Simple solid colors, lots of light, and a variety of upholstered furniture invites you right into this room. What about this room says be comfortable and relax? Let’s spend a few minutes figuring it out.

One critical factor is the sunshine streaming through the oversized windows. You can just imagine a puppy curled up in the sunny spot on the floor. Light is required for comfort. From the hanging light and the lamp to the right, this room also recognizes the importance of multiple sources of light in the evening.

The furniture also invites you to sit and relax. The sofa and easy chair are designed for a comfortable read or a nap. Two ottomans by the fireplace work well for warming close to the fire on chilly days. Accessories and art are simple but large enough to fill in the room’s bare spaces. Finally, fresh flowers and healthy plants always say welcome.

Is your home inviting and comfortable? Can you incorporate any ideas from this room to make your home as comfy as you want? Be sure to think about how you will use and live in your home as you plan design changes and additions.

We try and make it as easy as possible for you to navigate around our website.  However, sometimes tit’s easier to find things on a straightforward map; therefore, we have a “Site Map” link at the bottom of our homepage that will direct you to a table of contents like page.  Here, you can find most anything you’re looking for in a quick and easy manner.  We hope that you find this helpful!

The multi-level countertop is a simple idea but it can add a lot of functionality to your living space. In this photo, the granite camouflages the materials on the kitchen counter while adding an attractive design element to the rest of the room.

This approach is particularly valuable in an open living area. When entertaining, the raised counter hides food prep materials and the dirty dishes after dinner. If these are visible, they distract from the design of the rest of the space.

This countertop is narrow but a wider one provides even more advantages. With bar-level seating on the side opposite the kitchen, you have added a breakfast bar, a place for casual snacking or even homework when the cook needs to multi-task by helping children with school while finishing dinner.

From an entertainment standpoint, additional seating provides an extra conversation area, a place for appetizers or even a table for a buffet. It also gives guests as chance to perch and chat with the host or hosts as they prepare dinner.

Solid surface or granite options have enlarged our choices for countertop designs. Why not take advantage of the expanded flexibility and style of these materials to make your kitchen space as functional and attractive as possible? Ask us about about using multi-level counters in your home. This is available on some floor plans, but not all.

We were so thrilled to receive the following feedback from a customer we wanted to share with our readers!

“Sales office staff were AMAZING!!!!!! Jack, Art, and Lynn were always so helpfull and willing to do anything we asked them to do. They took our reservations about new home construction and eased them. Then they turned us to Tom and Eric and they again were always there to fix anything we seen that needed to be fixed quickly and gave us feedback all the time. Tom and Eric were also so much fun to work with they made this whole process a BLAST!!!!!! We really loved everything and everyone we worked with. All the craftmanship and the detail that went into our home was up and beyond our imaginations. We really thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts, we love our new home and can’t wait to move in. All the staff are so professional and fun! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”

Joseph and Candace

At Fulton Homes, Community is very important to us.  We like to keep all of our residents up to date with everything that is going on in their neighborhood.  An easy way to do this is through Facebook, Twitter and this blog!  At the bottom of our home website page, there is a small box on the right side with a link to all three of our online community sites.  Just click on any of the buttons and it will take you directly to these.  Please “Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter to keep up to date with us!

No longer are eat-in kitchens seen only in traditional, cottage or country homes. Contemporary kitchens with space for dining can be both functional and stylish. This clean white kitchen fit for a chef provides the perfect background for a great looking dining area as well.

Under Foot

Wood floors enhance the beauty and stylish feel of the space. For a punch of color, a washable or spot cleanable area rug could be added under the table.

Lighting

Often seen over the breakfast bar, a four-light pendant has been cleverly hung over the table. Beautiful alternative lighting would be a whimsical contemporary white chandelier or a single large colorful glass and metal pendant.

Dining Furniture

In this kitchen, a simple table of pale wood with clean lines is set with neutral place mats and pure white dinnerware—perfect choices in this contemporary environment. Dining chairs dressed up with stylish slipcovers add a touch of formality to the room. To add a bit of fun, substitute fabric in a geometric pattern, black and white stripe or large contemporary floral motif.

Decorative Elements

Fresh flowers, as seen in this room, colorful bowls and other decorative objects placed on top of kitchen cabinets, countertops or the work island can contribute to the visual appeal of the space.

With attention to detail, a little imaginative thinking and the addition of beautiful accessories, an eat-in kitchen can proudly be used for entertaining. Neither family nor guests will even notice the refrigerator as they enjoy the dining space created in the kitchen.

Were you one of the lucky ones that received chocolate for Valentines? If so, we wanted you to have care and maintenance tips handy should some of that chocolate end up out of the box and on your carpet!

Here are some simple tips to remove chocolate stains from carpet. Feel free to keep this info handy for future chocolate mishaps!

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. Carpet and Rug Institute: 1-800-882-8846.

We hope this info helps!

Here at Fulton Homes, we make it especially easy for you to apply and pre-qualify for a loan for one of out homes!  At the bottom of our home page on our website in the bottom left corner you will find a red box that titled Fulton Mortgage.  If you click on the link, it will take you to a page where you can select if you would like to “Pre-Qualify”, “Refinance”, “Home Equity Finance”, “Purchase” or “Construction or Renovation.  Simply chose which you would like to do and fill out all of the blank fields to get your instant answer!

When decorating do you feel that you are not quite sure how to mix patterns and prints properly? And you end up with a Vanilla Look simply because you are playing it safe? Mixing patterns and prints is not as difficult as it may seem.

Basically patterns and prints fall into one of the following categories:

1. Large Print

2. Small Print

3. Geometric

4. Stripe

5. Solid

When coordinating, it is safe to mix these types. You can mix and match a couple or all of the above. Use color as a tool to tie together various patterns and prints. For a Well Put Together look it is important to achieve the following:

Interest-(Large Print ex. Floral, Geometric ex. Greek Key)

Structure-(Geometric Print/Pattern ex. Argyle,)

Support-(Small Print ex. Hounds-tooth, Stripe, Solid)

*Specific Prints and Patterns can vary largely. As long as you achieve the three requirements above; the actual prints and patterns can vary widely. The combinations are endless. Go out on a limb and pick appealing colors for creative design schemes. The different types of patterns and prints you select should add variety-thus further coordinating a complete scheme.

If you aren’t sure how to make this happen, we are here to help!

When trying to tie colors in with patterns, keep in mind that it is not necessary to have the exact matching colors. You can use lighter or darker shades of the specific colors in your scheme. Shades can vary slightly; colors have a way of looking different depending on what other colors they are next to. Differing shades also help add variety.

Do you want to plan something special for Valentine’s Day or any important anniversary or event? With the help of some of your area rugs, why don’t you create a romantic indoor picnic?

Start by walking through your house and choosing a cozy spot to position your picnic. You can choose a place in front of a fireplace, in the corner of your living room, in the center of a bay window, or anywhere with the space to handle your plans. It doesn’t matter what type of flooring you have, because you use area rugs to build your romantic spot.

You can just use one rug or as many as three. Pile them up at different angles to create the feeling of an inviting cushiony area. Add lots of pillows – pulled from sofas or chairs even to keep the space comfy. Then position a simple tablecloth in the middle to hold the food.

Fresh flowers and candles contribute to the mood. To keep your space fire-safe, consider using the new electric LED candles such as the votives in this photo. Pick favorite foods and think about finger foods to make serving and eating easy. For a final touch, break apart a flower and sprinkle the petals around the area.

Now, dim the lights and welcome your sweetie to an evening of romance!