Category Archives: Uncategorized

Let Lighting Create Style

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Kitchen from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek Community

Kitchen from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek Community

Because of its position just above eye level, pendant lighting tends to capture the eye. This is even more true when they are lit. So be sure to pay close attention to your options when selecting pendants. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision.

Style: Are you a staunch design traditionalist? If you want to create a traditional feel, be sure to stick with standard shapes and only choose light colors such as white or amber. On the other hand, if you like the old-style farmhouse look, consider the old-fashioned schoolhouse lighting. And if you want to be more cutting-edge, take a look at these light fixtures from Kichler. While they are effective task lights over the island, they also cause guests to take notice with their daring design.

Finish: What metal have you chosen for your kitchen faucets and pulls? You may want to stay consistent with your lighting, particularly when going for a traditional look. If your style is more eclectic, you can mix it up a bit.

Coordinating pieces: Do you want to link your pendants with other lighting fixtures in your home? If so, be sure to take a look at all the coordinating lights in the package. On the other hand, as long as you don’t go too far, different choices can work well together. Be sure to take the time to see how your lighting coordinates from room to room.

Light level: Will these pendant lights be primarily decorative or will they need to double as task lighting? Make sure the size of your pendants and the level they hang at meet your specific lighting needs for your island. After all, style may be important but light comes first!

For more ideas of what’s available in pendant lighting for your Fulton Home kitchen, take a look at the options offered at the Fulton Design Center and visit our models at Oasis at Queen Creek. You’ll see these lights and many other intriguing choices for your island.

When Your Son Leaves for College

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From the Rancho Mirage model at Oasis at Queen Creek

From the Rancho Mirage model at Oasis at Queen Creek

It’s complicated but fun getting your daughter ready to go away to college, but it’s trickier with a son. While your daughter is likely to enjoy planning her dorm room’s décor, most boys, particularly in high school, have no interest in anything related to decorating, and wouldn’t admit it if they had.

So what do you do to make sure he’s ready without adding to the trauma of leaving home and living on his own for the first time ever? Here are a few suggestions to make it easier for both of you.

Focus on the basics: These include warm bedding, clean clothes, hygiene and first aid supplies, as well as adequate lighting and storage. Chances are you’ve taken care of all these things over the years, so it’s quite possible that your son won’t realize what he needs until he needs it. It’s your job to get him ready, and to educate him on what you’ve been taking care of for him.

Bedding: Look for sheet sets. Most dorm rooms offer long single beds, so look for that size when shopping. Places such as Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target are gearing up for the go-to-college set, so you should have a good selection of options available. If your son is going to school in an area that experiences cold winters, be sure to include a blanket as well as a warm bedspread. There are no guarantees that dorms are warm.

Laundry: If your son is not familiar with doing laundry, take the time for a basic tutorial. Pack laundry detergent and plan for at least a month’s worth of underwear, because no college kid does laundry more often than that. Be sure to include a laundry bag rather than a basket – a bag is easier to store and haul around.

First aid: Include band aids and any over-the-counter items that your son is used to having on hand. Find an easy container to hold it all in one place.

Lighting: Many dorms have fair lighting, but a lamp with task lighting is a useful accessory. Look for something simple and light enough to move around as needed.

Storage: Dorm closets are small, so consider some under-bed storage for extra sweaters, etc.

Don’t worry about music and other technology. Your son will probably be on top of that too. And don’t make gender assumptions. You may have a boy that really cares about what that bedspread looks like, or a daughter who just doesn’t care. Either way, follow these guidelines to ensure that your child, whether male or female, is ready to make that leap away from home.

Design Your Dream Master Bath

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bath_montage_blogHave you ever thought about what you really want in your master bathroom? How about natural light while still maintaining privacy? This bathroom accomplishes that with the trio of square windows near the ceiling over the shower.

Would you like a bathroom that doesn’t feel cramped? The nice amount of square footage and open entrance gives you plenty of space. Using flooring on the diagonal adds to the sense of abundant room.

What about a roomy shower? Take a look at this option with room to move around and a subtle built-in niche that’s perfect for shampoo and body wash.

How about a mirror over the vanity that doesn’t look institutional? Take a look at how framing the mirror in the photo above adds an appealing finishing touch to the vanity area.

Would you like a spot to sit in the morning to apply make-up, or just to relax for a minute while chatting with your spouse before breakfast? This bath has just the place for a comfy chair by the mirror.

And what about style? Have you thought about the colors and finishes you would like in your master bath? What about the soft gold and rust tones of this space? Or maybe you’d rather have gentle green colors. With all of the Fulton Design Center options, it’s your choice.

While we’re at it, let’s add plenty of vanity storage, a double vanity/sink so you don’t have to share, and plenty of good and attractive lighting.

Is this your dream master bath? Want a closer look? Then how about visiting Oasis at Queen Creek Station to see it for yourself?

Imagine Never Stopping at a Gas Station Again

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energy_center_carWhat do you think of pulling into your own garage and adding fuel to your car right there? How about being able to drive in the carpool lane even if you’re alone? Add in the savings – paying the equivalent of $2.09 a gallon for fuel, no matter the price at the pump, and there are plenty of incentives to put a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) system in your garage.

Fulton Homes is the first builder in the country to provide the opportunity to add a CNG system to your home with the new homes in the Queen Creek Station community. This fuel choice is cleaner, noticeably less expensive, and allows you to eliminate that gas station stop, saving time and money.

Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of CNG for you.

Save money: In addition to the lower fuel costs, you receive a reduced rate for your car registration and license fees. You also eliminate the 18% excise tax included in all gasoline purchases.

Save time: No stops at gas stations; refuel at your convenience at home. Also, enjoy shorter commutes because your CNG vehicle has 24-hour access to the HOV lanes across the state.

Save the environment: Natural gas is abundant and much cleaner than gasoline, reducing our dependence on oil and reducing carbon dioxide by 20-30%.

You can buy cars designed to run on Compressed Natural Gas, or have a car converted to handle this new fuel choice. For more information on this exciting new option from Fulton Homes, visit our Energy Center in the Peninsula model park at Queen Creek station.

Recreate this Charming Chest

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whitewater-bedroom-1-webThoughtful touches can turn a child’s bedroom into something special, even on a budget. This chest, seen in the Whitewater model at the Oasis at Queen Creek community, has a charm that is easy to recreate.

You can find a simple chest like this one at an unfinished furniture store or thrift shop. If the piece is unfinished, be sure to prime it before painting. If it is finished, wash it and sand lightly before painting.

Now is the time to decide if you want the piece to have a flat or glossy finish. Select the right paint for your decision. You can also shop for scrap paper or wrapping paper in designs and colors that work well together. Your final purchase is a jar of decoupage medium such as Mod Podge. Be sure to choose a finish that matches your paint choice.

Start with a couple of coats of white paint. You can eliminate brush strokes and speed up the process by using spray paint. Just be sure to work outside or in a well-ventilated area.

Spray using multiple thin coats following the instructions on the can. Remove the drawers and paint separately, inside and out. Spray paint dries quickly, but you may want to wait a minute or two between coats, so you are not spraying wet paint on wet paint.

When you’re done, decoupage the papers on the front of each drawer, cutting to size before with scissors or after with a very sharp knife. Add a couple of extra coats of decoupage medium to each to protect the papers.

Finish with white knobs or choose knobs that coordinate well with the papers. Then just enjoy your handiwork! For a closer look at this chest, we invite you to visit our models at Oasis at Queen Creek.

Architectural Details add Luxury

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La-Quinta-family-room-webIf you want to turn a room from ordinary to something special, consider the opportunity to add architectural detail.

In this family room, from the La Quinta model at Oasis at Queen Creek, ceiling choices combine to make this room extraordinary. First, the coffered ceiling style adds depth and dimension. Choosing a combination of the wall color and a crisp white add valued contrast while emphasizing the structural features.

Lighting choices also add personality. The lights ringing the inside of the ceiling drop bring a soft tone to the ceiling edge. An intriguing ceiling fan and contemporary classic chandelier finish the ceiling’s appeal.

The flooring contributes to the finished look of this room. Porcelain tile planks that mimic wood have increased in popularity lately, as it gives homeowners the chance to have the appealing look of wood with the convenience and low maintenance of tile. This tone complements the wall color well.

The warmth of the room’s color choices are echoed in the décor. Leather seating in the appealing cognac color is supported with a rich pattern and contemporary art in rusts and greens. The room’s layout and the design choices are simple yet inviting. Notice that the baseboards are also white, connecting ceiling and floor in an effective way. This choice provides a good element of contrast.

To see this room in person, stop by our Oasis at Queen Creek community and take the time to visit our models.

Queen Creek Station: Looking to the Future

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Queen_Creek_montageFulton Homes believes in building homes and communities that will last, with a focus on the future. That’s one reason why all Fulton Homes are Energy Star® certified, and Fulton builds the only homes in Queen Creek that are Indoor Air PLUS® certified. These two valuable certifications allow you to benefit from state-of-the-art energy efficiency and the opportunity to live in one of the healthiest homes available.

Fulton Homes continues to take the lead in innovation in master plan home building with Queen Creek Station. We are pleased to build the first community in the United States to include a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling station in all of the homes we build. Fulton Homes is proud to partner with Honda and Southwest Gas to bring this first-of-its-kind program to Queen Creek and the nation.

Visit Peninsula model park to see the Energy Center there. You can take a look at the 2015 Honda Civic and learn how you could fill the car with compressed natural gas right in your own garage. This will eliminate stops at gas stations, save you dollars over standard gasoline and allow you to use the HOV lane during your commute as well as giving you reduced auto registration fees.

The easy walk or bike ride to nearby restaurants, shops and other services can save you even more energy while promoting a pleasant and healthful lifestyle for you and your family.

One final bonus: Fiber-connected ultra-high speed Internet is available at all Queen Creek Station homes, offering speeds up to 1 Gig. So meet the future at Fulton Homes Queen Creek Station. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Fulton Homes at Queen Creek Station

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queen_creek_station_master_planFinding the right home is about a lot more than a floor plan and the number of bedrooms. When you choose a home, you’re also choosing your neighborhood. Would you like to have parks and trails practically right outside your front door? What about living an easy walk or bike ride to a nearby marketplace that includes restaurants, small coffee shops and big stores?

What else are you looking for in a neighborhood? How about easy access to the new Harkins 14 Cineplex, Williams Gateway airport, and Queen Creek Marketplace?

With all this and special amenities such as ramadas, barbeques, basketball courts, toddler play areas and a generous 5000 SF community pool, why not take a look at Fulton Home’s Queen Creek Station? This masterplan community, developed by Fulton Homes with you in mind, also has over three miles of hiking and jogging trails meandering through the area.

Queen Creek Station offers three different series of homes: The Reserve with 1,594 – 3,172 square foot homes from the $230’s, Oasis, with 1,997 – 3,801 square foot homes starting from the $260’s and Peninsula, with 2,714 – 4,204 square foot homes beginning in the $320’s. With 24 different floorplans, you’re sure to find the perfect home for you and your family. And of course, these are all Energy Star® and Indoor Air PLUS® certified Fulton Homes, built with an emphasis on quality.

Why not take a drive out to Ellsworth and Queen Creek Road and see what Fulton Homes has to offer in Queen Creek? Our models are open from 10-6 daily, giving you an idea of how your home could look and feel. Or learn more about Queen Creek Station at our website: http://www.fultonhomes.com/our-communities/queen-creek-station. We look forward to welcoming you.

Try out Unusual Neutrals

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From Ironwood Crossing

From Ironwood Crossing

Are you getting just a bit tired of earth tones and beiges? If you’re not ready to go all out with color, but you’d like to expand your options, consider these almost neutrals: dusky lavender and soft green. Here are a few suggestions for pulling them into your home.

Mix with other soft neutrals: With the addition of grey and cream, this bedroom doesn’t feel like it’s swimming in color. The grey captures elements of the soft light purple, creating echoes without overwhelming the room. Light green on the walls is made gentler with cream drapes and shades. This room has invited color in without making too much of a statement.

Choose a cool metal accent tone: In this case, silver enhances the connection between lavender and grey and it easily reflects both tones.

Don’t be afraid of contrast: Dark nightstands keep the room grounded, and the depth of tone is mirrored in several of the throw pillows, the bed skirt and the frames on the artwork. Although the actual colors vary, bringing in a number of dark elements lets them work together to make the room more interesting.

Minimize the hues: Notice that the walls are a slight green, such a delicate tone that it almost seems to disappear. Green and lavender are an exciting combination, but in a bedroom the goal should be a soft appeal rather than splashy and attention-getting. The lavender tones selected are darker, but contain so much grey that they don’t announce their color. Only the three accent pillows remind you that purple is in the house.

If you’re ready for a new color, a bedroom provides a great place to start. Paint and bedding are not expensive, allowing you to try new ideas.

How to Create a Photo Wall: Part 1

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IMG_0478Most of us have lots of family photos tucked away – older ones in boxes, newer digital ones on our computer, phones or uploaded to instagram or the cloud. But sometimes it can seem overwhelming to display these photos on a wall in your home, even though you would like to. Here are some suggestions for going from a hidden photo collection to one you can share with guests.

Plan a theme. Lots of graduation photos and other professional shots are OK, but your photo wall can be much more fun to look at if you focus on more candid shots such as vacation photos or pictures taken at family events. You can also combine photos of your children at different ages so that people can see the changes as they get older.

Vary the size and shape of the photos. Include both horizontal and vertical shots and choose which photos to emphasize with larger sizes. Warehouse and drug stores can blow up your photos to almost any size.

Crop your photos. Often our pictures have too much unimportant background and the people can get lost. Use an inexpensive software package such as Photoshop Elements to trim the unimportant elements out and let the people shine.

Use simple and similar frames. Many art supply stores offer sales on stock image size frames such as buy one get the second for a penny. Keep your eyes open for those opportunities and buy all of the frames you need at one time. Having a consistent look for frames helps your finished wall look more professional and encourages people to focus on the photos not the frames.

In our next blog we’ll take a look at how to create an effective photo display.