empty nesting through tiny living Story by Jennifer Colosimo | Photos by Ben Hendren

R

enee and Kelley Hayes moved to Forsyth County in late 2018 thanks to a transfer with Kelley’s company. But, instead of the traditional jump into looking at real estate, they opted to camp in their family’s new fifth wheel camper and pulled into Twin lakes RV Park just in time for Christmas that year.

Once there, the idea of spending time looking for square footage, a mortgage, HOA fees and yardwork seemed surplus. They realized the possibility of a future where they might never do any of those things again held a lot more value. The result? The Hayes pulled into a full-time lot at the park and became official tiny home dwellers. And one cup of coffee in their cozy living room will convince you why they wouldn’t think about going back.

“If we had advice to give other people who think they 16 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

If we had advice to give other people who think they want to do this, it’s to jump in with both feet.

You don’t realize how much stuff you don’t need until you get rid of it. — Kelley Hayes

want to do this, it’s to jump in with both feet,” said Kelley. “You don’t realize how much stuff you don’t need until you get rid of it.”

For Kelley, that was a 900-square-foot garage of tools, yard equipment, you name it. He didn’t purge it all at first, but once his hobbies shifted, he called Renee and told her to sell them. Now, his collection fits in a convenient compartment on the outside of the camper — and he exercises that remaining passion by working on cars and campers at the RV park.

“I don’t really miss doing the work,” said Kelley, who was always tinkering in the garage.

“Now, I am excited to be outside, exploring, hiking and traveling. Or just enjoying our view here.”

“It was a little harder for me to let go of things,” admitted Renee, who owned a staging business in Texas and loves to decorate. “I had to learn to go through things slowly, one box at a time, and decide what was really sentimental and what wasn’t.”

She kept a box or two of childhood keepsakes for each of their children (both in their early 20s), family heirlooms and passed-down furniContinued on Page 18

Kelley Hayes eventually purged a 900-square-foot garage of tools and yard equipment. Now, his collection fits in a convenient compartment on the outside of the camper.

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 17

ture in a family member’s basement, and packed a local 10x10’ storage unit that holds seasonal clothes and sporting equipment.

Everything else, she sold or donated.

“Honestly, we decided we wanted to do stuff, instead of have stuff,” said Kelley of their massive purge once they made the decision to call the RV home. “And the funny thing is, we don’t really feel like we’ve made any huge sacrifices.”

In fact, the Hayes still do everything they might have done in their 2,400-square-foot house in Texas.

They host Super Bowl parties and build-your-own-pizza parties via the Big Green Egg with often 10-20 people coming over at a time.

They gather on the couple’s large outdoor patio space around the firepit, in the dining room (which doubles as a garage), or in the living room. Their children come to stay overnight, in-laws visit and all can comfortably sleep in one of two queen sleepers that are camouflaged in the dining room.

And housework? The Hayes appreciate that their weekends spent biking, hiking, kayaking and exploring aren’t cut short by a day of yardwork or cleaning.

“It takes maybe an hour to clean this whole place,” said Kelley.

Part of that is the organization that Renee installed throughout the RV. Modern, decorative baskets provide ample space for winter accessories, electronics, paperwork and more while simultaneously making the place chic and homey.

Drawer organizers maximize dresser inches in the bedroom, risers and plastic storage keep the kitchen cabinets neat, in addition to lights that make it easy to spot tools and gadgets. There’s a large storage space under the master bed, and almost every mirror and cabinet door hides ample room for necessities.

“It took a lot of work, but once we started, you just start to realize what you really need, and you don’t keep what there isn’t room for. Tiny living means everything has to have a purpose and a need. For example, I had to pare down on my seasonal decorations a lot,” she admitted.

“I used to go all out for holidays, but now I have a chalkboard that lets me have a little something, and 18 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

then I use décor that’s compostable, so I’m not creating trash or running out of space to store it for next year.”

That means real pumpkins, a (tiny) Christmas tree that they planted after the holiday was over, real garland and candles.

It helps the former decorator that there quite literally isn’t any space to store extra stuff.

That’s also the reason behind Renee’s hanger-identifying method for making sure she keeps just the clothes she needs. She faces every hanger one way until she wears the item on it. At the end of the season, if she never turned it around, it goes.

But instead of sacrifice, the Hayes describe this lifestyle as having more freedom. They’re living the life they’ve always dreamed of, with none of the headaches.

They can pick up and go when they want.

Kelley mentioned, “We were about to leave to go on a hiking trip to Asheville and I was sitting at work writing out the list of stuff we needed to pack. Then, I realized, I don’t have to pack anything — we get to bring it all with us. We are literally living out of life’s biggest suitcase.”

And that’s how it’s been for just over a year now. When they want to go, they hitch up the fifth wheel and head out — no packing, no cleaning up before they leave. They get to sleep in their own bed and never leave their own comforts of home — no matter where they end up.

And the result? Life spent on vacation for as long as they choose it.

Keep up with their tips, tricks and travels via Facebook or Instagram, @fiftyandfifthwheeling

Drawer organizers maximize dresser inches in the bedroom, risers and plastic storage keep the kitchen cabinets neat, in addition to lights that make it easy to spot tools and gadgets.

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 19

Home Main Keep your home in top shape with this handy home maintenance checklist

SUMMER

Maintaining an Air Conditioning unit can save money and protect homeowners’ investments.

Keep it clean. Vacuum the fins and coils of the AC unit on the external compressor/condenser fan with a softbristled brush. Straighten coil fins. The fins on the condenser are easily bent and that can affect the flow of air through the coils. If you cannot easily straighten them, then consult with an HVAC professional to do so.

Periodic maintenance is necessary to ensure uninterrupted service on a home AC unit.

Spring

Inspect your roof and make minor repairs.

Winter can be especially hard on a roof. Look for ice, hail or water damage. Replace any cracked or missing shingles and clear any debris.

Inspect windows and doors and re-caulk where necessary. Because a proper seal is essential in both heating and cooling seasons, this job should be performed twice a year to protect against drafts and moisture, and to keep insects out. Worn weatherstripping should also be replaced.

Clean your gutters and downspouts. It’s not glamorous work, but your home’s gutters play an essential role in moving water away from your home and preventing damage. Consider installing gutter guards to ensure your gutters remain functional and free from debris. pressure washing is frequently used on vinyl siding, concrete and sometimes wood decks to treat mildew and other growth that accumulates over time. Pressure washing can be a great way to remove grime without having to scrub by hand.

But it requires a delicate touch to get it right. Sometimes it is best to leave the job to professionals.

But homeowners willing to give it a go can try pressure washing themselves, as various stores rent power washers.

20 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

A lush, green lawn can vastly improve a home’s curb appeal. Thick, healthy grass indicates that homeowners care enough about their property to invest the time, effort and money to make them beautiful. Soil fertility is the foundation of healthy lawns. A lawn aerator will create holes in the soil. This can improve drainage and encourage worms and helpful microorganisms that require oxygen to thrive in the soil.

ntenance WINTER

Plumbing and pipes may be vulnerable to cold weather. Frozen pipes may burst and cause substantial damage to a home, potentially causing flooding and structural damage. Homeowners should disconnect and drain garden hoses before winter arrives. Water to outdoor hose bibs should be turned off, though the valves on these outdoor faucets should be left open to drain. Also, outdoor faucets can be covered with insulating foam covers.

FALL Winterize outdoor areas. Homeowners often take steps to winterize the interior of their homes in the weeks before winter’s arrival, but such efforts should extend to the outside of a home as well. Inspect the deck for problems. Damaged boards and loose handrails should be fixed before winter arrives. Clear the deck of potted plants.

Even homeowners who intend to use their decks in winter should remove potted plants from the deck in the fall.

Moisture can get trapped between deck boards and plastic, wood or ceramic containers in cold weather, and that can contribute to mildew, discoloration or decay.

Service HVAC systems. It’s important to ensure that heating systems are working properly prior to the coldweather season. It may only take hours for the interior of a home to reach dangerously low temperatures without adequate heat. Homeowners should schedule annual checkups of furnaces and hot water heaters. Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, install a clean air filter and make sure all thermostats are working properly. Air filters should be changed every three months.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Replace the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice per year, and test them to make sure they’re in good working order at least once per month.

Have chimneys inspected annually and properly cleaned by a professional chimney technician. Make sure tree branches and other obstacles are cleared away from the top of the chimney. Use seasoned hardwoods that have been split for several months to a year. “Green” wood creates more creosote. Open the damper and fireplace doors so that air supply flows freely and can vent the smoke promptly, reducing residence time in the flue; otherwise, creosote can form.

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 21

400spaces

Marie’s Italian Deli

Restaurant makes room for more

Marie’s Italian Deli recently expanded the restaurant adding 50 extra seats and a larger bar area.

Total deli makeover Story and photos by Brian Paglia

W

hen the insurance company next door closed, Marie’s Italian Deli owner Karen Smith sprang into action.

Smith called the owner of the Tri-County Plaza, the retail center where Marie’s has served breakfast, lunch and dinner since October of 2012, to get the space. She had a plan to expand and reconfigure the restaurant.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” Smith said.

Smith and the Marie’s crew got to work putting its new space to good use.

Down went the wall that separated the restaurant and former insurance company to make way for added seating for up to 50 more customers.

22 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

Custom whisk light fixtures adorn the bakery.

The restaurant’s quaint corner bar was replaced by a full-sized one in the new space. And in the former bar’s place went an expanded bakery for the restaurant’s cakes, pastries, gelato and more.

Smith designed the renovation, taking care to include details like whisk light fixtures above the bakery and a picture of her father and four uncles’ bowling league team behind a bar top made out of reclaimed wood from an old bowling alley.

The whole project took about three months, Smith said, and the Marie’s crew did most of the grunt work. For instance, they installed the brick wall behind the bar themselves; Smith put in the grout using a pastry piping bag.

The added space should help during the busy lunch hours, Smith said, but she also hopes it improves the restaurant’s dinner business. Tuesday nights are usually packed for trivia night, Smith said, and Fridays and Saturdays are typically busy, too, but with the extra seating, fullsized bar, four new beers on tap and additional wine selections, Marie’s now has the space to be a more consistent dinner destination for area residents.

The bar top is made out of reclaimed wood from an old bowling alley. Left, staff from the restaurant did a lot of the grunt work, like installing a brick wall behind the bar.

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 23

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Back in blue

The color to use in 2020 is a timeless one

T

hese are crazy times (coronavirus, election year, Facebook), and crazy times call for using colors that can sooth our collective anxiety.

That’s why The Pantone Color Institute selected a familiar and time-honored color for its 2020 Color of the Year: PANTONE 19-4052.

Or, in layman’s terms, “classic blue.”

“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It is this kind of constancy and confi-

26 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

dence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.”

It’s a stark departure for the Pantone company, which has selected a color of the year since 2000. Recent picks have been far less traditional. Last year’s color was living coral (think vibrant pink). Others have included ultra violet (2019), serenity (2016), marsala (2015), radiant orchid (2014), tangerine tango (2012) … well, you get the idea.

But now is not the time to break with convention, the Pantone company says. In an age of political polarization and #fakenews and yet another season of American Idol, Pantone elected to promote a color that offers “the promise of protection.”

— Brian Paglia

Photo: Pexel

Photo by Emily Wang/Unsplash

A “restful” color, Pantone says, that “brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit.”

A “non-aggressive” color that is “easily relatable.”

A color that “fosters resilience.”

A “universal favorite.”

That color is classic blue.

April 2020 | 400 LIFE | 27

400 reads

merica is in love with renovations!

A Across the country, the idea of fixing a home has become a popular hobby rather than a

dreaded responsibility.

The world of DIY and home renovations are open to all, from the novice to the expert; projects can range from one-day to years long.

There are even television channels, podcasts, and of course books dedicated to the subject of home improvement.

The books included in this issue look at renovation and repair from two different perspectives, two are manuals and one is a story of selfdiscovery and the DIY process.

The Family Handyman is a well-known publisher of home improvement books and magazines. This company has been providing insight from professionals to intrepid homeowners for nearly 70 years.

In 2015, they published their definitive guide to home repairs, 100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know: How to Save Money, Solve Problems, and Improve Your Home. The book was edited by Gary Wentz and includes topics ranging from plumbing to pest control to interior design.

Each of the 100 sections in the book includes step-by-step directions, tips, and images to guide your work. There are also five bonus sections, including some easy fixes and home hints. The book would be a perfect gift for a new homeowner or anyone thinking about taking on their own home improvements.

with

Becky cahill

Another offering from The Family Handyman is, Ultimate One-Day Projects, which focuses on DIY improvements that require a bit more skill than the average home décor project.

The sections cover ways to increase storage, add the most value in the least amount of time, and plans for outdoor beautification. The book provides everything you would need to know, from start to finish, including materials lists and step-by-step directions with pictures.

If you are a fan of memoirs or an autobiographical account of the home renovation process interests you, then you might enjoy, So Close to Amazing: Stories of the DIY Life Gone Wrong … and Learning to Find the Beauty of Every Imperfection by KariAnne Wood.

Mrs. Wood has a longstanding home decorating blog and has been recognized by Better Homes and Gardens and Country Living for her work. The author writes about her home improvement journey and decorating projects from an unabashedly self-deprecating point of view. She shares her successes (and the steps you can follow to imitate the result for yourself), as well as the failures she experienced along the way.

The book will not interest a homeowner looking to complete large projects, but speaks more to a novice looking to paint, repurpose furniture, or create one-of-a-kind pieces for their home.

Becky Cahill is a career educator and an avid reader. She reads extensively in her free time and tracks her favorites (and those that aren’t even close) on her blog at tobereadlist.home.blog. Becky is the host of ‘Read It or Leave It!’ a weekly reading podcast available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

28 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

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400gives the Place of Forsyth County

Keys to success

The Place gifts vehicles to families to get them back on the road to stability Story by Brian Paglia

I

n 2016, The Place of Forsyth County was donated a vehicle.

Most nonprofit organizations would have sold the vehicle to help bolster its funds. But Joni Smith, president and CEO of The Place, and the nonprofit’s staff had a different idea: The Place would give the vehicle away to a family in need.

“We realized the impact that could be made if we gave the vehicle away to a family who needed transportation,” Smith said this past December when the organization gave cars to four local families.

So The Place added it to the list of programs and services that the nonprofit offers to local residents in need to help them become self-sustaining. In three years, The Place has gifted more than 20 vehicles.

Lack of transportation can be a major barrier to struggling families. According to a Harvard university study in 2015, access to transportation is the No. 1 factor impacting economic mobility.

“It’s difficult to be self-sustaining without proper transportation,” Smith said.

The vehicles that The Place gifts are always used, but the nonprofit partners with local auto repair shops, including the auto tech class at Forsyth Central High School, to get them ready for the road again.

Those interested in donating their used vehicle to The Place can contact Jacob Granados, the organization’s director of purposeful engagement, at jacob@theplaceofforsyth.org.

Donors can claim the full value of the vehicle as a tax write-off, and The Place can hand a local family the keys to getting back on the road for stability.

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30 | 400 LIFE | April 2020

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