Southern Living recognizes Highlands community, Mt Laurel in-house builder

Mt Laurel’s picturesque community off Dunnavant Valley Road looks as if it could be in the pages of a magazine. 

In fact, its charm caught Southern Living’s eye in 2016. The lifestyle magazine invited Town Builders Inc., the in-house builder for Mt Laurel, to create their 50th anniversary Idea House, which gathers the latest trends in architecture, interior design, landscaping and more, in the neighborhood. After the public gets a chance to tour the Idea House, it will be sold to become a regular residence.

Town Builders, which specializes in craftsman-style homes, is continuing its partnership with Southern Living through its selection for membership in Southern Living’s Custom Builder Program. 

Kristen Bryan, the marketing director for Southern Living, said Town Builders’ membership came about from the way they exceeded the magazine’s expectations with the 2016 Idea House.

The custom builder program was started in 1993, and selected builders receive discounts on house plans and products, customer leads, product updates, alignment with the Southern Living brand and exposure in the magazine, as well as two full-page color ads per year promoting members of the program in different state editions of the publication. Builders are selected based on reputation, customer service and financial strength.

Bryan said Mt Laurel was previously part of the Southern Living Inspired Community program. At the end of August, The Highlands, a development between Chelsea and Pelham, was selected to be part of the same program. 

“At Southern Living, we look for communities whose architecture speaks to the region and brings the pages of the magazine to life. The Highlands did just that and more,” said Kristen Payne, vice president of licensing for Meredith Corporation — which owns Southern Living — via press release. “Homes are tucked into the mountainside and use nature as their guide for colors and design. A truly special place is created by those who honor the land and celebrate the beauty of the South.”

Developer David Brogdon said the gated community, which offers residents a portfolio of plans or the chance to custom build, is honored to be recognized.

“Our vision for The Highlands was to create a place where homeowners would feel a sense of community while preserving the beauty and serenity of nature,” he said in a press release.