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Debbie Creel says she and husband Jim chose Atlanta Homes masterpiece, because the custom-builder's style fit their new lifestyle.

Atlanta Homes President TJ Jones -- whose company builds custom homes in the new Lawrenceville community in Gwinnett -- says enhancing the lifestyle of the customer is the hallmark of his business. "When people look for a custom home, there's usually a life-stage event that's occurred. They are downsizing or resizing their current home."

For Jim and Debbie, that event was their marriage, which combined two families. With four children, Debbie said, they needed space.

"The craftsmanship and style of the homes they build are custom, yet spacious," said Debbie, whose Atlanta Homes home is in another custom community in Lawrenceville. "For our lifestyle, a lot of the open space and higher end amenities -- granite countertops and lighting, for example, -- are all done so well."

With four children in school, that means five computers and a number of flat screen televisions.

"We're a high-tech home, and the house lends itself to that," she said.

Today, her favorite features are the kitchen and family room areas. For her love of cooking, Debbie says the kitchen is well-designed. The kitchen flows into the family room, making for togetherness with the children, even as she cooks.

"We spend a lot of time there in almost every aspect of our lives," she said. "I also love the mud room. With four kids, it's great. It's a nice fit."

Gwinnett, located on Peachtree Street just east of Peachtree Road and Hamilton Mill, is comprised of 52 custom-home sites within three distinctive neighborhoods, two of which offers homes by Atlanta Homes:

The Lakes at Gwinnett includes open wooded and tree-lined sites starting at $89,900. Home and lot packages are expected to be $450,000-$800,000.

The Woods at Gwinnett offers larger wooded and tree-lined sites, many of which will accommodate walkout basements. These home sites are $110,000-$180,000. Homes there will be $600,00-$800,000.

"The setting of Gwinnett is simply breathtaking as this ground has beautiful rolling terrain dotted with small stands of hardwoods as well as dense woods," Jones said. "A long boulevard entrance surrounded by open space, ponds and trees lead to a central roundabout area before entering the neighborhoods. A centrally located amenity center includes a clubhouse, swimming pool, playground and basketball court.

The $750,000 Atlanta Homes model is in The Knoll section at 1407 Pleasant Crest Ave.

The home's more than 8,000 square feet is a visual of what Debbie Creel was talking about: open space, craftsmanship, upscale amenities and attention to detail.

The exterior is a collage of angles and textures -- mostly stone and brick with highlights of Hardiplank siding. A handsome, arched stone treatment accents the windows on the bricked sections, and brick window accents on the stone section.

Inside, the kitchen's centerpiece is hutch-style cabinetry surrounding the cook top. The arrangement, with the hood, makes a convenient alcove for the cook top, bringing herbs, spices and ingredients to countertop level.

Small glass inserts accent the dark tile backsplash.

Dual sinks on the countertop and center island also make for a culinary-artist's dream layout.

A glass-doored cabinet at floor level next to the wrap-around food bar is a unique detail, as well. Adjacent is an informal dining area, in addition to a formal dining room off the foyer.

From foyer to dining room to kitchen is birch hardwood flooring, enhancing the contemporary-yet-warm style of the home.

Plush carpeting in the great room accents the bricked fireplace, painted white and framed in black-stained wood. In addition to a black mantle and raised firebox, the bricked area holds a television nook, leaving floor space for other furnishings.

Built-in cabinetry, also stained black, flanks the fireplace, while a wall of transomed picture windows gives a view to the wooded back yard.

The great room's 10-foot coffered ceiling veers nicely from the 9-foot ceilings elsewhere on the main floor.

The master bedroom is secreted down a hallway off the family room. The hideaway has a wall of alcoves -- two large art niches and a space wired for HDTV. The room features a wedding-cake-styled tray ceiling and a wall of windows similar to that in the great room.

The master bath is all glass and shine, from the glass walk-in shower to the blocked glass window behind the garden whirlpool tub. A high vanity holds double sinks, and a water closet separates the toilet area.

The bath opens to a spacious, narrow walk-in closet with built-in cherry-laminate dressers, shelving and hanger space.

Further down the hall is the mudroom with built-in catchall. The laundry room contains one of Ruffing's ideas -- a dog shower.

"Pets are a big part of people's lives," he said.

Three additional bedrooms, each with its own bath, occupy the upper level. The stairway up has an ample landing with enough wall space for a sizeable family gallery or large piece of artwork.

Upstairs, the second landing overlooks the foyer. Step up into what Ruffing calls the multifunctional room.

"This would have been the top of a two-story great room," Ruffing said. "We are showing people an option. In fact, people are just eating it up."

The airy, open space overlooking the rear of the property is edged by a half-wall/counter. The design here is for two computer desks and entertainment center.

The home's lower level is a contemporary venue of entertainment, with its centerpiece wrap-around bar. Lighted, recessed shelving holds the barware and bottles.

The first thing you see, though, is a neon sign in an area that can be used as a dance floor or for extended bar seating. It reads "The End." It is above a small stage holding a complete band setup with drums and guitars.

Any boomer who was a teen on Indianapolis' northside in the late 1960s will remember The End as the popular high school band that played parties, proms and concerts.

In fact, Atlanta Homes owner Dave Crockett was a member of the band, and "This is a surprise for him," Ruffing said.

Another unique Ruffing-ism in the home is the Diva room. The minimalist contemporary style, mixed with neon on the wall, gives the ladies a place to gather when the gentlemen are armchair-coaching a sporting event in the large entertainment room.

The entertainment room and lower-level bedroom both are flooded with natural light from large windows with oversized window wells.