Charlotte-area home sales in August were 27.4 percent more than in the same month a year ago, which real estate experts say is a sign of “momentum” in the local market. Meanwhile, the average sale price also continue an upward trend. Read the full story

Davidson’s Design Review Board will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., at Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St., Davidson. The agenda includes discussion of exterior renovations at Community School of Davidson High School; changes in the exterior at the planned Mooney’s Corner, which is being built at 212 S. Main St.; and renovations at 202 S. Main St., for the Pickled Peach Restaurant.

ADDED to agenda Sept. 11 –  MSC Industrial Direct will show the board a revised brick selection for its corporate offices off I-77 Exit 30.

When you say the word luxury, most often you end up thinking of jewelry, expensive cars and mansions. But luxury is not limited to these categories. Luxury also enters interior design in other ways besides high end furniture and furnishings. The most recent additions to luxurious choices in interior design involve the use of precious materials that are luxurious. Once out of reach for most, these new choices are more affordable, although they still come with stiff price tags. What defines an interior material of luxury comes from their unique textures and unusual handcrafted techniques.

The following are just a few examples of some new luxurious materials. Read the full story

A construction crew worked on framing Aug. 22 for Legacy Cornelius, a complex of high-end apartments and townhomes off Westmoreland Road. Two more apartment complexes will be the subject of community meetings Sept. 4. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

CORNELIUS – Cornelius seems to be in the midst of a small boom in construction of condos and multi-family housing. Planners will host a pair of simultaneous community meetings at Town Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 4, to unveil plans for two proposed apartment complexes off West Catawba Avenue. The projects will fill vacant lots where developments have long been planned, and join other apartments already under construction around town.

One project, Madison at Lake Norman, would construct 260 apartments off Magnolia Estates Drive, with a new road connecting to Edinburgh Square Drive. A second 108-unit project, Kenton Place Lot 2, is planned on Kenton Drive in front of the former Palace Theater. Read the full story

Ben McCrary has been named planning manager for the Town of Davidson, Town Manager Leamon Brice announced at the Aug. 14 Town Board meeting. Mr. McCrary had been interim manager since the April departure of former town planning chief Lauren Blackburn. Read the full story

Is your fireplace just a large white wooden feature? There are lots of ways to change that.

A fireplace adds a warm element to any room. But fireplaces often are left as large, white wooden features. Little thought is given to whether they really complement not only your home’s interior, but its exterior style as well. There are plenty of ways to change your fireplace, and keep it from being a large expanse of white wood. Read the full story