Category Archives: Design Inspiration

Cook Outdoors with Barbeque Options

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Outdoor barbeque from the Fulton Homes Cascade model.

Outdoor barbeque from the Fulton Homes Cascade model.

Your outdoor entertaining options can be greatly expanded by installing a backyard kitchen with built-in grill. There’s no juggling of platters and raw versus cooked food when you have this kind of counter space.

Add a few outdoor bar chairs and you can cook and feed quite a few people right from the grill. Having the counters made from the same stone as the patio helps keep everything connected from a design standpoint.

Courtyard DSC_0301 w barbeque and fountainsThis backyard – from the Fulton Homes Cascade model – also brings in a triple fountain, creating a three-sided integrated space that is ready for a table and chairs or outdoor sofa and loveseat combo. The earth tones of the tile and coordinating stone allow you to choose from a variety of cushion colors and patterns.

A finished space such as this one makes finishing touches easier. The raised beds are ready for bedding plants – or maybe a collection of herbs could combine with tomatoes and peppers to create your own kitchen garden.

From a simple family dinner to a more elaborate entertainment for a larger group of friends, this outdoor space provides the impetus for bringing your yard into the party. With a relatively low-maintenance choice such as this one, you’ll have plenty of time to plan the perfect outdoor brunch or dinner. Just have fun and make the space your own.

Area Rugs Pull Rooms Together

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Family Room DSC_0323 area rug 3Do you find that some of your rooms feel a bit unfinished? If you’re satisfied with your furniture placement, art on your walls and accessory choices, look a little lower and see if a rug will provide the final touch.

Most interior decorators will encourage you to start with the flooring, including area rugs, but if you are already through with much of your decorating, the vast selection of colors and styles means that it’s never too late to add an area rug.

Start by taking a good look at your space. Would a darker or lighter rug fit better? What about colors? Finally, what style would fit your home’s décor the best? Could a contemporary pattern add flash to your traditional furniture selections or would a more classic choice connect everything together?

Next, go online to start visualizing some of your options. The Fulton Design Center carries Feizy area rugs – a company that has a long tradition of quality and style. They have choices in a wide range of colors and materials to fit every budget.

Be sure to bring a few photos of your room when reviewing rugs in person. It will help you understand the proportions of the design and color choices. Notice in this room from the Fulton Homes Cascade model, the rug pulls out the accent colors rather than the primary ones. This brings a rich note to the room through expanding the dark tones with just a few hints connecting to the lighter sofas.

An area rug is a worthwhile investment – one that can add to the mood and charm of your home in any room.

Don’t be afraid of color

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Loft DSC_0312 don't be afraid of colorWhen it comes to larger furniture investments, many people are hesitant to choose color, preferring instead to stick with neutrals. But color creates its own magic, as you can see with these two rooms from the Fulton Homes Cascade model.

You can bring color into a room with less committed options such as paint and pillows, but take a look at how appealing this loft room is thanks to the inviting blue on the sofas and the fun stripe on the coordinating chairs.

Color makes a space interesting. Too many neutrals and you can have a home that looks more like commercial space. Why not show off your color preferences? In this room the soft light-brown carpeting and gold walls provide the neutral tones and then the blue becomes a strong focal point rather than the television.

A red-orange ottoman pulls the pillow and throw colors into the room while the slipper chairs with their stripe play a nice supporting role. Patterns and solid fabrics play well together, creating the feel of a family-only space appealing to kids and adults alike.

Master bedroom DSC_0317 - don't be afraid of colorNot quite ready for prime-time color? How about dipping your toe into the pool with a focus wall such as the one in the photo to the right? The contrast between the light blue and the brown and rust colors from the bedding and curtains works well to keep color front-and-center in this master bedroom.

Blue and brown work well together, creating a sophisticated color palette. If you want to get started with color, you might enjoy visiting a shop that carries upholstery-weight fabric. Choose a colorful print that appeals to you and build your room around it. You may find yourself saying yes to color in your home in ways you would never have imagined.

Say Hello to Spring with Home Décor

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25712497_SDo you feel challenged making your home feel like spring without changing out the colors in your home? It doesn’t take a lot of time or money to add a splash of spring.

You can create a feeling of spring in your home simply and easily with flowers. The photo on the left shows several good options.

Forcing bulbs will create a lovely and long-lived flower arrangement. Here snowdrops and daffodils brighten up the day.

Forsythia and pussy-willow branches – cut and put in water – will bloom and last for several weeks. Although these don’t grow in the Phoenix area, a number of grocery stores and flower shops stock them this time of year.

The tulips are cut and in water. If you want to avoid drooping tulips, cut a small slit in the stem just under the flower itself with a sharp knife. By the way, tulips will continue growing after being cut, so don’t be surprised to find your flower arrangement taller than it was.

22337400_SIf you want a simpler arrangement that still adds spring charm to a room, how about the flowers on the right? Some stores sell small bunches of daffodils for less than two dollars in the spring.

By placing one or two flowers in a collection of brightly-colored vases, you can create a festive spot of spring yellow in your home. If you don’t have vases, even water glasses will work. Don’t worry about making it perfect, the flowers will carry the spring mood.

Simple Guest Room Shows Comfy Charm

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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.

Home Tech Center Keeps Life Organized

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Fulton Homes Starlight Model

As we become more and more connected to the outside world through numerous devices, our homes need to make adjustments to fill the requirements of today’s lifestyle.

In many homes, the opportunity to charge phones, tablets and laptops requires a shuffling of electrical outlets while ensuring that the morning rush doesn’t lead to leaving the essential communication tools at home.

At the same time, managing a home and family becomes easier if the home itself provides support for coordinating everyone’s briefcases, homework, and electronics.

Take a look at the Fulton Homes solution – a tech center that provides space to charge electronics, room for book bags and notebooks, and a center for other home administrative tasks.

All this space needs is a laptop to support online bill paying, homework Internet research, space for books and school projects, and a staging center for getting everyone out the door in the morning with a minimum of frustration and fewer searches for lost keys or other essentials.

Without a center like this, the kitchen often becomes the default center for the odds and ends of our to-and-fro lives. Mixing papers and books with breakfast can lead to spills and too many items unthinkingly moved out of sight in the energy of getting dinner or breakfast ready. With this tech-rich drop center, everyone can have the space to keep track of their own materials.

Consider adding an in-basket for every family member so that mail, homework assignments and other personal papers are contained in one place. Add a family calendar on the wall so everyone knows where they are supposed to be on any given day. Or make sure that everyone has their own drawer and files so that things can stay organized thanks to an organized space to work with in the home.

Coordinating an Open Floor Plan – Family Room and Office

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Fulton Homes Starlight Model

An open floor plan makes any home feel more spacious and interesting. Every step opens up a new view of living areas – kitchen, dining, family room and even office.

The office space in this home – the Fulton Homes Starlight model – demonstrates the appeal of an office or den that is open to the family room. the wall openings support a separate living area while still making the office feel part of the greater whole.

Decorating the office and family room to ensure that the spaces are seen as separate but still coordinated requires some planning. Here are some décor choices that make these spaces work well together.

Coordinating color-schemes: Neutrals pair well with black, red and a soft green to build a common theme of colors without too much repetition. The green chair in the office picks up the color of the family room throw pillows while the patterned fabric appears on the office valance and the other sofa throw pillows. Notice that the rug also carries those colors through to the family room.

Lighting: Both rooms have matching ceiling fans, but the real connection comes from the table and floor lamps. The unusual sloping square lampshades in a natural cream tone carry from one room to the next – providing nice focused light while marrying the style of the two rooms together.

Furniture tone: Both rooms feature dark wood – a good choice with the wall and furniture colors. The wood floor mirrors this tone, creating a unified whole. This level of thought and coordination takes full advantage of all the plusses of an open floor plan – maximizing comfort and style.

Fountain Magic

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Courtyard20DSC_0250In desert countries centuries ago fountains helped relieve the feeling of heat and a burning sun, creating an oasis of cool water to refresh the eyes and the throat.

Today in Arizona we have misters outside and air conditioners inside to help us tolerate the heat of summer. But we can still create our own oasis in the desert by placing a fountain on a patio or courtyard.

Fountains provide a visual break from the desert heat – cool water on the move just seems to make a space fresher and more inviting. But that’s only part of the charm. The sound of water running through a fountain relaxes the most stressful guest and provides a much-needed melody to help you find your feet after a rough or extra-busy day.

This fountain from the Fulton Homes Starlight model allows a bit of space to perch next to the water and run your hands through it. Water soothes and provides solace. In the middle of summer’s heat, there’s a promise of cooler times to come.

Whether you prefer a wall-based fountain such as this one or a stand-alone piece – a contemporary architectural design like this inviting choice or something with cupids or dolphins – consider adding a fountain to your home. There’s no denying that this space begs you to step outside and enjoy the day or the evening. By bringing a fountain into the mix, you kick the entire outdoor space up a notch to something that welcomes you home and says, “Sit back and enjoy.”

Linking Kitchen and Dining Spaces

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Kitchen20and20Nook20DSC_0244With an open floor plan it’s easy to connect with friends and family when fixing a meal. The distance to the table is short, making the transfer of food to table and dirty dishes back only a few steps.

If you have lived in a home without this kind of space, an open floor plan is a luxury indeed. But planning the décor requires attention to make the space feel unified. This Fulton Home model demonstrates how to connect the kitchen with the dining space. Let’s take a look at some of the decisions that make this space work so well.

Flooring: By staying with dark wood flooring throughout, everything feels like one room. The island provides the only break between the kitchen and dining table.

Cabinetry & Furniture: The cabinetry in the kitchen and the dining table and chairs coordinate in wood tone. Another connection comes when the chairs at the island sport the same design as the dining chairs. This keeps the one-room feeling intact.

Lighting: Although the pendant lighting above the island has a different function than the chandelier in the dining area, the glass globes are the same shape and both have the same brass finish. They are from the same family of lighting fixtures and they help integrate the space beautifully.

Accessories & Colors: The dishes, flowers and kitchen décor mirror the dining table’s tablescape. This causes your eyes to travel freely around the entire space without a pause. A difference in color or style from kitchen to dining room could create a jarring interruption.

If you are moving to a home with an open floor plan for the first time, be sure to factor the need to integrate several spaces into your design and décor plans.

Cozy Play Space

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Bedroom20DSC_0256Little ones love little spaces, places where they can tuck themselves in and feel safe, a bit hidden, and above all, in proportion to the world around them. For a child everything is so big and mostly out of reach. A cozy space just big enough for one or maybe two children makes everything better.

This children’s room makes a point of providing that hiding place, perfect for retreat when the world seems more than a bit overwhelming. The little tent, in a circus theme to fit the room’s décor, creates the opportunity for imagination, storytelling and even a bit of adventure. Please pay attention to the fierce tiger playmate in the tent waiting for a chance to pounce.

When planning a small child’s room, be sure to make room for a little nook, hidden corner or just a chance to feel the right size for once instead of so very small. Choose a pint-sized table and chair set, an easy chair made child-size, a canopy surrounding the bed or even a desk or dressing table with a drape concealing a small toddler-sized place.

As your child gets older, old enough to reach the sink for his or her own drink of water, old enough to use the microwave instead of having to ask someone else for help, the need for a cozy space will fade. The desk will become just a desk, the tent will go into the attic or be given away, and the world won’t feel quite so overwhelming. But until then, be sure to make a small space for your small one.