When you’re ready to introduce color into a room, do you focus mainly on safe solids, adding maybe one color to an essentially neutral palette? In the concern to avoid a color mistake, many simply avoid it as much as possible.

Take a look at this room where color plays a major role. Strong color and pattern choices in the dining chairs bring this room to a totally new level of design. What makes this room work so well? Let’s take a look.

To start, much of the room is actually neutral in tone. The floor’s luscious ebony wood finish helps the vivid colors pop. The dark brown table supports the warm tones of the chairs in contrast to the cool flooring. The yellow-gold draperies actually serve as a neutral in this space due to their lighter tone and full coverage of the back wall. Finally, the tableware provides the light neutral required to balance the room. All of these elements set the stage for the daring color present in the chairs.

The second reason this room works so well is in the choice of color and pattern. There are two primary pattern choices here – a stripe and a patchwork of floral designs. Both patterns are proportioned to work well on the chairs, and all the chairs are the same design. Now, let’s move from chair to chair to see how they work together despite their differences. First, about five colors are in play in the striped fabric, and these colors are also reflected in the floral patchwork chair. Green, blue, orange and gold are shown in the other chairs and throw pillows. The colors in the striped fabric from chair one are reproduced in the third chair’s pillow.

It takes planning to use this many colors this well. You can spend hours mixing your patterns and colors to get the result you want, but for many people the time and effort is worth it if you end up with a room like this one.

Every culture has its unique characteristics. One of the most interesting is people’s personal territory. This is how close to ourselves we are comfortable allowing strangers.

In the United States, our personal territory extends about 18 inches beyond our bodies. This is why our preferred method of greeting is the handshake – it allows for eighteen inches of distance. In Japan, for example, where the personal territory is three feet, the preferred greeting method is a bow – giving both people the room they need to be comfortable.

Understanding personal territory is very important when you plan seating in your home for a party. Even if your sofa would hold three comfortably, you may find that generally only two sit there. Love seats will generally only hold one. The exception is close family members who often don’t have personal territory among each other.

Notice the seating choices of the four people in this photo. Although there is extra space on the sofa, two of the people have chosen to sit on the floor to keep those 18 inches of personal space safe.

When you plan seating in your home, keep that 18 inch distance in mind. Placing furniture closer may lead to some empty chairs. Farther away and you will see that people will lean in to hold conversations. One good way to keep that distance set is by using an area rug. The right-size rug can define the distance between chairs and sofas, allowing you to set everything in that natural 18-inch comfort zone.

If you anticipate a multi-cultural crowd, it pays to be more flexible in your seating plan. For example, unlike the Japanese, the personal territory in South American cultures is 6-7 inches. There, a kiss on one or both cheeks is a common greeting. Add some floor cushions or movable chairs to allow people to set their own boundaries – letting everyone find their own comfort zone – and your party will be a success!

Children’s furniture needs to change and grow as they do. It’s better to keep your options inexpensive and easy to change over time.

Here is an inviting example of a dressing table if your little girl wants a special spot in her bedroom for jewelry, perfume or just to sit and dream.

This pretty dressing table has space for everything she will want as well as the charm she hopes for in her room.

Start by looking for an inexpensive or used dressing table. If one isn’t available, look for a simple table that you can dress up. This table is an old-fashioned piece of furniture newly-painted white. The glass top cut to fit provides an easy-wipe area for any spills. Add a mirror. Some dressing tables have mirrors included. If not, find a mirror that will coordinate well. If necessary paint the frame the same white as the table.

Look for knobs or pulls that have a feminine touch. Many discount stores have a variety to choose from, or visit a hardware store that specializes in them. Next, a hobby store can provide silk flowers and garlands in almost any color to add girly personality to the space. Add a few pretty boxes and maybe some flowery wrapping paper to line the drawers and it’s all ready.

Notice the simple pink ribbon at the bottom of the bedroom curtain. Simple touches such as this and maybe a pink and white area rug can make any room into your daughter’s dream space.

One of the first homebuilders to offer groutless, natural stone thin panels to homeowners

Fulton Homes, one of Phoenix’s leading homebuilders, has selected ForzaStone Building Solutions as its exclusive supplier of natural stone thin panels. Fulton Homes is one of the first homebuilders in the United States to offer ForzaStone’s panels and provide homeowners with an affordable natural stone option for bathroom and shower installations.

ForzaStone panels are 100 percent natural stone slabs cut to a thin 5mm and adhered to a patented backing system of rust-proof metal alloy and plastic ply laminate. This revolutionary backer ensures that the pre-cut panels, which weigh 3 pounds per square foot, are 800 percent stronger than traditional stone slabs and a fraction of the cost. The end result is a waterproof and groutless shower installation that requires minimal maintenance by the homeowner and all the benefits and beauty of natural stone.

“We are honored to work with one of Arizona’s leading homebuilders and thrilled to expand our business opportunities in our local Phoenix community,” said Jarrod Streng co-owner of ForzaStone.

Fulton Homes will be offering ForzaStone’s travertine panels as an upgrade option available in Walnut Travertine, Noce Travertine and Crema Marfil Marble.

“In addition to being a partnership between two Arizona-based companies, ForzaStone Building Solutions offers products that align perfectly with Fulton Home’s dedication to bringing innovation and value to our homeowners,” said Dennis Webb, Vice President of Operations  for Fulton Homes.

About ForzaStone, LLC

Founded in early 2009, ForzaStone Building Solutions is a leading manufacturer and distributor of natural stone products. Formed by three business partners with more than 30 years of building industry experience, they are dedicated to meeting the need for innovative and affordable products that reduce labor and guarantee value for distributors, installers and homeowners. For more information about ForzaStone products, please visit the company’s website at forzastone.com, or call 1.888.99.FORZA (1.888.993.6792).

More and more, people want to plan environmentally-responsible landscaping. That can mean choosing plants that are native to the area or that will reduce your water use. Another area that is receiving attention is selecting hardscapes – patios and paths – that allow rain water to flow through them to the ground.

As you plan your yard space, it’s worth exploring the increasing number of permeable options. This is not only about taking a better environmental stand, it also helps with your yard’s drainage.

This is a simple and inviting approach to permeable areas. Combining gravel with some tiles or pavers provides a way to create inviting outdoor living areas at a reasonable price without damaging your yard’s drainage patterns.

If you would rather have a solid surface, there are permeable pavers in a number of appealing designs. You could also reverse this look, with larger squares of stone separated by narrow bands of loose gravel. This would give the water places to go while still giving you the outdoor surface you want.

This spa in Bali makes the most of the natural plants and character of the area to create an inviting spot to rest and relax. When you’re ready to explore your outdoor surface options, consider permeability and drainage in your plans.

This store makes no bones about what it is about – high prices. It seems to present the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” attitude. This may draw some customers in, but most value-minded people would laugh and turn away.

Sometimes durable home purchases such as flooring, appliances and countertops may make you feel that there should be signs like this all over the store. But unlike clothing, these items are an investment in your home’s value, appearance, and comfort that lasts for years and never goes out of style.

Just as a silk blouse is more expensive than cotton, some materials cost more to produce and install. It’s up to you whether the look and feel of a silk blouse or a stone floor or countertop is worth the additional cost. Cotton can be beautiful in a different way, and tile or granite can make a room beautiful if stone is not in your budget.

One good way to make value decisions is to take the cost difference between two types of materials and divide the amount by the number of years you plan to live in your home. If you plan to be there for the next ten years, would you be willing to pay X additional dollars every year to have the more expensive product?

Every choice involves evaluating costs and benefits. Instead of thinking in terms of cost, look for value. Consider durability, resale value and how it will make your home look. When you balance cost against what you receive for your money, you can get past sticker shock and make the best choice for you and your home.

Are you interested in purchasing a Fulton Home?  If you and your family have made the decision to move forward and do so, we have a great website tool that can get you started right away!  We offer the process of applying for a mortgage with Wells Fargo online!  On our homepage, you will see a box in the bottom right corner titled “Fulton Mortgage”.  If you click on “Start the Application Process Now” link, you will be directed to the Fulton Mortgage online application!  So, let’s get serious and buy a new house!

This photo has only three colors: brown, green, and a touch of blue. It’s the textures that bring this picture to life.

Take a look at the building itself – barely lighter than the ground in front of it but so intriguing with the old plaster peeling away to expose the stone underneath. Each of the two wood doors has its own personality. The roof with its varied tiles creates a rich contrast to the bark of the foreground trees – all brown but still so different.

Do you think of texture in your home? Combining rough with smooth, knobby with even, shiny with matte finishes adds interest as much as contrasting colors. No, you can’t have a roof like that in your living room, but look for a pillow in dupioni silk with its uneven threads and warm glossy tones that make any color or neutral more interesting. You may not have a tree in your home, but a turned-wood bowl provides a warm accessory.

Do you have carpeting on your floor? Add in smooth and shiny touches to contrast. With a wood floor, a variety of textiles add personality and interest. How about an old bronze bowl from an antique store filled with glass marbles contrasting color and texture?

The warm earth tones of this photo would work beautifully in a home, as long as you also add in the rich patina of texture shown here to make your room interesting and inviting.

Have you noticed that some homes feel light and bright while others feel dark even on the sunniest day? Some of that comes from the number and types of windows in a home, but your decorating choices also have a big influence.

This photo shows what you can do to create a sense of lightness and sunshine in your home. The predominance of white, the use of pastels and bright colors, and bringing in shiny surfaces make all the difference. Let’s see how you can translate this for your own home.

Start with your windows. Do you have window coverings that let in the light without the glare? Cellular shades with translucent segments work well for controlling the light depending upon where the sun hits your windows. Make sure to keep your blinds or shades completely open on lovely sunny days.

Stay with light colors for surfaces and accessories to make the sunshine move through the room. This table has a white surface and the four vases are a simple cream tone. The flowers are mostly pastel or white and the few colors are bright and cheerful. Yellow says sunshine so be sure to include some of that color in your plans.

Add in some shiny reflective elements. The shiny metal keys in the photo reflect the sun. Add in bright silver candlesticks or small decorative mirrors to multiply the impact of the sun in your home.

With a little thought, you can decorate to create a light and bright feeling in every room of your home, no matter what the weather outside!

We’ve outlined our different communities before in previous blogs, but what we didn’t mention was our interactive map.  If you click on the “Our Communities” tab at the top of our homepage, you will be directed to a page that displays a map on the left side and a list of the different communities on the right hand.  The map displays houses that are forsale at their location.  If you drag your mouse over the house icons, each listing will pop up individually.  We do this so you can understand exactly where the house is and you can choose your location first!  We hope you enjoy this tool!