Author Archives: FultonHomes

Three Things to Look for When Shopping for a Family Home

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Family-Home-Shopping---sgplaw.com---Shutterstock-webShopping for a new family home is exciting; it is an opportunity to envision your life in spaces that offer more function, more room to raise a family and more amenities. Many young buyers are adding to their must-have lists for neighborhoods that are safe and practical for family upbringing.

If you’re in the market for a family-friendly home, here are some other must-haves to add to your dream home criteria.

Available Safety Elements: Gated communities and quiet cul-de-sacs offer parents the security they desire for little ones. When you’re on a private street with other young families, you can build friendships and trust other parents to provide extra supervision while your children are playing in the driveway. Gated communities typically include a security code, limiting who can enter your neighborhood. Today, many new build homes include home security systems, so ask about this possibility. This can also save you money on home insurance!

Look for Active Play Opportunities: Choose a neighborhood with community parks equipped with play structures to help children explore their physical capabilities through active play. Having a park near your home is convenient because it is easily accessible. Look for other family-friendly amenities in the area, such as community pools and recreation centers, for year-round activities and family fun.

Consider Local School Performance: Purchasing a home in a neighborhood with high-performing schools is a must for many because there is high focus on adequate children’s education for future success. Today, more families are also looking for nearby toddler learning centers to fill the needs of both daycare services as well as early education and development.

Take the time to review all your must-haves while visiting homes, and be conscientious in selecting a neighborhood catered to child development and safety.

This post was provided by Chandler Valley Child Care and Learning Center, a local daycare facility with flexible hours and early education curriculum for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Bring Color into your Dining Room

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web-bring-color-into-your-dining-room-blogMany people are hesitant to choose color for large furniture pieces for fear that they will tire of it or that it will go out of style. But you can bring temporary  color into your dining room with very little effort or expense. Let’s take a look at some of your options.

Slipcovers: The two chairs in this photo are upholstered in a fun coral, rust and gray pattern, but you can get the same result with slipcovers. Choose chairs in a simple style and you can have slipcovers made in a variety of fabrics and colors. By only covering the chairs at each end of the table, you get a nice pop of color without as much expense or trouble.

Table Linens: The placemats and napkins on this dining table match the colors on the two chairs, connecting everything together. This enables you to carry your colors across the table, once again with the flexibility to change your color scheme to match the season or your mood.

Centerpiece: Whether you use flowers, candles or other choices, your centerpiece can pull in all of your colors and integrate your color scheme. If you plan a buffet as part of your dinner plans, be sure to bring the colors into that area also.

Any dining room can be enhanced by adding temporary bursts of color. Be sure to look for opportunities to include color when planning your entertainment events.

The Right Shower for You

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the_right_shower_for_youwebWhen you combine tiles, panels, listelles and features such as nooks to hold shampoo and soap, your shower can be customized to just the right combination of style and function to suit you. All three of these showers are light neutrals, yet each one has its own personality and flair.

The one on the left uses a diagonal layout for the tile backing with dark squares adding contrast and interest. In addition, the arrow shape coming up from the floor keeps the look from being predictable. The dark vanity connects the rest of the bathroom with the shower, creating a strong integrated look.

The middle shower is generous in size, and that space is emphasized by the dramatic stripes created by an intriguing mosaic. Contrast comes from the random pattern of dark and light squares throughout the mosaic stripes. Your eye shifts from the smooth neutral provided by the plain-colored tile to the pop of personality in the mosaics. The two balance each other out.

The final photo shows a tub-shower combo. Notice that the niche for soap and shampoo is lower, so a bather doesn’t have to stand up to reach their beauty products. In this case one stripe of glass tile adds a pop, which is supported by the shift of the standard tile from a square set on a diagonal to a rectangle set upright. This trick subtly defines a cozy bathing area while taking a more expansive feel in the higher shower range.

Which shower would you pick? Or maybe your ideal shower would be completely different! You can see these and other shower ideas at Oasis at Queen Creek, or visit the Fulton Design Center.

A Ceiling with Personality

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web-a-ceiling-with-personality-blogWhen people plan their home’s décor, they think about flooring and the walls, but many ignore the sixth surface – the ceiling. Fulton Homes understands something that custom homebuilders have known for years – your ceiling provides an opportunity to showcase the lines of your home.

There are many ways to incorporate your ceiling into the design of a space. This photo shows some of the most effective options.

Dimension: By adding dimension to the ceiling the spaces are clearly defined. The living area ceiling builds an enclosure and creates a comfortable coziness. This type of ceiling, known as a coffered ceiling, has a long tradition. In this open living space it adds a line of demarcation as well as providing an additional appealing style element.

Color: By pulling the wall color up into the center of the coffered ceiling, the space is more clearly defined. The combination of dimension and color makes the ceiling even more dramatic. By using the same color on the ceiling as the walls the space has a warm centralized feel.

Lighting: Notice the light running along the edge of the coffered ceiling. This emphasizes the personality of the ceiling and creates a natural focal point at night. Entertaining in this room will be particularly effective thanks to this ceiling design.

It’s easy to ignore a ceiling, but if you do you’re sacrificing an opportunity to add style and drama to your home. Take a moment to picture this room without any furniture. Even empty, this space has its design own strength, and the ceiling is the reason why.

Interesting Lighting Livens Space

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web-lighting-interesting-blogWhen you’re planning your home’s appearance, take the time to consider all the elements. Flooring has a dramatic impact, and wall color creates a finished look. Window coverings add warmth and help manage light. But it’s easy to ignore your home’s light fixtures, and that can lead to missing an opportunity.

Lighting creates a mood, both in how an area is illuminated and how the lights themselves set a style. Let’s take a look at this open floor plan as an example. Four different choices of lighting make a real difference in this space.

Old-style ceiling fan: With the dual fan arrangement, this steel fan reflects a look that reflects the mood of hard-boiled detective fiction. You can imagine Humphrey Bogart in a room with a fan like this one, a steel file-cabinet in the background and his feet crossed on top of a battered wooden desk in the center of the office. A fan like this one says you’re not afraid to hark back to another era.

The pendant lights over the kitchen island also recollect another time. They mimic a classic schoolhouse style with their interesting shape. But the clear glass and Edison light bulbs bring them into the present. This combination of past and present blend to make a daring combination. Are you willing to take the design risk? The result is a room that steps out of the ordinary.

Ceiling lights provide the third light choice. These can be bright when needed for cooking or projects, or dimmed to set the right tone for evening events. Brushing along cabinets and walls, these lights are the quiet workhorses in your home. You really don’t want to do without them.

Finally, a simple chandelier sits over the dining table. Turned on for meals and off at other times, it’s functional yet creates an aura of warmth to match the meals served there. This light says hospitality.

Your home’s light fixtures are more important than you may realize. Take time to make the right lighting decisions for you and your family.

Industrial and Traditional Styling Combine for Sophisticated Den

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From the Atherton model in Penninsula at Queen Creek

From the Atherton model in Penninsula at Queen Creek

You may have noticed a decorating trend capturing an industrial feel in furniture and accessories. These items draw some inspiration from the Steampunk style, based on an alternate world where Victorian elements combine with steam-based technology to make an interesting setting for fictional universes.

If you want to add that industrial feel to your home’s décor, you may be concerned that the look will lead to a cold space rather than one that is warm and inviting. However, you can incorporate industrial elements into a room without losing the warm feeling. This den is a good example.

The strong grey tones in the color scheme are consistent with industrial-style design. But notice the cream, gold and yellow fabric at play on the chair upholstery. Those colors are echoed subtly in various accessories, such as the gold clock face and several yellow books. These splashes of warmer tones go a long way toward making this space welcoming.

Industrial accessories such as the oversized watch face clock and the tool boxes say industrial, but the globe on the desk, the plants and other containers keep this residential space grounded in more traditional elements.

den 2The bookshelves show one of the best ways of combining industrial with traditional styles. The metal framing is classic industrial, but the wood shelves with crown molding along the top capture a much more traditional feel.

Finally, color-blocking on both the walls and the drapes add contrast and interest, while fitting with both an industrial and a traditional style.

Overall, the space makes the best use of two design styles, combining them to end up with a room that is sophisticated yet totally welcoming.

Create a Sophisticated Dining Room

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From the Atherton Model at Penninsula in the Oasis at Queen Creek community

From the Atherton Model at Penninsula in the Oasis at Queen Creek community

Grey has become a popular tone in decorating, and it is the strongest color influence in this dining room.  Yet this space feels warm and inviting. It’s the warm tones that balance the grey and make this dining room a place to linger. Let’s take a look at the elements that make this room so special.

Generous sizes: Start with a large table made with a thick top in a wood finish that combines grey with warmer hues. Add high-backed chairs with cushions and padded backs in a taupe/cream that uses both cool and warm tones. Finish with oversized art and substantial candlesticks on the table. All of these pieces give the room a weight and drama that combine to make the décor work.

Dark and light tones: Although most of this room uses neutrals, there is a nice distribution of light and dark tones to provide contrast and add interest. The curtains are the darkest permanent element in the room, but their pattern echoes the lightest tone. That light feeling is picked up in the chair upholstery and the candles. It’s too easy for a room filled with neutrals to end up boring, but these contrasts keep that from happening here.

A single pop of color: The blue napkins add a simple pop of color, drawing the eye to the table and adding just the right spark to the tablescape. Because the rest of the room is done in neutrals, you could easily switch out that blue for any bold color. How about yellow, red or coral? Or you could choose to go with black for extra drama. No matter your choice, this sophisticated dining room is ready for any dinner party.

Using Mirrors Effectively

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mirror-1-webMirrors can serve both a functional and decorative purpose in a room. Of course you expect mirrors in the bathrooms of your home, but placing mirrors in other rooms also works well. Here are a couple of approaches from two different bedrooms from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek community.

Bedroom mirror over furniture: In the photo above, the dresser is accented with a matching mirror. Notice that this mirror actually seems to be resting on top of the dresser. The mirror enriches the look of the dresser and brings more light into the room by reflecting both the lamp and daylight from the window to the right. Positioning the mirror like this connects the two pieces and works almost as well as a floor-to-ceiling mirror for checking out the day’s outfit.

From a safety standpoint, be sure to attach the mirror to the wall at the top to keep it stable over time. Also check out the framing of each person who will use the mirror before deciding on the final position. If one of the bedroom’s users is taller, you can attach the mirror above the dresser to enable the individual to see his or her head. If the height disparity is dramatic, consider positioning this mirror vertically.

mirror 3Mirrors as art: These two mirrors hanging over the bed in the photo to the left don’t work well for checking out your reflection, but they maintain the room’s bold masculine look with their gear-shaped frames and industrial feel. And they do increase the light in the room by reflecting it from a nearby window. Don’t hesitate to use mirrors as art. Just be sure to look for choices such as this one where the frames have an interesting personality that complements the look of the room.

A Splash of Red

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kitchen-whitewater-webWith this combination of dark cabinets and dark wood flooring, this luscious kitchen could easily feel like too much brown. But a wise choice of countertops and pops of red turn it into a cozy and inviting space. Let’s take a look at the smart decisions that make up this kitchen, from the Whitewater model in the Oasis at Queen Creek community.

Light walls and countertops: You don’t often see dark wood on dark wood in a kitchen. Of course today’s wood flooring finishes make wood workable for kitchens and even bathrooms, but it still seems like a design risk. Bringing in lighter tones with the countertops and soft beige walls provide the needed contrast. The backsplash also uses light tiles to showcase the dark wood cabinetry.

Stainless appliances: A little bling brightens up any room, and using appliances with a stainless finish breaks up the wood, while the reflective surfaces contribute to the overall glow.

Architectural details: The carved pillars at the outer corners of the island combined with crown molding and the door/drawer styles break up the wood look, adding shadows and highlights to the cabinets. In addition, the handscraped wood flooring provides its own three-dimensional element. Altogether these features add the interest needed to keep the space from feeling simply wood-on-wood in design.

Pops of color: The red leather seats set off the island, and this color is echoed in various accessories scattered through the kitchen. Red’s strong bright presence lights up the room.

Natural light: This kitchen can carry off the two dark woods thanks to the natural light that pours into the space. And in the evening, multiple lighting sources keep the kitchen light and bright.

Is this the kitchen for you? Why not visit our models in Oasis at Queen Creek and see for yourself!

The Pleasure of Reading in Bed

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Master Bedroom photo from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek community.

Master Bedroom photo from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek community.

When you’re planning your bedroom, consider creating a space for reading in bed. For many people, spending time reading is a good way to get relaxed enough to fall asleep, and it’s so much nicer if all you have to do is turn off your light, put down your book and lie down.

To start, look for a padded headboard or one sloped for leaning against. This headboard adds drama to the master bedroom while the padded insert creates a good start to a comfy place to read.

Include some large pillows on your bed. These add style to your bedroom and provide the perfect elements to make a cozy place to curl up over a good book.

Think about lighting also. The matching lights on the nightstands give each person a direct light source for reading. The overhead light would also work, and with a remote to turn it off you don’t have to get out of bed when you’re ready to fall asleep.

If you are a regular bed reader but your partner would prefer to just fall asleep, consider investing in a tablet. You can read e-books on a back-lit surface without a light that might bother your partner at night. And if you are looking for your next book, library e-books are available 24-7 online.

While you’re planning your perfect reading spot, think also about how your bedroom will look. This combination of grey and navy is crisp and sophisticated. And the tray provides a perfect spot for a late-night cup of tea or a snack.

Make your bedroom work for you, in function as well as looks, and it can become your haven at the end of the day.