Author Archives: FultonHomes

Step into Autumn: Travel

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autumn-travelmorgue-webWhile we don’t get any fall colors in the Phoenix area this time of year there are a number of places to visit for a weekend or a day to get our fill of autumn without leaving the state. The trick is to go North and go up! Here are some recommendations.

Oak Creek Canyon: About 2 ½ hours from Phoenix, you can find yourself in the kind of world you expect to see in New England. Oaks and other deciduous trees change colors, and the Creek itself along with rocks makes the scenery spectacular in the fall. Colors are at their best from late October to early November, but you might want to make a call to see how they’re shaping up this year. And on your way in or out, be sure to stop at the roadside stand selling fresh squeezed cider to really capture the season!

Flagstaff:  Spend a weekend and take the time to ask locals for the best drives. Leaves generally peak up there in mid-to-late October. While you’re visiting, wander around Northern Arizona University’s campus to capture the mood of college students caught up in the semester.

Visit some of Northern Arizona’s ski areas: Altitude helps create color in the fall. Snowbowl road is one great choice. Also look into ski areas in the White Mountains. These options are more suited to a weekend trip than an overnight, but pre-snow prices can make the trip a bargain.

Check with AAA, the State of Arizona visitor’s bureau and chambers of commerce in some of our Northern towns to get more ideas. And get on the road to find your fall color!

Step up to Autumn: Food

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autumn-food-morgue-webEven though we’re still dealing with summer temperatures here in Arizona, autumn has arrived and it’s worth your time to remind your family that the season is changing. One great way to do that is by taking advantage of the bounty of fall foods available. Here are a few ideas.

Apples: They are coming off the tree right now which makes them extra fresh and well-priced. How about buying three or four varieties and holding an apple tasting? You can have baked apples or dip them in hot caramel for dessert.

Winter squash: The grocery stores are filled with a variety of fresh winter squash, providing a healthful and tasty side dish for almost any meal. Try cutting a butternut or other winter squash into half to one inch squares and roast to bring out the sweetness. Simply place the squash in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, butter, or a combination and add salt and pepper. For some extra sweetness add several tablespoons of maple syrup. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 20-40 minutes at 350 degrees, stirring every 15-20 minutes and pulling out when the squash is soft and starting to brown. You may find that even your picky eaters will enjoy the rich caramel flavor.

Pumpkin bread: Recipes abound for pumpkin baked goods, and pumpkin bread is one of the best. Experiment with adding additional pumpkin for more flavor and richness, double the cinnamon and consider grating your own nutmeg to get the freshest flavor. Some people like to add raisins, nuts or even chopped dates before baking to add personality.

Pumpkin and pecan pies: Fall is the perfect time to introduce some special hot desserts. Both these pies require some baking skill, but one cook’s secret is to explore some store-bought options. One warehouse store in particular makes a pumpkin pie every year that can put even county fair winners to shame.

What other fall options are your favorites? How about baked apples or cider donuts? Maybe you have a frosted pumpkin bar recipe that you haven’t made since last autumn. Well, it’s time to pull out your favorites and bring the taste of fall into your home.

Step Up to Autumn: Décor

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autumn-decor-morguewebWe’re moving into autumn, but here in Arizona it still feels like summer. You can change your home’s mood to reflect the season even if outside we’re still dealing with temperatures in the 90’s. Here are some tips to give your home that fall flavor.

Wreaths: Start your autumn mood with a wreath on your front door. Many hobby shops and florists have options available for purchase, or make your own with dried flowers, leaves and seed pods. You can add multi-colored ears of corn and even small pumpkins to make it even more interesting.

Fabrics: Change out throw pillows and add lap quilts across the tops of sofas and chairs. Although you have no need for their warmth at this time of year, they still set the mood. There are lots of choices available in fall colors in almost any store. Consider some of the discount stores for a bevy of fall tones on a budget.

Accessories: Why not select one or two surfaces in your home to host a fall display? Start with an interesting branch from outside to integrate everything, add a few pumpkins – fabrics such as burlap help create the mood. Although out leaves aren’t turning here, you can pick up a few fall leaf branches or garlands at your nearest hobby shop to add the sense of autumn. Finish up with some acorns or nuts in their shells.

With a few strategic décor decisions, you can create an autumn mood in Arizona even if it still feels like summer.

Exploring Fulton Homes: The Fulton Design Center

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design-center-carpeting-webOne of the best aspects of buying a new Fulton Home is the opportunity to use the Fulton Design Center to create a home made just for you. You have the opportunity to select everything from your flooring to lighting and paint colors. And with our technology department you can create the perfect home theater and build the best security system for your needs.

Once you’ve visited a number of communities and models, it pays to visit the Fulton Design Center on one of our open browse nights. Scheduled the first and third Thursday evenings of every month from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, you have the opportunity to see all of the options available for customizing your home to your style and taste.

Fulton designers are available to answer your questions and show you around. You may be surprised at the variety of choices waiting for you. In this low-key environment you can enjoy various appetizers and drinks while wandering through the space. It also pays to get a sense of what sort of options you can select.

With over 13,000 square feet of space, there are kitchen and bathroom vignettes in a number of styles to give you ideas about your own home. The Design Center is frequently updated so that the products and examples are current in style and capability. Kitchens include a variety of cabinets and appliances so that you can try out the feel of them and determine those options that appeal to you.

Once you buy your Fulton Home, you will be visiting the Fulton Design Center to select your home’s options with the help of one of our trained designers. Exploring your choices ahead of time will make this process both easier and more fun.

With the Fulton Design Center, you can end up with a home that matches your taste and décor preferences as well as working with your family’s functional needs.

Exploring Fulton Homes: Visiting a Community

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Queen-Creek-Station-saleswebWhen you’re ready to visit a Fulton Home’s community, plan for more than a cursory look. To do justice to each model, anticipate spending about a half-hour at a minimum in each. Here are some suggestions to improve your understanding of how each model would work for your family.

Walk into every room: This includes bathrooms and walk-in closets. When you live in a home you won’t be merely peering in from the door. See how the laundry room feels as a work room. Experience the master and other bathrooms from an inside perspective. You might even want to step into the walk-in shower to get a sense of the space.

Go outside. Open the doors and wander out to the back yard. Take a look at how the house looks and feels from the back. If there are any side yards or courtyards available, check them out also. Do you like the access from the house itself to the outside? What would you change if you could? How would it work for you when entertaining outside?

Sit down: If there are stools pulled up to the kitchen island, sit down and see how the open style space works for you. Take a few minutes to sit at the dining room table and the table in the eat-in kitchen. While you’re seated, check out window locations and lighting. Before you leave a particular model, sit in the family room and discuss what you like about it and what you would want to change. Remember, each model has variations that may be able to bring you much closer to the goals you have for your home.

Take a final look: Before you leave, sit down in the family or living room and discuss the model. Is this home a possibility for you? What features do you particularly like and what would need to change to meet your needs. You may even want to take notes and/or photos so you will remember each one individually.

There’s one more stop that’s worth making when planning to buy a Fulton Home: the Fulton Design Center.

Exploring Fulton Homes: Models and Floor Plans

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elevationwebEvery Fulton Home community offers a nice mix of home styles and floor plans. It pays to investigate your options on our website before visiting the models.

Our homes range from Easy-maintenance courtyard homes to spacious luxury homes and everything in between. What kind of Fulton Home would best fit your family, lifestyle and price range?

Start by considering some basics. How many bedrooms do you want? Remember to factor in the potential growth of your family as well as changes such as older family members moving in with you temporarily or permanently. Also consider whether you need a home office and how much outdoor space you want for your lifestyle. Do your plans include a pool? A larger property would make more sense then.

Another issue that would affect your design choices might be the age of your children. If they’re relatively young you may prefer to have the master bedroom on the same side of the house as your children’s rooms so you are easily available if they need you during the night. On the other hand, you may want a guest room on the other side of your home to give your family and your guests more privacy.

Older children would prefer their own bathrooms. Fulton Homes offers the option in some models for putting in additional bathrooms to accommodate teens or adults sharing a home. Families with more than two drivers and car owners may also benefit from larger multiple-car garages. Check out each possible home in your preferred communities to see which ones might work best for you.

Next: Make the most of your community visit.

Exploring Fulton Homes: Communities

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community-shotwebIt can be confusing and challenging to start looking for the perfect new Fulton Home for you and your family. Here are some suggestions to help you with the process. Start by exploring all of Fulton Home’s available communities.

Using the interactive map at http://www.fultonhomes.com/our-communities, take a look at the locations of each neighborhood. Which ones would work best for you? Consider distance to work and family as well as the related school districts. You may also want to explore nearby shopping and office space.

As you investigate, remember that newly-opened communities will offer a broader selection of properties to choose from, while communities that are closer to finishing will have more neighbors nearby.

Once you have selected the communities that fit your profile, check out each one’s individual page. You will discover the specific neighborhood amenities available, the size and style of homes in that area, and the price range. You might want to talk to one of our preferred lenders, listed at http://www.fultonhomes.com/preferred-lenders, to determine what price home is right for you at this point in your lives.

Before you visit our communities, take the time to check out the information available for each on the web. The community pages give you location and directions, which models are available, lot size range and more detail about the area. Not all of the plans available in each community has a model available for viewing. Call the sales office for information on which homes offer models for your review.

Next: Finding the right home size and style for you.

Accessorizing your Bathroom

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accessorizing-your-bathroom-webWith a bathroom, you have a limited space to work with when accessorizing, so you want to make the most of your choices.

Here are some things to consider  to make your bath a special space for you whether you’re getting ready for your day or relaxing while preparing for bed.

Color: Do you like soft subtle colors in a bathroom? Take a look at how well grey and white work in this bath from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek community. From the natural look to the diagonal tile floor to the rich soft grey on the walls, the room has a gentle feel that encourages relaxation. Brown and grey towels fit well with this color scheme.

Lighting: Although a bathroom’s lighting is built-in, it has a strong influence in the mood of a room which really makes it count as an accessory. In this room the contemporary fixture features the same brushed nickel finish as the faucets and the trim on the shower. Everything feels coordinated and it all works with the grey color scheme.

Art: Although there is only one piece of art in this bathroom, it has a serene and appealing style, and it is set in just the right place for viewing when in the tub. The darkening cloud-filled landscape pulls some color into the room without requiring all of your attention. It is as relaxing and inviting as the rest of this space.

If you want to take a closer look at this bathroom and a number of others, we invite you to tour our models in Oasis at Queen Creek. You can explore all the choices before deciding on the perfect bathroom for you.

Accessorizing a Dresser

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accessorizing-a-dresserwWhen you have a dresser in your own bedroom, you may use the space on top for personal items. But when it is in an extra bedroom or guest room, your accessory choices are probably going to be purely decorative. Here are a few suggestions for making that dresser top look attractive.

Bring in light: A table lamp like the one in the photo serves several purposes. It can be used to provide ambient light to a room when you don’t want to turn on the bright overhead light. It shines on the surface of the dresser, showing off the gloss of the polished wood surface, and it adds height to the surface display. It can also set the tone for style and color through the lamp’s base and shade.

Vary height: When all of the accessories are the same height, it stops looking like a planned display and starts looking like clutter. On this dresser, the lamp on the left and the flowers on the right add enough height variation to keep the dresser accessories looking interesting across the top.

Bring in color: Red fruit in the bowl connects with the red flowers to add charm. Notice that there is another splash of red across the room by the window that you can see   reflected in the dresser’s mirror. Color helps link the different spaces in a room.

A bit of bling: The basic wood hardware on this dresser demands something shiny on top. The books have metallic covers, creating a spot that sparkles. This sparks up the look of the entire display.

Chances are you have enough odds and ends of accessories to dress up your dressers and coffee tables. Just keep experimenting until you get the look you want in each room.

Celebrate Labor Day Outside

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Queen-Creek-Station-playgroundwebTemperatures are starting to drop in Arizona and we’re having a nice mostly-cloudy weekend. So how about celebrating the end of summer with an outdoor event? Invite some of your favorite neighbors and picnic in your backyard or take advantage of some of your Fulton Community amenities.

Start with a potluck dinner. Divide the meal into categories: salads, drinks, dessert. You can provide the main dish, whether you stick with the traditional hot dogs and hamburgers or add something special such as barbequed ribs or marinated chicken, working together you can have a great meal. Let the kids play in the adjoining playground with the adults taking turns refereeing the event. Or you could hire one or two of the teens in your neighborhood to watch the play so that the adults can relax and enjoy the evening.

One of the best parts of buying a Fulton Home is the opportunity to join a community of friendly people who appreciate the quiet enjoyment of a neighborhood that’s really planned for the way you want to live. You could bring a number of board or card games for kids and adults to play as the evening wears on. Think about a few dollar-store fun prizes to make the games extra special for the children.

And when the evening is over and it’s time for everyone to pack up and go home, the trip takes only a few minutes because you live just blocks away. Summer is almost over. The pleasures of Arizona fall weather are coming upon us, and you can start enjoying it with a Labor Day event with some of your favorite neighbors. What a nice way to enjoy your three-day weekend.