Category Archives: Design Inspiration

First Impressions

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design center 8It’s easy to get so focused on what’s inside your new Fulton Home that you forget what people see first – your front door. That’s what makes your home’s first impression. Fortunately, you have so much to choose from when it comes to a front door with Fulton Homes.

When you visit the Fulton Design Center, don’t forget to stop by the front door display. No matter what style you prefer, you will find the right door for you. Start with the door itself. Take the look and style of your home into consideration. If you have chosen a traditional exterior, a contemporary door such as the one to the left in the photo above won’t be a fit. On the other hand the romance of the door to the right with its hobnail finish might be just the right choice.

Once you know the door you want, take the time to choose the hardware that will work for you. As you can see from the two doors shown above, selecting the right combination of hardware and door makes a perfect final product.

Your front door also sends a message about your taste and style even before anyone walks into your home for the first time. It’s exciting to invite family and friends to see your  new home, and part of the fun starts before the front door opens, when they walk up and see your first selection – and the statement it makes about you and your home.

The two doors shown above are just a small sample of your choices. Please come take your time checking out all of your options for creating just the right first impression with your new Fulton Home.

Make your Garage Something Special

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design center 7It’s easy to end up with a garage that’s a catch-all. When you first move in you may find that extra boxes and other items you don’t know what to do with end up in the garage. Then add in the kids sports equipment, yard supplies and tools, and then other odds and ends. Before you know it, the whole space is a mess.

If you find yourself cringing every time you open your garage door, think about choosing some of these garage options when you design your new Fulton Home. Just a few organizing elements could make a big difference in the look and functionality of your new garage. Let’s take a look at some of these choices.

Cabinetry: Garage cabinetry has a heavy-duty structure designed to hold up to power tools, yard equipment and other larger items. This is perfect storage for the home handyman, and it keeps everything under control. The countertop area is great for small assembly projects or organizing outdoor plantings.

Storage racks: Everything is so much more under control if it stays off the floor. With coordinated storage racks designed to hold yard tools and sports supplies you can easily put your hands on whatever you need whenever you need it. And when you are finished you have just the place for it to go back. And when not in use everything stays in place, out of the way and clean until the next time.

A garage can be a messy catch-all or it can be a great resource for storing things that fit well in that space, well beyond a place to keep your cars. Take advantage of options such as these to make it into a functional addition to your new Fulton Home.

Creating the Perfect Kitchen for You

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design center 2What would your perfect kitchen be like? Would looks or functionality be more important? Do you want great cabinets or would you compromise on that to have just the right appliances? Could you live with a smaller refrigerator as long as you have a gas range? Well, when you walk into the Fulton Design Center, those may be the decisions you will face, so it pays to think about them now.

Start by taking a look at your current kitchen. Would you like more cabinet space? How about better lighting? Do you like your current cooktop or do you want something different? How much countertop space do you have now? Could you use more? When you think about what you want in a new kitchen, analyzing your current kitchen is a good jumping off point.

Next, visit the Fulton Design Center during one of our browse nights. Spend time in the various kitchen vignettes like this one. Take the time to see which kitchen feels the most comfortable for you. Are you drawn to the rich dark finish of these cabinets? Or maybe you’ll find you prefer the lighter tones of one of the other vignettes. Spend some time standing and looking around at the various choices. They’re designed to help give you ideas for your own home.

Finally, check out all of the options available. Some might be a good fit for your approach to cooking. Others may be unnecessary. Don’t project your dream of becoming a gourmet chef onto your kitchen if you know you specialize in tuna casseroles. On the other hand if you like hanging with your kids after school while you fix dinner then you probably want that island extension that gives them space to sit and chat with an after-school snack.

Whatever kitchen you create, we know it will be just as perfect  for yourself and your family as your new Fulton Home will be for all of you!

Water Feature Makes a Yard Special

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wBackyard-Sycamore-Warner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-057 - CopyIf you want your backyard to feel unique, consider a water feature. Take a look at this one from the Sycamore model at Warner Groves at Morrison Ranch. This water feature, and this yard, have much more going for them than the standard approach. Let’s take a look at the elements that make this space special.

Dramatic waterfall trio: By positioning the three waterfall fountains along the back of the yard, this space has a unique focal point. Living in the desert, we are naturally drawn to water, and this arrangement provides a cooling look and sound as well as a refreshing place to sit and cool off.

Pavers used in hardscaping: Pavers are versatile and attractive and hold up extremely well in Arizona’s tough weather conditions. They are also a cost-effective alternative to tile and stone.

Raised planter beds: Raised beds allow plants to stand out in a landscape and make it easy to plan a drip irrigation system. They also allow you to make the most of your water use, by planting in the richer soil that is used in raised bed gardening. They also create a sense of intimacy in a backyard.

Comfortable outdoor furniture: Thanks to the new outdoor fabrics and fillers, you can have cushioned furniture outside year-round. This arrangement invites guests to relax for an evening of conversation and fun.

Start with a significant water feature and continue adding elements until you have a backyard like this one – a place to relax, entertain and enjoy.

 

Create Cozy

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-074 - Copyit’s not hard to make your family room to feel cozy and welcoming like this one. Here are some suggestions to bring the cozy into your home.

Darker Walls: You may have heard that darker walls make a room feel smaller. Not true. Instead, dark walls make you feel more secure and enclosed. The dark grey wall in the back adds warmth even though it is a cool color. It also provides a nice contrast to the bright windows.

Comfortable Upholstered Furniture: Getting comfy is an important part of feeling cozy. This plush sectional offers plenty of room to sit or stretch out. Throw pillows add comfort. You can tuck one or two under your head or at your feet on the coffee table.

Floor and Table Lamps: Ceiling light fixtures alone can’t add the ambiance that floor and table lamps can. Set your ceiling lights at a low level and turn on the lamps to create a cozy feel to any space.

Low Furniture: The television, coffee table and console are all close to the ground. This means that you can sit on the floor and still access everything. It’s an inviting space for lounging.

Carpeting: The choice of carpeting or a large rug adds softness to a room. Once again, a comfy soft flooring surface invites lounging on the floor.

Make your family room a place where friends want to linger. Create a cozy space for relaxing and fun evenings with guests or just family. Visit the models at Warner Groves at Morrison Ranch for a closer look.

Layers in Decorating

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-052 - CopyWhen you’re planning to decorate a room, it’s easy to focus on the furniture and accessories, but there’s much more to consider. Let’s take a look at this photo and consider all the elements we see.

The view: From this angle, the first thing our eyes focus on is what’s outside the house – the backyard. In a way, the focal point of this space is actually the trio of waterfall fountains in the back yard. It’s nice to have this kind of special view from your back windows because it adds so much not only to the yard itself but to your home too. But even if you don’t have a view like this, be sure to think about what people will see when they look outside. Plan your landscaping with the view in mind and keep the yard free of clutter.

The window treatments: This room has curtains framing the back window that capture the accent color in the room – yellow – as well as shutters behind the sofa where drapes would be awkward. When you’re choosing window treatments be sure to consider how furniture placement will affect your choice.

Lamp and accessories: Notice that the shape of the jar on the side table echoes the base of the lamp. That creates a comfortable consistency that makes the room feel well pulled-together. The colors also work well together – staying in the background rather than pulling too much attention to that corner. And the curves flow with the soft upholstery and throw pillows.

Altogether, the layers of this room work well to make the space feel integrated and well designed. This makes the room a pleasure to spend time in and share with family and guests.

Bedroom with Nautical Theme

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-070Decorating with a theme makes a room fun, and this nautical option offers lots of choices for colors and accessories. Let’s take a look at this inviting bedroom above to get some ideas.

Color scheme: Blue is a given. You want to capture the color of water when you bring in a beach/boat theme. The secondary color – the focal hue on the back wall – captures the feeling of sand.

Patterns: Notice the wave pattern on the bedspread. This gives the feeling of water in the room. The woven bases on the table lamps remind you of fishing nets, bringing in another element of the ocean to this beach-like bedroom.

Accessories: An anchor appliqued on the throw pillow certainly brings a nautical element into the space. Several model sailboats also contribute to the mood. A final fun element comes from the oars hanging on the walls. The paint choices make these items particularly interesting, Creativity certainly came into play in this space.

You don’t have to live on the water to bring an oceanside feeling into your home. With a little planning and some flair, you can create a beach space even if you live inland. To see this room in person, visit our Sycamore model in Warner Groves in Morrison Ranch.

Daring Home Colors

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-022Given our location in the Southwest, it’s easy to stick with earth tones for our homes. But don’t be narrow in your view of possibilities. Instead, consider adding some color to the outside of your home.

This blue option is the Evergreen Elm model at Warner Groves in Morrison Ranch. Notice that it still captures the best of the Southwest. It has stone trim on the front columns, adding a rustic look. In addition the front porch does a good job of creating shade as needed to cool the front of the house while adding a welcoming area.

But the blue is definitely daring. Contrasting darker blue trim highlights the more unusual approach to a Southwestern home. You could carry the blue into the interior or pull in other colors. It might be nice to have a blue element just as you walk in the door to make the connection. The house below shows another color option available in Warner Groves, with the Cottonwood model.

Warner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-045wThis canary yellow with dark gold trim also takes a chance with color. The architectural details echo a farmhouse style. Notice that this home has brick trim anchoring the front porch area.

Are you willing to take a chance with color? How about visiting these models in person to see how the brighter hues lift the homes into another category with reminders of Midwest or East Coast color options.

Elegant Master Bedroom

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-062If you want a master bedroom with all the elegance of a fine hotel, you can create it with just a few touches. Let’s take a look at what makes this bedroom special.

Padded headboard: If you like to read or watch television in bed, a padded headboard makes the entire experience much more enjoyable. This headboard is high enough to lean back without your head hitting the top, and the extra-large pillows make it easy to get comfy. A padded headboard is one investment that keeps paying you back.

Matching nightstands: There is a pleasure in the symmetry of matching nightstands. Take a look at how these two really set a style for the room. With their white marble tops and dark finish, they tie in with the headboard but still stand out. Notice the height also – a bit higher than standard to make them the right height for the raised bed.

Matching lamps: The rectangular linen shades provide a splash of sophistication. They match the bases, and also allow you to set the lamps further back than round shades would, leaving more room on the nightstands for whatever else you want to put there. The opaque shades light up the room without shining light into your eyes – a smart choice.

Subtle colors: Grey, a soft yellow, dark brown and white create a sophisticated palette. The fabrics offer just enough pattern and texture to add interest. All in all, this room is designed for stylish comfort. Check it out at the Sycamore model at Warner Groves in Morrison Ranch.

An Inviting Dining Table

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-065 - CopyWhen you’re planning the look of your dining area, there are a lot of elements that make the space inviting. Here are a few tips to make your dining area catch people’s attention.

The perfect chandelier: More even than the table itself, the right chandelier makes a dining space stand out. You want something that reflects the style of the space. You also want to make sure that it is the right size for your dining area and your table. It should also hang at the right height – not so low that it shines in your diners’ eyes, but not as high as most ceiling-mounted fixtures. Generally a chandelier should hang 32-40 inches above the table. It should be just large enough to light the table’s surface without lighting the diners.

The right dining chairs: If you want your guests to linger after dinner for an enjoyable conversation over dessert and coffee, pay careful attention to your dining chairs. Make sure they will be comfortable for at least an hour or two. Look for nice padding on the seat and maybe the back, and make sure the backs lean so that people aren’t forced too upright. Be sure to sit in any potential dining chairs for more than a few minutes before you make your choice.

Accessories that add interest: When you are not actually dining, look for a table centerpiece that helps link the table to the chandelier. These tall flowers do the trick in this photo. But when you have guests for dinner, put this arrangement on your island and keep any centerpieces low enough to converse across the table.

Colorful table linens and white plates: This rule is not written in stone, but many chefs swear that food looks better on white plates. Color in your table linens adds interest and personality to your table.