A Dunwoody renovation magazine feature is not something a contractor can plan for. You build the house as well as you can, and then you hope someone notices. In September 2026, someone did. Alpharetta City Lifestyle published a two-page spotlight on a whole-home renovation we completed for a young family in Dunwoody, Georgia. The article credits Valarda Residential Contractors as a key part of the project, and we could not be prouder to share it with you.
About Our Dunwoody Renovation Magazine Feature
The piece appears in the September 2026 issue of Alpharetta City Lifestyle, on page 30 of the Home Update section. It is titled “Making a Home Their Own,” and it was written by the magazine’s editorial staff with photography by Catrina Maxwell. The format is a Q&A with Danielle Maslan of Danielle Maslan Interiors, the Atlanta design firm that led the interior design on the project. Valarda handled the construction.
For a locally owned contractor, this kind of coverage matters. City Lifestyle is a print and digital publication that reaches homeowners across North Fulton and DeKalb County, which is exactly the community we serve. Consequently, a lot of the people reading that issue are our neighbors.
The Project: A Whole-Home Renovation for a Young Family
The home belongs to a young family in Dunwoody who wanted the house to finally feel like theirs. The existing house had good bones, but it did not reflect the people living in it. The homeowners wanted more color, more personality, and more pattern. They also had a clear list of practical goals.
The scope grew into a full interior and exterior remodel. Here is what we built:
- Kitchen-to-porch connection: we reworked the layout so the kitchen flows directly onto the screened-in porch.
- Dedicated prep kitchen: a secondary kitchen with added storage, finished with pink cabinetry and terrazzo flooring.
- Mudroom: a proper drop zone for a busy household.
- Primary bathroom: a retreat-style bath with deep green-gray cabinetry, floral wallpaper, and polished nickel and glass fixtures.
- Screened-in porch: deep sage and olive tones that tie the room into the wooded backyard.
If you are considering a similar scope, our guide to whole-home renovations in Dunwoody walks through what a full remodel really involves.
What the Article Says About the Project
The interview covers three questions: what the family wanted, which design elements the designer loved most, and how readers can get the look at home. Danielle describes the project as a full transformation, inside and out. She points to the color and pattern work throughout the house, the unexpected prep kitchen, and the primary bath as her favorite moments. Lighting gets special attention too, from the oversized globe pendants and sconces on the porch to the vanity lights that catch the tile in the bath.
Then, at the very end of the piece, comes the line that made our whole team stop and read it twice:
“Valarda Residential Contractors were instrumental.”
— Alpharetta City Lifestyle, September 2026, “Making a Home Their Own”
We are not reprinting the full article here out of respect for the magazine’s work. However, you can read the complete spread below, and the issue is available at citylifestyle.com/alpharetta.
Our Take on the Feature
Honestly, we are thrilled. A Dunwoody renovation magazine feature is a rare thing for a construction company, and it is even rarer for the contractor to be named in print. Design magazines naturally focus on the finished look. The framing, the plumbing rough-in, the structural work behind that kitchen-to-porch opening, and the hundreds of small decisions during a full remodel usually stay invisible. That is how it should be. A good renovation hides the effort.
Still, it means a great deal when a designer of Danielle’s caliber takes the time to credit the build team. The word she chose, “instrumental,” is one we take seriously. It reflects how we approach every project: as a partner, not just a set of hands. We show up to design meetings, we solve problems before they reach the homeowner, and we treat the designer’s vision as the target rather than a suggestion.
Above all, we are happy for the family. They took a risk on bold color and pattern, and the result is a house that feels like them. That was the goal from day one.
Why Designer and Contractor Collaboration Matters
This project is a good example of what happens when the design and construction sides work as one team. Danielle set the direction: layered texture, soft curves, and authentic materials such as leather, natural wood, metal, solid brass, and handcrafted tile. Our job was to make every one of those choices buildable, durable, and on schedule.
In practice, that meant coordinating tile layouts so the pattern landed correctly, adjusting framing so the oversized pendants could hang where the design called for, and sequencing trades so the wallpaper installer arrived on a clean, dry wall. None of that appears in a photograph. All of it shows in how the finished rooms feel.
Because we have been building in Dunwoody and the surrounding area since 2012, we also know how to move a project of this size through the City of Dunwoody permit process without losing weeks. That experience frees the designer and the homeowners to focus on the fun decisions.
What This Means for Your Renovation
If you are planning a remodel in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, or Alpharetta, this feature is a useful reference. It shows what a whole-home renovation looks like when the homeowners commit to personality instead of playing it safe. It also shows that a home built decades ago can be reshaped around how a family actually lives today.
Whether your project is a full remodel, a primary suite addition, or a single bathroom, the same principles apply. Start with a clear list of practical goals. Then bring in a designer and a contractor who talk to each other from the first meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Feature
Where can I read the full article?
The feature runs in the September 2026 issue of Alpharetta City Lifestyle, page 30. The spread is pictured above, and the issue is available through the magazine’s website.
Who designed the project?
Danielle Maslan Interiors led the interior design. Valarda Residential Contractors handled construction, including the prep kitchen, mudroom, primary bathroom, and screened-in porch work.
Can Valarda work with my own interior designer?
Yes. Many of our projects are designer-led. We are comfortable building from a designer’s drawings and specifications, and we welcome the collaboration.
Do you take on whole-home renovations in Dunwoody?
We do. Whole-home remodels, additions, and major kitchen and bath renovations are the core of our work in Dunwoody and the surrounding north metro Atlanta area.
Ready to Start Your Own Renovation Story?
We would love for your home to be the next one worth writing about. Valarda Residential Contractors has been renovating homes in Dunwoody and north metro Atlanta since 2012, and we bring the same care to every project, whether or not a magazine ever sees it. Contact us to talk about your renovation, and let’s make your home feel like your own.
