Barry Hobbs is an imposing man in so many ways. At 6'2" this mild-mannered gentleman, which is how one and all describe him, is fully present, and, when with a client, eager to find out what they have in mind to make their home fulfill current needs. After hearing what clients need, this designer comes up with the how.

"The thing I enjoy most is the design work," Barry emphasizes with the enthusiasm he has brought to converting homeowners' needs into realities for perhaps a thousand homes over 40 years.

Barry Hobbs' business is appropriately named Addition Associates because what he does is enhance existing homes, executing the visions his clients have for the homes they don't want to leave. He is the perfect man with whom to share that vision for a needed change.

Barry Hobbs doesn't just add on a sunroom or an in-law suite, he makes it look as though it has always been part of the home! So often additions can appear incongruent with a home's original design if they are not executed by a skilled designer/builder. Barry attributes his edge in this market to having studied architecture in college, which supports his goal of making any addition look like it was always there."

When Barry's father-in-law asked him to manage his company 40 years ago, he could not have envisioned the full range of this builder/designer's talent. Barry begins each job by listening carefully to what a homeowner wants to add to a beloved home that they don't want to leave. He is passionate about the satisfaction of doing a project and doing it right! Part of his success is that he honors the client's budget and completes the project on time.

Sometimes projects start with making repairs: perhaps a few windows need to be replaced. This is often followed at some point by a bathroom remodel and a new kitchen. Tackling everything from small improvements to major additions such as a sunroom or master suite is gratifying for both the homeowner and this designer/builder! For Barry, the ultimate satisfaction comes when everyone is happy because the project has been done right.

"I like to think I'm impacted by all of my clients," he comments, adding, "but at the same time I want to feel I've had an impact on them- in a positive way, too." Reading the many accolades from past clients leaves little doubt about the positive impact Barry has had on them. Barry has many clients for whom he has built two- and even three- additions as their family needs have evolved over the years.

 Barry and his wife Debbie, an artist, were sweethearts in high school and revel today in the fact that both their children, Beth, a professional photographer, and Brent, pastor of New Song Fellowship in Kempsville, have settled in this area and have given them four grandchildren, one a newborn! Barry shares the photos of their grandchildren with the joy of a man grateful for a full life.

Asked when he will retire, Barry quips, "My retirement plan is out of this world!" A happy golfer who also enjoys college football games, the designer/builder muses that he still loves his work. And he has loyal employees who have been with him for decades. Jackie Gillikin is his devoted office manager, his brother-in-law, Perry Holland, is his project manager, and Linwood Slaughter has been a loyal craftsman for many years. Addition Associates also uses a cadre of subcontractors when needed, and, Barry notes, "We are always looking for qualified individuals whose values and goals line up with ours.

 Barry Hobbs became a man of faith while still in high school and today is an Elder of Nansemond River Baptist Church in Suffolk.

He attributes his success to a commitment to the Truth of God's Word and one verse in particular: Colossians 3:23 which says "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." His faith in "a wonderful Savior, a wife who loves me, and having the family close by to continue to share life with'" are the main reasons he attributes to his life being full of good fortune.

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children," Barry offers. "One of these is roots and the other wings!"

Asked which one of Addition Associate's past projects has been the most memorable, the talented remodeler cites the extensive renovations that he made to Suffolk's historic Obici House. Barry was honored to be chosen to do this project where so many memorable events, such as weddings, are held. "Obici House is probably so memorable because for me it's home," the Suffolk native points out. "Overall, with my work, if it involves design, I'm all in!"