"I've always heard that if you enjoy what you do, then you'll never work a day in your life," says Barry Hobbs, manager of Addition Associates. "If that's true, then I guess you could say that I haven't worked in years."

Barry's clients might take issue with that. As evidence to the contrary, they could point to homes and buildings throughout Hampton Roads that Barry has renovated, upgraded, or expanded.

Among the evidence, Suffolk's Historic Obici House would certainly qualify as Exhibit A.

Originally built in the 1870's as a farm house on Bay Point Dairy Farm Estate, it was moved by Amedeo Obici- founder of Planters Peanuts- to a knoll overlooking the Nansemond River in 1925. Obici built a 7,000 square foot expansion around the house, creating an elaborate estate where he and his wife hosted magnificent dinners, parties, and social events. After Obici's death, the house changed hands numerous times, becoming a popular rental property for weddings, parties, and other events. When in 2010, it was decided that the edifice needed major repairs and renovations, Barry and his craftsmen at Addition Associates were chosen for the job.




"The building had been neglected for years," Barry remembers. "The roof was in really bad shape. One corner of the house was completely demolished by termites, and the back porch was so structurally unsafe  that it had to be torn off."

Work on the Obici House began in September of 2010, with Addition Associates investing over 2,200 hours in the renovation. Now reopened, the historic home boasts a golf pro-shop and a golfer's lounge for those playing at the neighboring Sleepy Hole Golf Course; and once again its elegant interior is the site of dinners, weddings, and receptions.

"The Obici House turned out nice," Barry says humbly, matter-of-factly. "I was born and raised in Suffolk, and I was thankful for the opportunity to work on the house. Our guys really got a kick out of it, and the quality of workmanship we put in rivals what was originally there. I'm glad to see it renovated and being used again."

The renovations that Barry made to the Suffolk home of Gary and Debbie Munn, while not on the scale of the Obici House, are nevertheless impressive and yet more evidence that he has, indeed, been hard at work.

Gary and Debbie wanted to transform their back porch into a sunroom that could also serve as a dining room for their extended family during holiday gatherings. Having heard friends at their church praise Barry's work, they hired him for the job.

"When they started the work, Barry assured us that it would be done in time for Thanksgiving and a dinner party for 57 guests that we were having in December," Debbie explains. "Sure enough, everything was done on time. It was really nice to seat all our guests together in the family room and sunroom and not have to have them all in separate rooms of the house."




"Personally, I like coming up with a design that meets the client's needs," Barry says. "I'll visit the client and the location, get as much information as I can, find out what they are envisioning, and try to get a feel for what they'd like to do. Not everyone has a clear idea of what they want, and because I have 30 years of experience, I'm able to offer suggestions. I always try to come up with designs that look as if they were always a part of the house. You want the additions and renovations to blend in with the original period and style of the building."

After creating initial plans for a renovation, Barry utilizes CAD (Computer Assisted Design) technology, which enables a client to see how the completed renovation will look from any point of view.

"I work with them until they're completely clear and happy about how the whole job will come together," Barry explains. "Only then do my guys and I start to build it."

Barry employs this same approach and attention to detail regardless of a job's scale.

"A lot of bathrooms are being remodeled now," Barry explains. "People don't use bath tubs like they used to, so we're tearing out big bath tubs and putting in big showers- along with taller vanities and cabinets. If you spend ten thousand dollars to upgrade your bathroom, you won't add that amount of value to your house if you try to sell it in a year. But if you're looking five years down the road, the upgrade will add value then. Typically, what adds value to a home are kitchens, bathrooms, and curb appeal."

Window renovations are also popular, but often people will only replace the window sash- usually with vinyl replacements that last only a few years. Barry recommends new construction windows in which the entire window is replaced. "It's a bigger investment," he concedes, "but new construction windows can last a lifetime- and they add considerable value to a house when it comes time to sell."

For window replacements, Barry uses only Anderson Windows, which he judges to be the best available. This is consistent with Addition Associates' use of only the highest quality materials for all renovations and additions.

Barry's commitment to quality extends to the craftsmen that he sends to work in a client's home.
"We don't smoke, curse, or play music, and we always leave the customer's home spotless when we're finished," Barry insists. "We treat peoples' homes with the utmost respect, as if they were our own. We run our company based on Biblical principles, and having our clients' trust is very important to us. So if someone is considering renovations and additions to their homes, we have three decades of experience and lots of satisfied customers. We'd love to talk to you and show you what we can do."