Recently, we had the opportunity to travel to the Country Music Capital of the World to install Heritage Wood kitchen and pantry countertops for the country pop singer, songwriter and actress. Having been described by the New York Times as “one of pop’s finest songwriters,” it was quite an honor for us to be able to upgrade Swift’s home with classic countertops.

Our Heritage Wood collection offers more than 30 unique colors to choose from including exotic woods such as sapele mahogany and zebrawood end-grain; domestic woods such as American cherry and hard maple and reclaimed woods including antique heart pine and red oak.

A unique aspect of our natural wood is the fact that the color of the surface changes over time. The color change is caused by the wood’s exposure to light and air (oxidation) and varies by species. You can browse the Heritage Wood gallery to discover the perfect wood countertop for you.

Because the actual color of wood may vary, we recommend that you find a fabricator near you to view your selections in person. All of Heritage Wood countertops are backed by the Artisan Group pledge that the quality and craftsmanship will exceed your expectations.

For more information on Heritage Wood countertops, visit www.constructionresourcesusa.com.

Some people cringe at the thought of a remodel. Everybody knows somebody with a horror story of culpable remodelers, and letting strangers into your home can be disconcerting. But asking a remodeler several key questions before hiring them can ensure your family and your home is happy.

This list of questions was developed by the National Association of Home Builders and Construction Resources would be delighted to answer any of them:

• Do you have General Liability Insurance?
• Do you carry worker’s compensation insurance?
• Will you provide me with a written lien waiver?
• Will you obtain all the required building permits?
• Do you guarantee your work?
• Who will be in charge of the job?
• Have you or your company been a party to any construction-related litigation within the past five years?
• Will you provide me with written references or contact information of previous customers?
• What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
• How many projects like mine have you completed in the last year?
• How will you protect my home? What about protecting my children and pets?
• How is cleanup handled?

Remodeling can bring your home up-to-date and add energy efficient features. Be sure to visit the Construction Resource website for more information on our services and products.

There is one stipulation – each recipient must purchase a minimum of $1,000 in tile and installation services in order to qualify.

Atlanta Marble Mfg. is a full service metro-Atlanta Tile Contractor specializing in stone tile installations including travertine, porcelain, natural stone, ceramic and even glass tile. When undertaking your next home renovation, look to Atlanta Marble for your flooring. Many people don’t realize just how much impact the floor has on the overall design of a kitchen or bathroom, and the wrong tile can just lead to disaster. Helping you avoid such a disaster is one of the things we do best. Be sure to stop by our showroom and speak with a sales agent about the different types of tile and which will work best for your needs.

Remember, when undertaking any kitchen or bathroom remodeling project, Construction Resources is your one-stop shop for all of your needs.

Corian is a great choice for commercial and residential uses, for its versatility, strength and durability and elegant, clean design. In fact, the solid surfacing material by DuPont is so versatile, it is commonly used in food service, healthcare, retail, education, marine, automotive, art and tons of other areas. Corian is available in over 130 colors, is stain-resistant, food-safe, durable and long-lasting, heat-resistant, easy-to-clean and maintain, seamless (won’t catch dirt and bacteria), non-porous and low-emitting; and sweeten the deal, it’s backed by a 10-year limited warranty. Corian is often used in sinks, vanity tops, shower surrounds and edges and kitchen backsplashes.

Fort Benning, located south of Columbus, Ga., is a United States Army community, which supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees, and civilian employees on a daily basis. It only makes sense that our army would choose a durable, high-quality material like Corian and a reliable, efficient fabricator and installer like Atlanta Kitchen – would you expect anything less?

Construction Resources’ Atlanta Marble Manufacturing and Atlanta Kitchen recently completed installation of gorgeous cultured marble vanity tops and granite kitchen countertops in the 287 one bedroom, one bathroom and two bedroom, two bathroom homes at Alexan Town Brookhaven.

View several photos of the kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops (as well as living room, balconies and other areas) at Alexan Town Brookhaven to see the great work completed by Construction Resources and get a feel for the community.

We’ve talked about Corian solid surface products before; about its versatility, durability and style and how its a great choice for commercial uses, such as at a hospital. In addition to things like efficiency, flexibility, circulation, security and accessibility, there are some important considerations in healthcare design, including sanitation, therapeutic environment, sustainability and aesthetics, which we’ll quickly address here and show how Corian countertops and their installation by Atlanta Kitchen was a smart choice for Athens Regional Medical Center.

Sanitation: Hospitals must be easy to clean. A clean, sanitary environment can be facilitated by durable finishes, careful detailing on features to avoid bacteria- and dirt-catching and hard-to-clean cracks, crevices and joints. Corian is durable, stain-resistant, non-porous (which means it resists mold and mildew growth) and food safe and easy-to-clean and maintain, with a smooth seamless appearance and no grout lines to catch dirt and bacteria.

Therapeutic Environment: Patients in a hospital are many times scared and confused, which can slow down their recovery; so hospitals are designed to create a therapeutic environment that ensures a patient’s stay is as unthreatening, comfortable, and stress-free as possible. This can be achieved by use of familiar and culturally or locally relevant materials and cheerful and varied colors and textures wherever possible and consistent with sanitation, functional and assessment needs. Corian is available in over 130 colors from whites to neutrals to darks and bright, energetic yellows and warm reds.

Aesthetics: Aesthetics, like therapeutic environment has to do with making a hospital more homelike and attractive. This is important in enhancing the facility’s public image. Would you rather be in a cold, sterile hospital or one with natural materials and textures, art on the walls and countertops and cabinets that remind you of home? Aesthetics is not only important as a marketing tool, but it is important to staff comfort and patient care.

Sustainability: Hospitals are large, public buildings that have a significant impact on the environment  of the surrounding community. As heavy users of energy and water and large producers of waste, hospitals today are seeking solutions that minimize their impact on the environment. Corian, along with the adhesives and sealants used to install it, is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® as low emitting materials. Durable, easy to maintain, and low-emitting, Corian solid surfaces help buildings achieve LEED® credits and can contribute to sustainable design goals in a variety of applications.

Atlanta Kitchen and Atlanta Glass & Mirror installed framed and semi-frameless shower doors and Silestone quartz countertops in the residential units at White Provision.

Silestone is rapidly becoming the choice for discerning customers because of its superior strength and incredible timeless beauty and sophisticated elegance. Silestone’s natural quartz delivers distinctive depth, brilliant clarity, glimmering radiance and a cool, solid feel unique to natural stone. Silestone can be used in virtually any indoor surfacing application in kitchens, bathrooms and floors, including: countertops, island tops, vanities, tub and shower surrounds, backsplashes, walls, wet bars, tabletops, desktops, fireplace surrounds and more.

Atlanta Kitchen and Atlanta Glass & Mirror bring expert craftmanship and sophisticated, quality design with unique metal finishes and glass styles, pivot mounts, along with framed and unframed designs to its showers, creating a personal retreat to help you relax and wash away the day.

White Provision is at the corner of 14th Street and Howell Mill Road, and offers distinctive office space, 94 innovative and elegant condominium units, and its own highly desirable boutique retail, showroom and restaurant space. Residents at White Provision experience the timeless beauty of a thoughtfully restored industrial-era building right next door to ultramodern, state-of-the-art concrete and steel architecture. Residents also enjoy great features and conveniences such as controlled access covered parking, a fitness facility, swimming pool, doorman, private terraces and a fully furnished guest suite.

Innovative, smart schools around the world use Corian solid surfaces. From interior learning spaces to cafeterias to sinks to shower surrounds, DuPont™ Corian® surfaces combine aesthetics and function, taking educational environments beyond classroom basics. Corian helps create a uniform look with a cost-effective, high performance product that’s easy to clean and maintain and is safe for students and teachers. Year after year, teachers and students at Loganville High School will enjoy tough, long-lasting surfaces that are GREENGUARD Certified® for children and schools.

Avonite solid surfaces are a top choice for hotels, resorts, restaurants and kitchens around the world because of its unparalleled beauty, unique elegance and professional and flexible design. Avonite products offer many benefits over laminate, tile and granite was a very smart choice for the hospital because Avonite solid surface seams are inconspicuous, hygienic, and non-porous. Avonite sufaces also come with a ten-year limited material warranty and because of its unique manufacturing process, Avonite surfaces create a depth of color and clarity found in no other solid surface product.

For those unfamiliar with the Shepherd Center, it is a private, not-for-profit hospital devoted to the medical care and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and other neuromuscular problems. Located just south of Buckhead between downtown and the historic Peachtree Battle area, the hospital is one of the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation.

Construction Resources has teamed up with providers of products that are stylish, high quality and less damaging to the environment than many products. From reclaimed wood tops to recycled glass and cement to radon free to low VOC countertops, Construction Resources has them all in a range of beautiful and artistic types. View all of the products in Construction Resources’ environmentally friendly collection.

Hotel Indigo Pensacola Beach is the first boutique hotel in the area. This brand new hotel is 100% smoke free and features contemporary amenities that are sure to exceed expectations. Like at every Hotel Indigo location, the focus is to deliver each guest peace, serenity, and renewal with the conveniences of a fitness center, Wi-Fi, pool and more. Guests will be able to curl up in the hotel’s over-sized beds with plush bedding and plenty of fluffy pillows – but not just yet. Construction Resources will likely be working on the project through the remainder of 2009, so start planning your visit for early next year.