Make a Fulton Home Yours: Bathroom Design Online

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 11.15.52 PMIs this the master bath of your dreams? The rich espresso cabinetry, the daring finish on the vanities and shower surround? What about the oil-rubbed bronze choice for faucets, mirror frame and shower trim?

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 11.16.10 PMHere’s the surprise. This really is a dream bathroom, created through the Fulton Homes bathroom design tool on the Fulton website. This is just one of hundreds of choices you can make while experimenting with what your dream bathroom will entail. Do you want a tub and shower – that layout is available to experiment with, or maybe you want tile on the walls or lighter flooring.

Why not try out every choice? It just takes seconds to select another option, and you can save your favorites on your personal Fulton Homes account. Here’s a second approach to the same bathroom, with a lighter and cooler palette and using brushed nickel instead of oil-rubbed bronze.

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 11.17.02 PMHere’s another bathroom created on the website. Notice that the details below the image give you the specifics for each product you chose, down to the paint color. Just print your favorite or favorites out and bring them to the Fulton Design Center to help you as you move from imagination to reality – making your bathroom match the one you dream about.

Why not experiment? Visit here to create your own look!

Architectural Features Make a Home Yours

From the Fulton Home Daylight Plan

From the Fulton Home Daylight Plan

A staircase can be so much more than the path between levels in a home. In this case, the combination of wood and wrought iron make this staircase into a central architectural feature in this house. Imagine it decorated with greens for the holidays or used as a background for family photos.

When you buy a new Fulton home, selecting your model and community is just the starting point. When you visit Fulton’s online and physical design centers, you will begin to discover the choices you have to make your home totally yours.

Want a darker or lighter wood railing? You can have it. Would you like a simple modern look? It’s available. And notice the little extras such as the on-the-floor outlet for lighting. If you want wainscoting in your dining room or an arts & crafts look in the living room, the selection of special architectural features available through the Fulton Design Center will help you meet your design goals.

With a Fulton home, you can have the advantage of well-planned communities with production prices while selecting those special extras that make your home feel like a custom creation. With hundreds of combinations of architectural touches, built-in cabinetry, flooring, lighting and other options, your home will be unique, inviting and totally yours.

Our team of skilled and knowledgeable designers looks forward to helping you dream and create the home that fits your style and needs.

A Space all your Own

Kitchen DSC_0292Yes, this is a lovely kitchen. Pendant lights hang down on an oversized island. You have plenty of room to fix even the most complex of meals. But we’re not talking about the kitchen today. Instead, take a look to the left in this photo – to a small room off the kitchen with a built-in desk and cabinets. That space belongs to you.

What would you do with this piece of real estate all your own with no structured purpose? It could be a spot for organizing the household – keeping the family calendar updated along with lists of responsibilities and plans for upcoming weekends.

It could be used to track and pay bills, check email and visit Facebook or Pinterest. Or how about using the space for scrapbooking or writing holiday cards or thank-you notes? The cabinets above the desk could hold extra notepaper or those holiday cards you bought on sale last January – easy to find when November rolls around again.

What about gift wrapping? It might be the place where you keep extra office and school supplies or even some art supplies for emergency homework projects. You could tuck yourself in here every evening with a nice cup of tea and write up your to-do list for tomorrow – or just read a magazine.

Finally, this space could fuel your dreams. Always wanted to start your own business? You could start it here. It’s your space to do with what you want. Fulton Homes wants to help you make all of your dreams come true, and give you the space for it.

Dream Closet

From the Fulton Homes Starlight Plan

From the Fulton Homes Starlight Plan

What would your dream closet be like? First, it needs to be more than a walk in. Ideally it would be large enough to use as a dressing room. Next, you want to have the space to allow you to see everything so you can plan your outfit for the day.

The idea of a place for everything and everything in its place fits your dream closet. Look for racks to hold shoes, hooks for scarves and purses and plenty of drawer space for underthings and sweaters. Shelves, hooks and drawers in abundance leave you plenty of room to assign each type of clothing its own area.

Finally, hanging space – longer areas for dresses and slacks, shorter spaces for shirts, shorts and tops. Maybe one section for professional garb, ready for selection, and another area for casual and weekend wear.

Do you sort your clothes by color? By type? Or do you sort by purpose? In your dream closet, you could use any sorting method you like, you’d have the space. One other thing you might want to add to this closet – a nice full-length mirror to make sure you’re well put together before you step out the door.

One last thing – this closet is all yours – you don’t have to share. Everyone has their own dream closet in this dream house. Maybe add a comfy chair or ottoman to sit on for slipping on shoes and socks or hose.

Pinterest on Kitchens

From Fulton Home's Cascade model

From Fulton Home’s Cascade model

If you’re in the process of choosing finishes for your new Fulton Home, you may be challenged by all of the cabinets, countertops and other options. Pinterest provides a great way to start determining the right kitchen look for you. Check out the Fulton Homes Pinterest site and our board Kitchens. There you’ll find many of the kitchens created at the Fulton Design Center as well as in the various model homes.

Wondering if you want dark cabinets? You’ll see a number of kitchens with that choice. On the other hand, if you want painted cabinets take a look to see whether the look appeals to you. You can also get ideas for just the right backsplash, flooring and appliances.

Are you thinking of some special tile choices to make your island stand out? Fulton’s Pinterest board has some good examples. You’ll also see many of the kitchen lighting options in place.

While you’re looking at the photos, you may also want to read some of our past kitchen blogs to gain insights into the design process for your kitchen. You can access them at this site, or review the kitchen blogs on our Pinterest kitchen board.

Fulton Homes on Pinterest has been custom designed to make your home buying experience easier and provide interesting information for you once you’re settled in your new home. We hope you’ll visit it often.

Mirrors as Functional Pieces

HRM0253Mirrors have more versatility than almost any other type of furniture. They can be functional, decorative, light enhancers and space enhancers.

This mirror, from the Fulton Homes Tehama model in Victoria Estates, serves all these roles. As a functional mirror, it provides the reflection needed in the morning, yet the framing adds a decorative element. In addition the large size adds a feeling of space and enhanced light to the master bath.

People have been looking at their reflections since the first child spotted their twin in a still pool of water. Polished metal served as a limited mirror in later years. Glass combined with a reflective backing became more common in modern times, and it’s rare to find a home with fewer than two to three mirrors today.

Bathrooms are the most common locations for mirrors, but they have moved into every room in a home.

Entryway mirrors allow visitors to check their appearance when walking into and out of a home. Full-length bedroom mirror provides a look at the complete effect of an ensemble in the morning.

9985404_SIf you plan to hang a mirror for functional use, be sure to set the position carefully. Make sure that everyone in your home, from shortest to tallest, can see their reflection. Also, any furniture in front of a mirror shouldn’t be too deep, so that its position makes it hard for viewers to get close enough to see themselves easily.

The mirror on the right is low enough for this woman to see herself well, yet the vertical position makes it useful for taller individuals also. Take a few minutes to factor in your home’s population when choosing the right height for a functional mirror.

Master Bath Offers Flexibility

Master Bath Vanity DSC_0319 his and hersMore than any room in your home, your bathroom is a place that has to feel totally yours. It’s the first place we enter upon getting up in the morning and the last place we visit before going to bed.

We use it to make ourselves presentable to the outside world, handle our personal hygiene, and breathe a sigh of relief when the day’s work is done and it’s time for sleep.

Because of this, personal preferences are profoundly important, and a well-designed master bath takes into account the varying needs of its owners.

Take a look at the master bath design for the Fulton Homes Cascade model. Flexibility, space and comfort are built into every aspect.

Vanity design: Two sinks allows each user his or her space for positioning personal tastes in soap, toothpaste and other items. The generous cupboard under each sink allows plenty of space to indulge in favorite creams and lotions. For make-up application, the center section is set lower to allow for sitting and includes a drawer to hold beauty supplies.

Master BathDSC_0318Shower and tub: Do you prefer to lounge in a tub at the end of the day while your spouse would rather take a quick shower? This shower/bath combo provides plenty of space for either preference.

Space: Above all, this master bath is generous in the space allotted – allowing two people to use it simultaneously without feeling crowded or limited.

Design: This is not a minimalist space. The lovely fixtures and cabinetry combine with the tile floor to create an inviting escape from the challenges of the day, so that for a few minutes at least you can feel indulged and even a bit spoiled in your own home.

Kitchen/Family Room with Color

Kitchen DSC_0324Wood cabinetry, granite countertops and tile floors limit the color options unless you are willing to commit to a strong color choice that you will have to live with for a long time. But color can come into a space like this in so many ways.

This kitchen and family room, from the Fulton Homes Cascade model, demonstrates smart ways to introduce color. Let’s take a look.

Glass cabinet displays: Glass in several upper cabinets opens up a space and adds personality. This kitchen takes advantage of the visual by displaying blue plates. Notice that the tile on the side of the island has a blue cast, and this color is carried throughout the kitchen.

Island chairs: Selecting chairs to match the cabinets would be a safe choice, but lacking in creativity. This blue leather brings the plate colors to the other side of the kitchen while the wipe off finish makes them perfect for coping with after-school snack accidents.

Accessories: Placemats, dishes and flowers pull more colors into the space. Other counter accessories and even the items above the cabinets can carry a colorful theme throughout the room.

Family and Kitchen DSC_0306 outdoor connectionFamily room coordination: The family room provides more opportunities to introduce color, and the sofa, window treatments, accessories and throw pillows echo the kitchen colors. \

These choices keep color front-and-center in this family-friendly space. Blue and rust bring the space to life. What colors would you like to see in your kitchen and family room? Whatever you choose, color will warm your home and add interest while saying welcome to you and your guests.

Your Creative Space

Tech Center DSC_0310 sewingFulton Homes calls this space in the Cascade model a tech center, because it is ready for any and all of your electronics to be used and charged. For you, however, it can be anything you want it to be.

Do you have the time and space to be as creative as you would like to be? Do you dream of writing, quilting, designing clothes or creating your own art? The absolutely best thing about this space is your ability to make it into whatever you want.

Tucked into an appealing space all its own with two bright windows providing natural light, you can use this space to combine fabrics, weave tales, or draw illustrations. This might be just the place to start up your own business. You can use the desk to plan your future, or just pay bills. But why not take a leap in your imagination and allow yourself to stretch?

Maybe start small with a wreath that looks like summer for your front door or a yarn doll for a little girl you know. You might want to compile a family tree to share with sisters and brothers and cousins. Perhaps you have a favorite holiday and would like to make some of your own decorations. How about giving yourself permission to play and let your creativity shine?

This is your space, versatile enough to change as you do. So decorate it and use it as you will. Create a corner of your home for tomorrow’s dreams and goals.

 

 

Simple Guest Room Shows Comfy Charm

Bedroom20DSC_0265

Fulton Homes Starlight model

A lovely guest room is more about imagination and thought than a large budget. Take a look at this bedroom. It creates a welcoming and whimsical impression with a minimum of expense and effort. Let’s look at why this room feels so inviting.

Using a theme: Think beyond the standard approach to décor with your guest room. Since any visitors are temporary, the only person you have to satisfy is yourself. So if you have a yen for a gypsy caravan approach, full-on country style or an inviting western theme like this room, let your creativity run wild. In this case, a painted headboard and wall art create a cowboy mood with just a couple of design choices.

Don’t be afraid of color: Creamy yellow walls, a red bedspread and matching grey and red bedside tables create a vivid space that capitalizes on the theme. The colors are bolstered by bed linens and paint – two of the least expensive ways to brighten a space.

Find inspiration: Visit stores for guest-room inspiration. Imagine finding the boot painting at a store, then deciding to build a guest room around it. Look for unusual or lively items to help you develop a direction for the space.

Add a few homey touches: Guest rooms don’t need much in the way of storage space. Most people will live out of their suitcases when visiting. Instead include a few magazines and books, a basket of snacks, and a collection of small soaps and personal grooming articles in case guests forget anything.

Take the time to make your guest room special and your guests will feel special and welcomed when they visit.