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Your Entertainment Wall

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Legacy Models 071 (1)Designing an entertainment wall involves balancing design and function. You want a good place for the large HD TV while still keeping the screen itself low-key when it’s not turned on. These suggestions can help you think about what will work in your home.

Use color wisely: Dark grey-purple on the focal wall in this photo from Legacy draws the eye while reducing the footprint of the screen. The shelves and cabinet bring in lighter tones and the space is large and flexible enough to make changes in the future.

Models 065Incorporate an additional focal point: By adding the fireplace under the niche holding the television in the photo to the left, also from Legacy, the space feels nicely orchestrated. The screen becomes another dark rectangle, adding depth and balance to the light stone face. Once again dark purple draws the eye, with free-floating shelves providing opportunities to display accessories and carry the light tones out to the sides.

Consider seating: Positioning seating toward the entertainment area makes it more comfortable to watch programs, but you may want to place some seating facing toward the conversation area rather than aiming everything at your entertainment wall. This encourages discussion when you have guests, and the chair or chairs can easily be turned if they are needed for viewing a particular event or program.

Create flexible lighting options: A lighting arrangement that works well for a gathering may not serve your needs while watching your screen. Make sure you plan for both situations when setting up your lighting. A few ceiling spots may be all you need for television viewing, or consider a dimmer switch to provide enough ambient light while avoiding a glare on the screen.

Your family room can be flexible enough to meet all of your entertainment needs, whether you’re spending the evening chatting with friends or enjoying a DVD of a favorite film. Take the time to create a space that works for you and your family –in terms of both style and function.

 

The Pleasure of Water

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Legacy Models 053Many thousands of years ago, desert dwellers knew that the presence, sight, sound and feel of water moving helped people cope with the hot dry desert. Today in the Southwest, commercial and residential landscape designs improve when you add water.

The Fulton Homes’ models at Legacy take full advantage of water’s power to soothe and create an inviting ambience. Positioning a fountain in the front courtyard like this one at Legacy draws the summer back a bit and allows visitors to refresh themselves even before entering your home.

Legacy Models 104If you want water to contribute to the comfort of your landscape, the following tips can help you make the best choice for your home.

Stop and look: Does the water’s spray catch the light? Is there a natural place to dip your hand in to catch a bit of moisture? Is the fountain visually appealing? Choose a fountain that you will enjoy looking at every day.

Listen: Make sure you have a chance to hear how your fountain will sound. Does the water sound musical? Is it an inviting background to conversation or quiet time? If your yard experiences traffic noise, a fountain provides a great way to mask and distract the ear. Make sure you choose one that has the right sound for your needs.

Integrate it in the space” Does the fountain match the look and style of your home? Can you incorporate some of the same materials that you already have in your landscape to make a stronger connection? Consider adding rocks, plants, tile and any other elements that will make your fountain seem like an organic part of your yard, not an afterthought.

Follow these suggestions and you will discover the water feature that helps make your desert landscape bloom winter and summer.

 

Flooring that stands out

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DSC_0086Flooring often serves a passive role in decorating, as the background for other, more exciting things. But take a look at what happens when you give flooring top billing. These two examples from Fulton Home’s models at Legacy demonstrate the power of bringing flooring to the foreground.

The picture above shows the floor extending out from an entryway. Immediately your eyes are drawn down the hall and into the home. This combination of stone and wood provides a path and a promise that this is no ordinary place. The diagonal setting makes that point stronger and adds a dynamic feel. It pays to consider placing flooring on the diagonal. It can create a feeling of added space and energy. In this instance, the strong contrast also provides interest.

DSC_0108Small spaces provide another place to experiment with unusual flooring choices. This basic bathroom becomes intriguing with the addition of flooring in an ascending block pattern. Three shades of tile make up the drama here, capturing the eye. One of our Facebook fans suggested adding Escher prints on the walls to make this bathroom a statement space.

There’s no denying that these floors are a design risk, but why not take a few chances in your home? If these are too far out of your comfort zone, how about adding a border or some sort of contrast in your flooring. Remember that your floor and ceiling are the fifth and sixth walls in your home, so why should the first four have all the fun?

 

Pops of Color

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Legacy Models 057Neutrals always feel safer when you’re decorating, but staying safe keeps you from enjoying the power of color in your home. If more vivid colors seem overwhelming or just too risky, consider taking a chance with a few pops of color. Here are a few ways to let color help bring your home to life.

A strong accent wall: Paint, wallpaper or fabric can turn one wall into a natural focal point with a strong color choice. And the option is relatively easy to eliminate if you aren’t happy with the result. Take a look at this entertainment area in the family room of the O’Connor model at Legacy. The deep purple has enough gray in it to soften the impact on the wall, and neutral furniture, shelves and accessories keep the overall feeling rather low-key.

Contrasting accessories: Adding the yellow glass bowl on the right side of this console helps the space to really pop. Yellow is the complementary color to purple, which means that they are on opposite sides of the color wheel. By adding just a small touch of yellow, the purple becomes more purposeful in the space. The other complementary colors are blue and orange and red and green. If your colors seem drab, adding just a spot of the color on the other side of the wheel will add a spark.Legacy Models 027 (2)

Let color infuse your focal point. This Bertazzoni Range in rich dark red creates a new energy in this kitchen. Other neutrals start to feel like the background elements, allowing this retro range to stand out. (Photo from the Fulton Model at Legacy.)

So jump into color – starting small or with a big push – and let your home’s décor pop!

 

The Right Study for You

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Legacy Models 105Almost more than any room in your home, the study should fit your functional needs. If you are one of the fortunate people who can work from home, you will find yourself spending a lot of time in this room. And even if you head out to work every day, your study may become the perfect place to pay bills, handle any work you need to take home, or even review your email and other social media accounts.

With the commitment of time and energy a study may require, why not make it work in a way that really suits your needs? While function is number one, it’s also worth it to take the time to make it a room you enjoy spending time in. Here are a few things to consider as you plan your study’s functional needs and décor.

Legacy Models 045Desk space: If you use a laptop, you need less space than a desktop takes, but you may still want to plan additional room for holding notes or any mail you need to deal with when you get home. If your study is also your main workspace, consider room for in and out boxes and anything else that would make your work easier and more efficient.

Storage: Do you need file space or space for office supplies? Look for furniture style-file cabinets and other pieces so that your study is functional while still fitting in with the rest of your home.

Lighting: In addition to any ceiling lighting, take a look at floor and desk lamps to add just the right light as needed to do your work effectively. Think also about the ability to change the lighting depending upon the moment’s needs. The kind of light you need while working at the computer may be completely different from what you want when meeting with someone on business.

Style: If you like traditional looks, consider something like the study shown above. The stone wall adds a nice unusual pop of texture while staying in the traditional vein. On the other hand, if you want something more daring, how about a study like the one on the right? From the flooring to the ceiling light fixture, this room has a unique feeling.

Above all, make your study a space that works for you in every way, from function to style, so that you enjoy the time you spend there.

 

This Year, Make a Dream Come True

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hand-1112469_640We have a habit of focusing on resolutions every New Year – focusing on fixing things we think we’ve been doing wrong or trying to be better than we have in the past. If you’re like most of us, these resolves shortly get left behind as quickly as the confetti and noisemakers that heralded midnight. Well, this year, how about doing something different.

How about making one of your dreams come true.

It could be a small dream, like learning how to paint with watercolors, or quilt like your grandmother did. Or maybe quite a big dream, like finishing college or buying a home of your own.

It could be taking a trip – back home to the place where you grew up or to Europe or Japan, or Disneyland or New York City. Maybe you’ve always wanted to take ballet lessons or learn another language. Maybe you’ve been afraid to try something new. Maybe you think you’re too old, too busy, not smart enough, not something enough. But, just maybe, you can do it. Maybe this is the year you can at least make a start. Here are some steps to begin.

Give yourself permission. It’s easy to support other people’s dreams, but sometimes it’s not as easy to support your own. Other things get in the way. Spouses, children, parents and other life responsibilities may make you think your dream is silly or not important. But if this dream has been around for a while, it is important. Let yourself strive for it.

Write your dream down. Studies have shown that people who write down their goals are much more likely to reach them. Just the act of putting your dream on paper makes it more real. Put it somewhere where you can see it every day.

Figure out what you need to do to start reaching your dream. You don’t have to plan the entire path out. But maybe you could lay out the first two or three steps. Once you have those completed, then take the time to figure out the next step, and the next. Before you know it, you will be on your way.

And there’s nothing better than heading down the path to a dream come true. Here’s wishing you a New Year filled with everything you dream of now and in the future.

 

Homework Central Approaches

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DSC_0184 (1)What can you do to help facilitate your children’s attention to homework? There are a number of approaches suggested, ranging from insisting that homework be finished immediately after school and parents keeping close track, to a more hands-off style where you expect the child to stay on top of it or suffer the consequences in school. Most parents fall somewhere in the middle.

There are things you can do to make the homework process easier without taking a “homework police” role. Here are a few suggestions.

Help each child create a test and homework calendar. Different classes could be designated by color, and milestones set for larger projects. This way both of you can keep up with what is due when, and “Have you checked your calendar” seems friendlier than “Did you do your homework yet?”

Designate a homework location in your home, complete with desk, office supplies, and a computer if needed. In this teen room located in the O’Connor model at Legacy, the desk provides good lighting, room for a laptop, and drawers and cupboards for books or knapsacks. You could add some office features such as in-and-out boxes, and there’s even room for a printer. With just a few additions, you can create a special “homework central” so that everything is ready whenever your child is.

To make it feel even more like a personal office, you could replace the artwork with a bulletin board and pin the current month’s calendar to it. Providing the opportunity to be organized makes the entire homework process easier and more enjoyable.

Finally, a few simple rewards such as a snack waiting when homework is done provide an extra incentive to finish and get to more fun activities.

 

Time to Make a Dream

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hand-1112469_640Many people make resolutions at the New Year. And almost as many people break them. Instead, this year, how about deciding to make a new start on something? How about making one of your dreams come true?

It could be as simple as a childhood wish to visit New York City, or take up painting. Or as complex as going back to school to finish that degree. Whatever it is, it’s all about giving yourself permission to give yourself a gift – a positive thing rather than the self-punishing approach that resolutions seem to have.

Here are some steps to take to help make that dream start to come true in 2016.

Admit it: Does it seem silly? Even Childish? Do you think it’s unrealistic? Are you afraid people might laugh at you? So you’ve always wanted to write a novel, go to Disneyland, see a Broadway play on Broadway, sing in a choir. Whatever your dream, acknowledge it to yourself. If you don’t want to share it with others, don’t.

Write it down: Somehow the act of putting it on paper makes it more real. Study after study has shown that people who write their goals down are much more likely to reach them.

Plan the first steps: You don’t have to create a complete blueprint all the way from where you are to the end result, but figure out the first couple of things you can do to take you closer to your dream. Maybe it’s as simple as making a phone call, looking up something on the Internet or even figuring out a budget. But nothing’s going to happen without those first steps, and something can happen once you make them.

So in 2016, don’t make a resolution. Instead, make one of your dreams come true.

 

Kitchen-Smart Ways to use Cabinet Drawers

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Legacy Models 025In most of the kitchens of yesterday, you needed three drawers: one for silverware, one for other cooking utensils, and one “junk” drawer. Today’s kitchens often offer more sets of drawers than before. But what do you do with these extras? Here are a few suggestions.

Table linens: Placemats, tablecloths and even fabric napkins are making their way to lunch and dinner. A drawer allows you to lay these items flatter, leading to fewer wrinkles.

Serving dishes: Larger plates and platters take up a lot of room on a shelf. Consider storing them in drawers instead, enabling you to look down and select just the right bowl or other containers for a family dinner or party.

P241ots and pans: Deeper drawers are a great place to store frying pans and smaller pots. No need to stack much with a broad base for setting each item in its place.

Plastic containers: One tip, you can store the bases in one drawer and the lids in another, shallower drawer nearby. Everything stays more organized this way and you can take full advantage of your drawer space.

Office or homework supplies: The kitchen island provides a perfect place for completing homework or paperwork. Consider using one of the island drawers to hold your supplies, making it easy to grab a pen or paper clip as needed.

If you take the time to think outside the box when it comes to your kitchen drawers, in no time every one will be full and you’ll wonder how you ever managed in a kitchen without them all!

 

Outdoor Entertaining in Winter

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DSC_0038Although winter in the Southwest is nicer than in many other parts of the country, there are still plenty of chilly days and evenings. When you want to plan an outdoor party, there are things you can do to keep your guests warm and happy even when the weather is a bit nippy. Here are a few suggestions.

Set up a windbreak. Often the cold is worse when there is a strong breeze. Most of us don’t have an indoor courtyard like this one in Fulton Home’s Basha model at Legacy, but you can use fencing, foliage or even canvas to help protect your guests from the brunt of the wind.

Build a fire: If you have an outdoor fireplace you can just add wood or turn on the gas. But even if you don’t have this option, consider building or purchasing a fire pit. The flames add immediate warmth and provide a cozy place for people to gather. To take full advantage, offer the makings for s’mores along with some toasting forks for marshmallows. People will be much less likely to mind the cold.

Serve hot beverages or soup. When people are warm inside they will feel toastier outside. Plan your menu and any appetizers accordingly. Soup or chili makes an inviting cold weather entrée and hot cocoa, tea, cider or coffee helps keep the warm feeling even after the meal is over.

Make indoors an option. Some people have a hard time dealing with cold weather. Be sure to include some indoor seating and choices for those who simply can’t get comfortable outside.

With a little planning, you don’t have to let colder weather keep everyone indoors. Take advantage of an opportunity to throw a chilly but fun party.