Category Archives: Uncategorized

Architectural Details Make Home Intriguing

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architectural-details-make-home-intriguingwOne common complaint with production homes is that they all look alike. There are many ways to make sure every home in a community looks and feels unique. Having a nice mix of models to choose from, ensuring that every street has a variety of home styles, and offering a good selection of external architectural details.

This home, one of the Seaboard models at Cooley Station, is a good example. To start, take a look at the stonework on the entryway. This adds color and texture to the home.  That same stone appears on the lower half of the front of the house, providing a base for the window and almost seeming like outdoor wainscoting.

Curves outline the top of each window and the front entry. The white case work also shows up under the roof line, above the lower stone work and atop the two half-columns at the sidewalk entrance. These splashes of white add contrast as well as charm.

Notice how the shutters bring an old-world feeling to the home. This mood is echoed in the gaslight-style outdoor carriage lamp just to the right of the front window.

One final touch of style comes from the pavers making up the driveway and sidewalk. This finishing touch makes this home worth more than a second look.

If this is the home you would like to claim as yours, we invite you to visit it and the rest of our models at Cooley Station. For more information, visit http://www.fultonhomes.com/our-communities/cooley-station.

Fulton Homes Offers Custom Homesites in Prescott

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fulton-preserve-at-the-ranch-webAfter a summer like this one, have you been considering heading up North to beat the heat? Maybe just for the summer, or maybe permanently; either way, it is worth your time to check out the new Fulton Home community of custom homesites in the Williamson Valley area of Prescott, Arizona.

This new gated custom home community provides a unique opportunity to join a small select group of homeowners. This Prescott-based enclave consists of only 38 estate-sized homesites, ranging from four to seven acres each, within a parcel of over 250 acres of unspoiled forest. Each site offers incredible views of Granite Mountain and the surrounding area.

Within the community, each home will be positioned to maximize view corridors and protect privacy with completely underground utilities to eliminate the distractions of wires and poles. All the streets in this community are paved and private.

talking-ranch-plan-webAs an additional advantage to joining this exclusive community of custom Fulton Home property buyers, each owner receives a social club membership to the exclusive Talking Rock Ranch Club located close by.  Talking Rock offers golf clubhouse and locker facilities, a fitness center, full-service dining, bar and patio areas, a post office and coffee shop. The buildings are connected with breezeways, porches and patios. These, combined with indoor and outdoor fireplaces, work together to create a lovely area for socializing and enjoying life.

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we invite you to contact us soon. Almost half of the properties have been sold so far. For information on those properties still available, we welcome you to contact our on-site friendly and informative agent, Richard Hanna at Prescott Realty: 928-889-2899 or prescottrealty@gmail.com.

Step into Autumn: Travel

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autumn-travelmorgue-webWhile we don’t get any fall colors in the Phoenix area this time of year there are a number of places to visit for a weekend or a day to get our fill of autumn without leaving the state. The trick is to go North and go up! Here are some recommendations.

Oak Creek Canyon: About 2 ½ hours from Phoenix, you can find yourself in the kind of world you expect to see in New England. Oaks and other deciduous trees change colors, and the Creek itself along with rocks makes the scenery spectacular in the fall. Colors are at their best from late October to early November, but you might want to make a call to see how they’re shaping up this year. And on your way in or out, be sure to stop at the roadside stand selling fresh squeezed cider to really capture the season!

Flagstaff:  Spend a weekend and take the time to ask locals for the best drives. Leaves generally peak up there in mid-to-late October. While you’re visiting, wander around Northern Arizona University’s campus to capture the mood of college students caught up in the semester.

Visit some of Northern Arizona’s ski areas: Altitude helps create color in the fall. Snowbowl road is one great choice. Also look into ski areas in the White Mountains. These options are more suited to a weekend trip than an overnight, but pre-snow prices can make the trip a bargain.

Check with AAA, the State of Arizona visitor’s bureau and chambers of commerce in some of our Northern towns to get more ideas. And get on the road to find your fall color!

Step up to Autumn: Food

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autumn-food-morgue-webEven though we’re still dealing with summer temperatures here in Arizona, autumn has arrived and it’s worth your time to remind your family that the season is changing. One great way to do that is by taking advantage of the bounty of fall foods available. Here are a few ideas.

Apples: They are coming off the tree right now which makes them extra fresh and well-priced. How about buying three or four varieties and holding an apple tasting? You can have baked apples or dip them in hot caramel for dessert.

Winter squash: The grocery stores are filled with a variety of fresh winter squash, providing a healthful and tasty side dish for almost any meal. Try cutting a butternut or other winter squash into half to one inch squares and roast to bring out the sweetness. Simply place the squash in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, butter, or a combination and add salt and pepper. For some extra sweetness add several tablespoons of maple syrup. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 20-40 minutes at 350 degrees, stirring every 15-20 minutes and pulling out when the squash is soft and starting to brown. You may find that even your picky eaters will enjoy the rich caramel flavor.

Pumpkin bread: Recipes abound for pumpkin baked goods, and pumpkin bread is one of the best. Experiment with adding additional pumpkin for more flavor and richness, double the cinnamon and consider grating your own nutmeg to get the freshest flavor. Some people like to add raisins, nuts or even chopped dates before baking to add personality.

Pumpkin and pecan pies: Fall is the perfect time to introduce some special hot desserts. Both these pies require some baking skill, but one cook’s secret is to explore some store-bought options. One warehouse store in particular makes a pumpkin pie every year that can put even county fair winners to shame.

What other fall options are your favorites? How about baked apples or cider donuts? Maybe you have a frosted pumpkin bar recipe that you haven’t made since last autumn. Well, it’s time to pull out your favorites and bring the taste of fall into your home.

Step Up to Autumn: Décor

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autumn-decor-morguewebWe’re moving into autumn, but here in Arizona it still feels like summer. You can change your home’s mood to reflect the season even if outside we’re still dealing with temperatures in the 90’s. Here are some tips to give your home that fall flavor.

Wreaths: Start your autumn mood with a wreath on your front door. Many hobby shops and florists have options available for purchase, or make your own with dried flowers, leaves and seed pods. You can add multi-colored ears of corn and even small pumpkins to make it even more interesting.

Fabrics: Change out throw pillows and add lap quilts across the tops of sofas and chairs. Although you have no need for their warmth at this time of year, they still set the mood. There are lots of choices available in fall colors in almost any store. Consider some of the discount stores for a bevy of fall tones on a budget.

Accessories: Why not select one or two surfaces in your home to host a fall display? Start with an interesting branch from outside to integrate everything, add a few pumpkins – fabrics such as burlap help create the mood. Although out leaves aren’t turning here, you can pick up a few fall leaf branches or garlands at your nearest hobby shop to add the sense of autumn. Finish up with some acorns or nuts in their shells.

With a few strategic décor decisions, you can create an autumn mood in Arizona even if it still feels like summer.

Exploring Fulton Homes: The Fulton Design Center

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design-center-carpeting-webOne of the best aspects of buying a new Fulton Home is the opportunity to use the Fulton Design Center to create a home made just for you. You have the opportunity to select everything from your flooring to lighting and paint colors. And with our technology department you can create the perfect home theater and build the best security system for your needs.

Once you’ve visited a number of communities and models, it pays to visit the Fulton Design Center on one of our open browse nights. Scheduled the first and third Thursday evenings of every month from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, you have the opportunity to see all of the options available for customizing your home to your style and taste.

Fulton designers are available to answer your questions and show you around. You may be surprised at the variety of choices waiting for you. In this low-key environment you can enjoy various appetizers and drinks while wandering through the space. It also pays to get a sense of what sort of options you can select.

With over 13,000 square feet of space, there are kitchen and bathroom vignettes in a number of styles to give you ideas about your own home. The Design Center is frequently updated so that the products and examples are current in style and capability. Kitchens include a variety of cabinets and appliances so that you can try out the feel of them and determine those options that appeal to you.

Once you buy your Fulton Home, you will be visiting the Fulton Design Center to select your home’s options with the help of one of our trained designers. Exploring your choices ahead of time will make this process both easier and more fun.

With the Fulton Design Center, you can end up with a home that matches your taste and décor preferences as well as working with your family’s functional needs.

Exploring Fulton Homes: Visiting a Community

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Queen-Creek-Station-saleswebWhen you’re ready to visit a Fulton Home’s community, plan for more than a cursory look. To do justice to each model, anticipate spending about a half-hour at a minimum in each. Here are some suggestions to improve your understanding of how each model would work for your family.

Walk into every room: This includes bathrooms and walk-in closets. When you live in a home you won’t be merely peering in from the door. See how the laundry room feels as a work room. Experience the master and other bathrooms from an inside perspective. You might even want to step into the walk-in shower to get a sense of the space.

Go outside. Open the doors and wander out to the back yard. Take a look at how the house looks and feels from the back. If there are any side yards or courtyards available, check them out also. Do you like the access from the house itself to the outside? What would you change if you could? How would it work for you when entertaining outside?

Sit down: If there are stools pulled up to the kitchen island, sit down and see how the open style space works for you. Take a few minutes to sit at the dining room table and the table in the eat-in kitchen. While you’re seated, check out window locations and lighting. Before you leave a particular model, sit in the family room and discuss what you like about it and what you would want to change. Remember, each model has variations that may be able to bring you much closer to the goals you have for your home.

Take a final look: Before you leave, sit down in the family or living room and discuss the model. Is this home a possibility for you? What features do you particularly like and what would need to change to meet your needs. You may even want to take notes and/or photos so you will remember each one individually.

There’s one more stop that’s worth making when planning to buy a Fulton Home: the Fulton Design Center.

Accessorizing your Bathroom

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accessorizing-your-bathroom-webWith a bathroom, you have a limited space to work with when accessorizing, so you want to make the most of your choices.

Here are some things to consider  to make your bath a special space for you whether you’re getting ready for your day or relaxing while preparing for bed.

Color: Do you like soft subtle colors in a bathroom? Take a look at how well grey and white work in this bath from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek community. From the natural look to the diagonal tile floor to the rich soft grey on the walls, the room has a gentle feel that encourages relaxation. Brown and grey towels fit well with this color scheme.

Lighting: Although a bathroom’s lighting is built-in, it has a strong influence in the mood of a room which really makes it count as an accessory. In this room the contemporary fixture features the same brushed nickel finish as the faucets and the trim on the shower. Everything feels coordinated and it all works with the grey color scheme.

Art: Although there is only one piece of art in this bathroom, it has a serene and appealing style, and it is set in just the right place for viewing when in the tub. The darkening cloud-filled landscape pulls some color into the room without requiring all of your attention. It is as relaxing and inviting as the rest of this space.

If you want to take a closer look at this bathroom and a number of others, we invite you to tour our models in Oasis at Queen Creek. You can explore all the choices before deciding on the perfect bathroom for you.

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.