Mosaic Art Backsplash

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Cooley-Station-024-webKitchens are primarily functional, but just a few special touches can also make them stylish and interesting. In today’s homes with a focus on open floor plans, it pays to take the time to make your kitchen stand out.

Choosing just the right tile backsplash is one great way to add style to any kitchen. Your backsplash doesn’t cover a large square footage, so you can select a more expensive tile option without spending a lot of money. The rough-edge subway style backsplash shown adds vintage charm and texture in this kitchen.

Many kitchens take advantage of the generous space between the stove and hood to position a backsplash focal point. You have a lot of choices for this spot. Some people choose a pictorial option, available in both tile and stone. But more often a mosaic adds personality.

Notice the raised framing around this mosaic. It coordinates well with the rustic-edge subway tiles, and the white frame integrates with the painted cabinets. But it all comes to a head with the dramatic mosaic.

The super-small squares combine with a three-tone semi-random geometric design to draw the eye. Its surprising contemporary flavor brings this kitchen into a more modern mood without detracting from the appealing old-world style of the space. It’s interesting how the canisters to the left echo the colors and shapes brought out in the mosaic, providing another integrative element.

A backsplash may seem unimportant, but this kitchen shows the power the right choice can have in making your kitchen uniquely yours.

Outdoor Entertaining

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outdoor-entertainingwThe weather will be warming up shortly and we’ll be rolling right into outdoor party season, so here are a few ideas to make your outdoor events shine.

Seating: Look for ways to provide plenty of seating. From large tables that encourage groups to gather to a scattering of a few chairs here and there for smaller conversational opportunities, be sure to make seating available. Take advantage of your current outdoor furniture, but consider bringing out folding chairs or buying some less expensive resin outdoor pieces that can be stacked out of sight when not needed. Notice also that the water feature and planter provide plenty of room for guests to perch on the edges, a nice bonus from this lovely focal point.

Food and Drinks: People don’t realize that the sun can dehydrate them even in cooler weather. Be sure to provide plenty of food and various types of drinks. Consider offering spring water with slices of lemon and lime or a favorite combination of cucumber and mint infused water to make it even more tempting.

Shade: Many people can handle only a short time in the sun before they start to burn, and once again that’s easier to forget in cooler weather. Provide plenty of shady areas for people to retreat to before sunburns become an issue.

An Indoor Alternative: Some people would rather not spend much time outside due to allergies or other reasons. Be sure to open some of your home for those people who would rather gather indoors. Also make sure people know which restrooms are available for guests.

Your home’s outdoor area can really expand the square footage available for your next party. These steps will help make your outdoor event a success.

Touches of Luxury

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touches-of-luxurywWhen you’re planning your master bedroom, it doesn’t take a lot to make it feel like a luxurious getaway. This bedroom isn’t large, but some thoughtful touches help to create just the right place to relax. Let’s take a look at the choices that make this room work so well.

Color: By pulling a number of related neutrals in the room, the look is soft and inviting. There are a few lighter and darker tones for contrast, but the majority of colors are mid-tones that work well together. This is a smart approach for a medium-sized space, creating a unified feeling.

Texture: From the upholstered headboard and matching benches to the curtains, throw pillows and plush carpeting, everything in this room is soft and inviting. This softness encourages you to sit or lie down and rest.

Patterns on patterns: The mix of patterns in the bedclothes creates a feeling of abundance and extravagance.  The mix of large and small pattern florals with the plaid keeps the bedding from feeling too busy.

Matching elements: The nightstands, lamps, and benches come in pairs, setting a symmetrical pose that creates a sense of serenity. Symmetry leads to relaxation.

Mid-tone wall color: A darker wall color makes a room feel cozy and warm. This golden brown keeps this bedroom inviting and ready for sleep in the evening. Windows let in plenty of light during the day when you want it brighter.

How would you like this bedroom for your own? For an in-person look, come and visit Cooley Station. We’ve got some great ideas for your new Fulton Home.

Cozy Guest Room Doubles as Lounge

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cozy-guest-room-doubles-as-loungewIf you have family and friends who enjoy visiting, particularly when the weather is wintery where they live, having a guest room makes everyone feel welcome. But that’s a lot of space to sacrifice for just a few weeks of use a year. Consider using it as an additional lounging space for family members the rest of the time.

This comfy guest room from the Capital model at Seaboard in Cooley Station has everything needed to make a house guest feel right at home. The bed is roomy and set up with a nice quilt and extra pillows and the desk includes a comfy chair for reading or writing smug postcards or Facebook posts to people back home in colder climates. There’s also a nice lamp for reading. The dark brown walls add to the warmth of the room.

Then once your guests are gone, this room can become an extra space for any family member who wants to relax and spend some alone time. Maybe it works for your high-school student who needs to finish a paper or study without distractions or a parent who wants some quiet time before dinner. It might be the right spot for a few of the junior-high set to plan a party or for mom to sit alone while penning a thank-you note to a favorite aunt.

Having an extra space for relaxing, thinking, reading or chatting that’s set a bit away from the rest of the living space can be nice at times. And this guest room is the perfect opportunity to create a room for this type of double duty.

Family Room Uses Brown

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family-room-uses-brownwWith a strong dark grey influence, it would be easy for this family room from the Capital model at Seaboard in Cooley Station to feel cold. But it doesn’t, and that’s because of the careful use of brown. From the light brown/almost beige of the sofa and loveseat to the dark brown leather on the coffee table/ottoman combo, brown pulls in a feeling of comfort and welcome. Let’s look at the design choices that warm up this space.

Gold walls: The rich gold-brown tone on the walls creates a cozy feeling. Using darker tones helps draw people to a room, making it feel like a special club. This tone is warmer than the flooring so that together they play on the grey and brown tones that make up the color palette of the space.

Plaid chair upholstery: Plaids have always said comfort, and this windowpane pattern in dark tones brings comfort to the foreground. With the ottoman and curtains, they are the darkest elements in the room, and help anchor it without making it feel dreary.

Area rug choice: The mix of greys has an almost tweedy feel, fitting well with the plaid and maintaining the traditional comfort approach. This is a room made for wearing slippers.

Plants: Houseplants in a room always make it feel fresh and homey. Just a few green plants make a difference.

When decorating your family room, think about the choices you can make in both color and style to create an environment that says comfort, to encourage family and friends to relax and stay a while.

Should Auld Acquaintance…

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sparkler-677774_640We’re coming on another new year, and it’s time to let go of 2015. It may have been a particularly good year for you, or not. But we’re starting fresh in a few days, so now is the time to say goodbye and move on. If you’re not sure how to do that, here are a few suggestions.

Take a minute: It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of our lives and never stop and take stock of where we are. The end of the year is a good time to pause and consider where our lives are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed. Are you happy with the choices you made in 2015? Are there things you wish you had done differently? Things you said or left unsaid that you would change? This is your chance to take inventory of your life over the past year.

Let things go: Maybe someone said something hurtful or unkind. Or you’ve been holding a grudge for a slight or someone’s mean behavior. The end of the year is a good time for letting these things go. Not for their sake, but for yours. Let yourself look forward rather than backward. It’s hard to focus on the future if your energy is aimed at the past.

Finish things: Do you have some unfinished business hanging over your head? Now is a good time to stop procrastinating and get it done. Pay bills, write those thank-you notes, call your Aunt Joan, apologize to whoever. Get it done and approach 2016 that much lighter. You will feel so much better.

Post-Holiday Clean-Up Strategy

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christmas-1100723_640Once the holidays are over, it’s time to take down the decorations and return to everyday life. But somehow the things that were so much fun to put up are much less fun to take down. What can you do to make it more enjoyable and easier? Here are a few suggestions to make the process work better for you this year.

Get everyone involved: Do family members that were so eager to light up the house in early December suddenly disappear once the holidays are only a memory? Well, it’s time to change that. Make a list of responsibilities and ask everyone to take on one or more of them. Work shared gets done in much less time.

Build in rewards: Maybe it’s movie tickets, dinner out or something special that your whole family enjoys, but choose something special as a reward once the holiday decor is put away for another year.

Create a new tradition: You may have traditions built around your holiday decorating efforts. Now it’s time to create a tradition or two based on un-decorating. Could there be a particular type of music to listen to? Maybe a word game to play while you put things away? Or a contest to see who finishes first? Whatever it is, make it fun and in keeping with your family’s style of doing things.

Thank everyone: Be sure to show your appreciation for everyone’s help. While the effort should be a family affair, thank you goes a long way toward encouraging people to continue pitching in in future years when decorations need to come down again.

Use All Five Senses This Holiday Season

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tangerines-1087060_640Most of us are pretty good about decorating for the holidays. We may hang wreaths, put up lights, and maybe a tree. Candles always add ambiance, and there may be some heirloom decorations to pull out and share with family and friends.

But when you’re planning to make your home ready for the holidays, be sure to involve all five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. Sight is easy, but here are some suggestions for pulling in the other four.

Sound: Holiday carols always add a nice element to gatherings of family and friends. But consider focusing on specific musical finds. With today’s options, you might play blocks of theme holiday music, such as a retro hour with Bing Crosby or Elvis Presley. Or you could look for carols by a brass quintet. Different styles and moods keeps the music front-and-center.

Taste: Cookies are always a hit, but look for other traditional offerings. For example, spiced cider offers a warm inviting choice while also adding to another sense…

Smell: Cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, baked goods all say happy holidays. Stop at a florist or nursery and pick up some fresh pine boughs to add that sharp winter scent to your home.

Touch: This is a great time to add several hand-knitted throws to your sofa and easy chairs. Pull out a favorite teddy bear or two while you’re at it for guests to cuddle while chatting. Before you know it everyone is more comfy. Think about texture along with color when you plan your holiday decor.

By planning for your holidays with all five senses, you will create a mood in your home that people will remember well into the new year.

“Eating Out”

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outdoor-entertaining2wIt’s hard to imagine with the cold weather we’re encountering right now, but we are probably only weeks away from the perfect time to eat and entertain outside. Here are a few suggestions to make “eating out” easier and more fun.

Choose comfortable outdoor furniture: Today’s outdoor fabrics lend themselves to plush cushions and pillows in bright colors. These new manmade materials can tolerate sun, moisture and dust and many just hose clean. That means that your outdoor dining chairs can be just as comfortable as those you have inside. Take a look at the furniture in the photo above. It’s hard to believe but those cushions can handle the great outdoors.

Prepare for the dust: We live in the desert and you can anticipate needing to wipe the dust off tables and chairs before you use them. To make your life easier, scout out some plastic or canvas covers for your furniture. You still may have some housekeeping, but it will be greatly reduced.

Invest in some stackable, lightweight plastic dishes and glasses. Bringing food and supplies in and out from the kitchen is easier if you can carry more at one time. Plastic also allows you to enlist younger children to help without having to worry about mishaps. And if you have a pool in your backyard, plastic is much safer.

Carry food in and out on trays, or have people serve themselves in the kitchen and bus their own plates back. Schlepping food back and forth should not be the job of just one person. Make a plan that will work best for the group and get people to stick to it. That way everyone can have a good time.

Light and Bright Laundry Room

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light-and-bright-laundry-room-webWhen you’re choosing your cabinetry, remember that your choice will also be part of your laundry room. Selecting a light painted cabinet like this soft cream creates a light and bright laundry room that is a pleasure to work in.

Whether you are sorting and folding clothes or using the space for other activities, the bright feeling of painted cabinets makes the mood inviting. With this light neutral you can choose almost any color for your laundry room, from a soft blue or mint green to darker tones such as navy blue or even metallic gold or copper.

Consider adding a washer and dryer in rich red and adding red accessories to allow that color to pop throughout the room. You could also go with black, letting that contrast make the room’s décor more dramatic and exciting. The color choices are almost endless.

This laundry room provides plenty of built-in storage. What would you use these cabinets for in your home? If you sew, the shelves could hold your fabric stash and equipment. Crafters would benefit from places to fit tools and supplies. This space could also be gift-wrap central or an easy place to put any gifts you buy on sale until you need them.

For a closer look at this laundry room and others, why not visit the Peninsula models at the Oasis at Queen Creek community? We look forward to seeing you there.