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!

If you, like so many other Canadians, dream of a second home in America there has never been a better time to make your move. With historically low prices on new homes, extremely low interest rates and the strong trading power of the Canadian dollar, you’ll be able to purchase a summer home or an investment property and have money left over to enjoy your new life.

According to the Boston Globe, Arizona home prices have fallen so greatly, the state is seeing a rise in the number of Canadians moving there. They are not only taking advantage of the extremely low housing cost, but the great many benefits that come with living in the Grand Canyon State.  Many Canadians prefer Arizona over states such as California and Florida due to the low cost of living and the rarity of natural disasters such as hurricanes, mud slides, earthquakes and tornadoes. Other benefits are plentiful, take a look at just a few of them:

• Bask in 320+ days of sunshine
• Play golf year round
• Enjoy outdoor sports year round including hiking, biking and climbing.
• Explore incredible Sedona, the Grand Canyon and many historic sites such as Walnut Creek.
• Catch a flight from Phoenix to 7 major Canadian cities.
• Enjoy entertainment like plays, concerts, theater, art galleries and major sports events.

We have embraced our Canadian customers and even have a special section on our website just for you. Visit the Canadian Corner for more information on finding your perfect second home or investment property right here in sunny and fun Arizona.  Fulton Homes’ new communities are vibrant, clean and are built to stand the test of time.  Plus, all our communities have active and affordable HOAs designed to protect your investment.    Our new homes come with a full warranty and our professional customer care team is happy to work with you or your property manager.

At Fulton Homes, we like to keep our residents up to date on all of the exciting news that’s happening in our communities.  On the home page of our website we have a section titled “Latest Fulton News”.  Here, you will always find what’s happening within your community and with the residents.  Its a great way to always stay connected with your neighbors!

Various television shows focus on people’s heritage, from programs such as Antique Roadshow on PBS which showcases various items either collected or inherited, to programs that encourage people to sell their heirlooms to buy something else.

Are your family artifacts taking up closet or attic space but seldom if ever become part of your present life? If so, consider bringing some of them out of hiding and creating a vignette of your family history.

The vignette in this photo showcases a great grandfather who studied butterflies. Some of his valued reference books provide a base to hold his handwritten notebooks and the magnifying glass he used in his travels. Displayed in the shadowbox are some of his most valued specimens. At the center of the table stands his pride and joy – an early brass microscope. With the addition of a couple of photos, this story is complete.

What family stories would you like to tell? Was Aunt Beth known for her baking? Showcase her handwritten recipes along with some of her favorite mixing bowls, one of her big wooden spoons, and a photo of her at the table. Some of a great uncle’s old tools could be displayed on top of a bookshelf he built that you inherited.

Find your family stories and make them part of your décor. You can enrich your home’s style and your life when you share your family’s past with others.

Do you have an alternative play area to keep your children entertained and engaged during inclement weather?

If you have a playroom or basement, finding space is relatively easy. If not, consider limited-use spaces such as a formal dining room or a corner of the family room. Once you select your spot, take some steps to make the space colorful and intriguing.

Add a bright carpet remnant or inexpensive throw rug over the current floor to protect it and define the play area clearly. If you have a child’s play table, add that in on one side. If not, an old coffee table surrounded by floor cushions will work. Other elements such as a low bookshelf, child’s tent or storage bins will help make the space special and separate.

Once the play space has been created, make it an island of interest. Have a jar of ideas for activities – letting them pick one every day. Change out games, books and toys so every day the space seems different.

Use it as a reward for completing homework or chores. Allow children to use the space for a defined period of every day. Surprise them with activities and instructions, with the opportunity to report back to you. For example, one day they may find every type of measuring tool from rulers to measuring cups. Give each child an assignment to measure some combination of things and list them on a piece of paper. Or you could have them brainstorm the different things each tool could be used to measure.

Turn the next few months into an exciting time to help keep your children away from too much television during the cold days of this season. When the weather warms, you can dismantle the space until next winter, or keep it intact for rainy day play.

We try and make our website as user friendly as possible.  If you are looking to buy a home in one of our communities, we provide you with an easy way to view what homes are available.  At the top of our website you will see a “Find Your Home” tab; once clicked upon, this will bring you directly to a page that lists all homes available to buy, with pictures.   Several different categories are shown that you can click to arrange all results by; Floorplan; Neighborhood; City; Sq. Ft.; Price; Beds; and/or Baths.  Once you find a house that meets your criteria, you can click on it to review more details.  We hope you find this information helpful!