Category Archives: Flooring

Fulton Homes Design Online – Stone Flooring

Posted on by

stone flooring genericAre you drawn to the natural look and feel of stone? Cool under your feet on the hottest of summer days, stone such as this travertine flooring enhances any style home.

Fulton Homes Design Online shows examples of stone for your home’s flooring. Check out a quick overview of your choices below.dark granite

Granite is one of the hardest and densest of all natural stone. Next to the diamond it is the hardest of the natural stones. Color and pattern vary, adding to the stone’s interest and beauty.

marbleMarble is crystallized limestone that comes in many different color variations and usually displays a veining pattern that adds to its uniqueness. It is a timeless addition to any home, bearing the signs and marks of history from thousands of years. Marble is more porous than granite, making it more susceptible to staining which makes it more suitable for foyers, bathrooms, fireplaces, studies or libraries rather than kitchens or other rooms liable to food or drink spills.limestone

Limestone has a subtle look and has what is often offered in a “honed” or matte finish. It will require preventative maintenance over time, as it is very porous.

travertineUnique looking due to the “fill process”. In its original form, Travertine has thousands of holes running through it. These holes are filled and then the stone is polished or honed. When polished, the stone takes on a high sheen with the filled areas remaining dull creating a beautiful floor. When honed, the travertine will take on a more natural matte finish look. Like Limestone, this stone will require preventative maintenance over time, due to its porosity. The polished look will require more maintenance than the honed and spills such as juice will etch (dull the finish) the floor. This etching can be repaired with professional maintenance.

slateSlate: This rustic-looking stone has become increasing popular over the years. It comes in various colors and shades ranging from quite light to very dark and, depending on the type, can offer many hues including red and green. This stone has the most variation from one piece to another. It can also be used in outdoor installations.

tumbled stoneTumbled Stone: has an antique look. It comes in many sizes and is often used in borders or decorative strips.

If you want flooring that combines rustic and rich, how about featuring stone in one or more rooms? For more extensive information, visit Fulton Homes Design Online.

Fulton Homes Design Online – Tile Flooring

Posted on by

Ceramic Tile in Design Center- Rachel's KitchenWhere would you like tile in your home? Most people would choose it for bathrooms, many for kitchens, and some people want it throughout much of their living space.

Tile is extremely low-maintenance and lasts for the life of your home – two good reasons to choose it. The exciting thing about tile comes from the incredible variety of looks, sizes and shapes available.

Take a look at the tile above – Interceramic Royal Windsor 10 inch by 20 inch brick pattern staggered. You can take an in-person look at this tile at the Fulton Homes Design Center. But you might want to start your search earlier with Fulton Homes Design Online.

In addition to ceramic, porcelain tile is available for your Fulton Home. Porcelain is harder than ceramic, and more complex to install. Many people are drawn to its stone-like appearance.

Ceramic Tile in Design Center - Bobby's KitchenYour tile flooring can also change dramatically with your choice of installation options. For example, the flooring to the right is set at the diagonal. This can make a room feel larger, and draw people through an open-concept space. Talk with your designer to learn more about installation choices.

Finally, don’t ignore the variety of grout choices. A neutral, light or dark grout can dramatically change the look of your floor. While you’re at it, be sure to have your grout sealed. Grout is the only part of a tile floor vulnerable to staining. Sealing your grout eliminates this situation.

Take the time to consider tile. In the right place with the right selection, it provides flooring to suit your taste and your maintenance goals, and it’s a dramatic option in your home.

Fulton Homes Design Online – Carpeting

Posted on by

cable carpetingIt’s hard to know where to start when it comes to flooring – there are so many wonderful choices. Today we’ll take a look at carpeting.

Fulton Homes offers  carpet that varies widely in texture as well as color. Some are particularly workable in high-traffic areas, while others have a softer plusher feel which makes them ideal for creating warmth in spaces such as bedrooms.

The carpeting above is in the cable category. Constructed of a thicker yarn that is typically longer than most carpet fibers, this is extremely comfortable and inviting for bare feet or floor-sitters, however it may crush in higher traffic areas. This makes it perfect for a bedroom. Select a thicker carpet pad, and your flooring will feel absolutely cushiony.

frieze carpetingFulton Homes offers classic Frieze and Saxony, as well as Cut & Loop and Looped or Berber options. Frieze carpeting like the sample on the right is a cut pile with a very tight twist level which makes it work well in high traffic areas. Differing pile heights add a stylish appearance and vary the look.

looped or berberThe selection to the left is a looped pile, often called Berber. A long-lasting choice due to its uncut loops of carpet yarn, it has an unusual design look. Berber handles family rooms and other high use areas very well. Take a look at the selection of tweed-like fleck options and the varying loop levels.

To select the right carpeting for you, start with the Fulton Homes Online Design Center, but be sure to get an in-person feel for your choices and talk with your Fulton Homes Design Center designer about your lifestyle and requirements to ensure that you select the right carpeting for you and your family.

A Beautiful Bath is all in the Details

Posted on by

Oasis at Freeman Farms 081Monday’s blog took a look at how finishing touches could dress up a kitchen. The same approach can turn a nice bath into an oasis in the middle of your home. Let’s check out the choices that are showcased in the master bath at the Fulton Homes Whitewater model in the Oasis at Freeman Farms community.

First, a double sink allows space for two to get ready for work in the morning. Many couples value their own sink, and both of these have plenty of counter space and storage.

Separating the two, a lower counter with a drawer provides the perfect place for styling –with a hair dryer and/or make-up. The comfy ottoman adds a splash of class with its simple cylindrical shape and luscious upholstery.

Oasis at Freeman Farms 082Warm tones enrich the look of this bath with gold/brown porcelain tile on the floor, different but still coordinated tile countertops, and inviting wallpaper carrying the gold tones up to the ceiling. Notice the backsplash behind the sinks. The small tiles set the space apart. The large mirror is framed to coordinate with the cabinetry – another option offered through Fulton Homes that creates a more finished look.

Oasis at Freeman Farms 083Oil-rubbed bronze faucets and lighting stay with the warm-toned theme. This finish has become a classic since its introduction and it works beautifully in both modern and more traditional homes. The light fixtures with their bronze bases and amber glass shades echo that warm feeling while their design stands out over the more standard bathroom fixtures.

These details separate this bathroom from a more basic look, and create a space that will serve as a particularly enjoyable spot to get ready in the morning and prepare for bed at night.

 

Choose the Right Area Rug

Posted on by

With flooring such as wood or tile, area rugs help soften key areas and create a design focus in a room. Even carpeting can benefit from a rug to highlight a conversation area.

The Fulton Homes Design Center offers a generous selection of area rugs from Feizy, a company with 35 years in the business. Feizy Rugs is renowned for producing the highest quality hand knotted, hand tufted and power loomed rugs in the marketplace today.

This area rug section provides photos of full rugs plus samples that allow you to view the colors and experience the rich feel of these choices.

If you would like to add an area rug to your home, select your permanent flooring first, bringing a sample with you to determine the right rug choice. Rugs range from Oriental style, more traditional patterns and contemporary options.

For a dining room rug, be sure to select one that extends at least two feet past the edges of your dining room table on all sides. This allows your guests to push their chairs back without ending up off the carpet.

Living room rugs can sit inside the sofa and chairs or you can select one large enough to contain all of the living room furniture on it. This way it becomes an island in the space. Be careful to avoid a rug that leaves some furniture half-on and half-off, creating a makeshift look.

If your home is open-concept, area rugs can define specific areas in your space, and add a splash of color or pattern that finishes your home’s design. Take the time to consider an area rug or two to add interest and style to your living space.

Wood floors add classic style

Posted on by

Whether you’re drawn to the strong face of a hand-scraped wood in a traditional oak finish or the more contemporary feel of dark rich ebony, wood flooring makes a statement in a home. This inviting light maple works anywhere, but is particularly apt for a nursery or children’s room. Its bright versatility makes it the perfect foil for children’s furnishings in pastels or bright colors. Also, as a child grows, it can handle the changes in décor over time.

Wood sends a message of luxury and permanence. It can complement a kitchen with an old world styling while remaining durable enough to handle spills when wiped up fairly quickly. Wood is also a soft flooring surface, which means that it doesn’t wear out your feet at the end of a long day.

Today’s wood options are much more versatile and durable than they used to be. Plank widths, wood tones, and special features such as hand scraping, beveled edges, and strong finishes make wood a virtually permanent flooring option.

Wood flooring can be chosen to contrast with your cabinetry or furniture. This allows you to enjoy a wood-filled home without worrying about matching the stains. A kitchen with painted cabinets and wood flooring provides an old-fashioned look that is as inviting as yesterday.

When choosing your wood flooring, take the time to look at a variety of options. The photo on the right shows the Fulton Home’s Design Center wood flooring selection. Take a look at your possibilities on the floor so that you see them from the right angle. A number of our models also show several wood flooring options.

When you choose wood flooring, your home will be a joy to live in and have a higher resale value when it is time to sell. Consider investing in wood flooring for one or two rooms, or even your entire home.

Choosing Carpeting

Posted on by

As this photo from Fulton Home’s design center demonstrates, choices today for carpeting are about more than just color. Different textures, heights and even patterns and sculptured effects are now available.

The most common carpet type in use today is still cut pile. This category includes textured plush, which is a  flexible enough look for whole house carpeting in busy households because its’ surface hides footprints and vacuum marks.

Saxony and plush (velvet) are more formal. Plush shows footprints and vacuum marks quite a bit, but the texture is luxurious. This makes it best for more formal spaces and low-traffic areas.

Frieze has become more and more popular. Its textured surface comes from very twisted yarns. This carpeting has a very casual look and also minimizes evidence of traffic on its surface.

Color is a critical component of your choice. With today’s easier-to-clean carpeting, it’s possible to choose a lighter color without risking spots. Lighter colors open up a room and darker colors can make a large space feel cozier. Most people will choose a neutral tone but if you’re feeling bold, why not try a color that works well with your furniture or window coverings? If you have tile and carpeting in the same area, be sure that the colors complement each other.

You will also want to ensure that the carpeting you choose works well with your paint choices. At Fulton’s design center, you can compare your carpet possibilities with the paint option you chose, to ensure that they work well together. Set your carpet samples on the floor so that you can see how they look at that angle.

For more advice on selecting the right carpeting for you, talk to your designer or come to one of our browse nights and take a look at your choices.

Making a Great Room, Great

Posted on by

If you enjoy having the whole family together, want plenty of space for parties and gatherings, and want to be able to cook dinner or fix a snack without being cut off from everyone else in your home, a great-room design is perfect for you. But it’s very easy to end up with a disconnected look if you don’t plan your overall space design.

In spite of the roomy space, this room feels integrated and comfortable.  It provides a generous kitchen, an island that allows people to pull up and eat or talk, an expansive fireplace area, and a flat-screen television for entertainment. What elements help this room pull it altogether?

Color: The soft beige and brown throughout, help the entire room feel coordinated. There is a rich rust color on the kitchen wall to the left that is echoed in the niche holding the television. The granite, tile and carpeting all have shades that link together. The dark wood tones of the cabinets show up in the darker elements in the family-room area such as the mirror and table toward the back. Color is one of the strongest tools for integrating spaces.

Flooring: The kitchen floor tiles appear again as part of the fireplace surround, which makes the room feel even more cohesive. The carpeting provides a subtle separation between functional areas with no distracting breaks in the sight lines.

Lighting: The entire room is well-lit with ceiling spots – one of the best tools for providing useful and interesting lighting throughout a great room. The kitchen pendant lights and the fireplace sconces are from the same design group, further helping each room to feel connected with the other.

The architectural features and overall style of this great room helps create a space that really works. Make sure you think about integration when you plan your great room design.

Enrich Your Dining Room with Built-in Buffet

Posted on by

If you would like a buffet or china cabinet in your dining room but don’t want to sacrifice the space, a built-in might be the right solution for you.

If you choose to go in this direction, take a look at this successful installation from Fulton Home’s Tehama model in the Victoria Estates community. Here are a few design tips to help create a successful built-in buffet in your home.

Stay consistent: If your built-in will be stained wood, make sure it has the same basic tone as any other wood in the room. Notice that the table and chairs complement the buffet, while a touch of glaze on the cabinetry separates it from the other wood in the room.

Keep the furniture look: The height and depth variation in the buffet along with the floor molding help this piece read like furniture in the dining room rather than a traditional built-in. The inset is also a different height from the ceiling, wrapping itself around the piece as though the alcove was made for the buffet rather than the other way around.

Manage your flooring: Using tile or stone flooring to help contrast these beautiful wood cabinets, dining table, and chairs  will look better than wood flooring. Also, while it might be tempting to add an area rug, the location of the rug’s edge could affect people’s ability to walk comfortably next to the buffet.

Stay coordinated but not matchy-matchy: The rich rust on the walls, the soft taupe curtains, the artwork, and accessories pull all of the room’s elements together. Using a granite countertop for the buffet, the antique rattan chairs at the head and foot of the table also create an individualized look for both elements in the dining room.

By adding this built-in, the homeowner gained a generous amount of storage, a great solution for entertaining family and guests, and an additional sense of drama for the room itself. Consider built-ins when you make design plans. You may find them to be just the right solution for your home.