Create a Space to Learn

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Marquesas-Ironwood--reading-nook-webIf you want your children to grow up to be good readers and students, there are choices you can make in your home décor to help support that goal. This corner in the Marquesas model from Ironwood Crossing demonstrates some important elements to consider.

A place for books: Plan for bookshelves in your home. You can have some built-in or select a piece of furniture such as this white shelf that provides plenty of space for books and yet still has its own style.  Don’t worry if you can’t fill them up right away. Just add accessories so that your book collection has room to grow.

A comfy chair: The upholstered chair and ottoman set to the left in the photo provides the perfect place to curl up with a book. Remember to include opportunities in terms of both time and space for reading.

A workable desk: Look for a desk with at least one drawer for supplies and a place for papers and files. Notice the three-tier storage container on this desk. It has a charming look and provides easy access to paper clips and other items your children might need to complete their homework.

Good lighting: The drop-down light fixture over the desk provides crisp task lighting for any project. Consider adding a good floor lamp behind that comfy chair too so that reading is easy in the evening.

A fan: sometimes having the air move around can keep a tired student more alert while studying. Good ventilation with a fan makes the area feel livelier when someone is focused and working.

Thoughtful design: Above all, make the reading and homework area charming and coordinated rather than an afterthought of leftover pieces. This effort shows your child or children that their time spent reading or doing homework is important, just as they are.

Guest Room Doubles as Personal Retreat

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guest room Marquesas

From the Marquesas model at Ironwood Crossing

It’s nice to have a guest room in your home. If you have family and friends back east, it’s great to have a place to invite them so that they can escape the cold winter weather. Or if old friends or family have ended up scattered, it’s easier to encourage visits when you have a special place for them to stay in your home.

But even the busiest guest room has its down times, and that extra bedroom is always prime real estate in your home. So what can you do with the space between visitors? Well, this may be the perfect opportunity to create a special retreat just for you.

Even the most wonderful of families can get overwhelming at times, and this room could be your escape to relaxation. Whether you use it to read, watch your shows on television, take a nap or just sit and think, what a treat to have a room that’s just for you. Here are a couple of suggestions to make it special.

Have a comfy place to sit. This room turned a trundle bed into a day bed with the right kind of frame and pillows. Without eliminating a sleeping space, suddenly a bed is also a sofa, just waiting for you to settle in with a good book and a snack.

Decorate it to your personal taste. Add artwork, colors and accessories that mean something to you. Maybe you have a quilt your grandmother made, hang it on the wall where you can see and enjoy it. Or some mementos from school or special events could find a place in this room. These memories can be shared with guests, making your choices extra special.

Make room for a hobby. Do you like to sew, build models, or paint? Whatever you enjoy doing with your leisure time can be part of your personal space. These things can make your guest room an everyday treat for you rather than a room that stands empty between visitors.

Mosaic makes Strong Statement in Bathroom

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Ironwood-bathroom-web-readySmaller spaces can capture interest with just a couple of daring design decisions. This bath, from the Marquesas model at Ironwood Crossing, has all the elements of a good design, particularly given the available space. Let’s take a look at why this bathroom works so well.

Make a splash with mosaic tiles. By choosing to position a stripe of highly contrasting tiles in the shower surround, this bathroom moves from blah to drama. Notice that the mosaic is repeated on the vanity backsplash. This shows a consistency of design and connects the two pieces – vanity and tub – together from a design standpoint.

Match flooring and tub surround materials. When working with a smaller space, using similar colors and textures for large surfaces help the room feel bigger. This choice has personality but doesn’t overtake the room.

Pull from a consistent color palette. In this case, white, taupe and cool browns integrate well with each other making this bathroom feel like a well-crafted unit.

Stay contemporary with clean lines. When your space is smaller, the simple lines of modern styles are less distracting. Your eye moves easily from one element to the next, making the room flow.

Add a few sophisticated elements. The color-blocked shower curtain adds an element of style that complements the mosaic. Altogether this is an interesting and inviting design.

Choose one accent color that pops. Notice the small elements of bright yellow in this room. The oval soap dish toward the front of the photo gets an echo from a thin yellow stripe on the shower curtain. Adding just one or two items in a signature accent color add a spark to this well-designed space.

Are you Ready for a Swimsuit?

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Legacy Models 063 (1)Summer is around the corner and with that comes shorts and swimsuits. If your body is still in inter mode and you feel better covered up, here are a few suggestions to help get you back in fighting trim.

Make healthful snacks easy. Keep raw veggies washed and ready to munch, and make a tasty dip with Greek yogurt and your favorite dip mix. That gives you something fun and still good-for-you. Think fruit too. This time of year some of the best berries and summer fruits start to show up on store shelves at reasonable prices. Fresh raspberries and blueberries are loaded with antioxidants and still feel indulgent.

Build in Exercise. How about putting that stationary bike or treadmill in front of the big TV instead of tucked into a corner of your spare bedroom? With it sitting there asking to be used, you’re more likely to take advantage of it. Pick out a favorite old television series from Netflix or on DVD and watch one or two episodes a day while taking a walk or cycling. You’ll be surprised how quickly that regular exercise pattern becomes a good habit.

Go shopping. It may be time to explore the newer styles of bathing suits and shorts. Something new can help you feel good when you’re out and about. Be sure to check out some of the great deals for today’s styles online. Many online shops have good return policies if something doesn’t work.

Have fun. Remember that summer and swimming are about getting out and getting cool, not how you look. Enjoy yourself and go for a swim –after all, swimming is good exercise too!

Dark Blue Focal Wall Creates Drama

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Models 019Sometimes it takes just one daring design decision to turn a room into something special. This family room is lovely, but without the dark blue focal wall, it would feel rather boring. Instead, the dark blue makes this room. Here are some tips for using a strong color like this and making it work.

Balance light and dark. Because this room has so much natural light, the dark blue wall adds personality while still letting the room feel light and airy. Light flooring and furniture also contribute to the well-strutured contrast of light and dark.

Pull the color into the room. Don’t let the strong color on one wall stand alone. In this room the navy sofa across the room ties everything together. A few blue bottles on the coffee table also support the blue theme. However, there’s not enough to make it feel overwhelming.

Bring in a second accent color. In this room, touches of yellow provide a positive contrast to the dark blue. Once again, just a few elements make the difference. Two matching ottomans flank the seating area, connecting with the tall yellow vase against the dark wall. Touches of yellow in the rug finish the connection.

Pay attention to the neutrals. Choosing a cool consistent tone for the neutral pieces in the space let the pops of color stand out. This shade of grey makes the blue and yellow stand strong while not looking out of place.

Take a look at your home. Do you have a wall that would benefit from a strong focal color? Why not take a chance?

Make your Backyard Special

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corsica ironwood crossingWith a little planning, your backyard can become another entertainment, eating or relaxing space. The secret is setting up several independent “rooms” using furniture or other elements to define each functional space. Let’s take a look at one approach – this backyard from Ironwood Crossing’s Corsica model.

Use color and style. Just as you want to coordinate the colors and design choices in an open kitchen-family room-dining space in your home, you want to ensure that every separate area in your outdoor space works well together. Look for table and chair sets that use the same colors as your outdoor seating arrangements or bar chairs.

Notice in the photo above, the cushioned bar seating around the outdoor kitchen matches the cushions in the seating area. Also the chair backs coordinate with the outdoor dining chairs. This makes your yard feel coordinated and thoughtfully-designed rather than a haphazard collection of items.

Add accessories. While you don’t want to accessorize the outdoors at the same level as the inside of your home, a few additions make a difference. The plants in pots scattered through the yard contribute to the charming feel of the space, and adding throw pillows in the seating area gives it a finished look.

Consider the ground surface. If you add pavers, tile or finished concrete for a consistent appearance, they can make everything feel integrated. In this backyard grass, planters and columns create a sense of separation.

Think about what you want from your backyard and you can suddenly expand your home’s choices and add charm and fun to your home.

Use Pinterest to Help Create the Home of your Dreams

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pinterest_fultonAre you planning to move into a new Fulton Home soon? Or maybe you’re still getting settled and deciding how to decorate your new home. Well, even if you’re just looking for ideas to update your home and add some pizazz, we suggest checking out Pinterest.

If you’re not familiar with Pinterest, it is set up like a collection of bulletin boards, allowing you to capture a favorite room, product, color or idea and save it in categories of your choice. For example, you may want to look at kitchens, or possibly just different backsplashes. Just open a Pinterest account of your own, add a board named for whatever you want to explore, and then use the search option at the top to see what’s out there.

Of course, you’re welcome to visit our Pinterest site. We have 70 boards holding almost 1,400 pins, and we add new ones just about every week. Our pins range from various home categories such as dining rooms and closets to more family-oriented topics such as our newest addition: Arizona Summer Safety.

The Fulton Home’s Pinterest site has been designed with you in mind. Whether you’re looking for ideas for general entertaining, birthday parties or something special for Father’s Day, we invite you to check our boards out for suggestions and tips. And if you like it, follow it for a chance to stop by easily whenever you want.

And if you discover something of value, whether on one of our boards or any others, you can just repin to your own Pinterest site to hang on to the idea and information. Then when it’s time to plan that party or redo that bathroom, all of your ideas are saved in one place.

If you are looking for information or ideas that we don’t list on our site, just let us know and we can add a board or pins to answer your questions or provide tips. After all, it’s there for you. Check out our Pinterest site by clicking here. We look forward to your visit.

Ironwood Crossing

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ic_masterplanFulton Homes takes pride in its planned communities with amenities selected to suit the home buyers. They are also set in locations close to shopping and good schools. Ironwood Crossing demonstrates that commitment to neighborhoods you will be proud to live in, with an Aquatic Center, Community Clubhouse, parks and other shared benefits that make a group of homes into a special community.

Located at Ironwood and Ocotillo in Queen Creek, twenty parks, approximately one for every 100 families, offer every homeowner a selection of ramadas, barbeques, basketball courts and shade structures. The Aquatic center has a splash pad set off from the main pool area so that small children can play in safety. The 7000 square foot pool is half covered to shade swimmers from the sun. It also includes separate restrooms and a
clubhouse with a kitchen – perfect for neighborhood or family parties.

ic_aquatics_center1The community is part of an excellent school district – the J.O. Combs Unified School District – and the Legacy Charter School offers education from grade Kindergarten to sixth grade right within Ironwood Crossing itself.

Outside amenities are also easily accessible, with a new Banner Hospital only two miles south and over one million feet of retail to provide shopping, services and dining. Ironwood Crossing was designed for affordable family living, with everything homebuyers need to make a good home for their families.

It’s no wonder that Ironwood Crossing was named the best-selling master planned community in Arizona. We invite you to visit our sales office and see the possibilities for yourself.

Fulton Homes Named 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year

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carousel_quote_v2We’re proud at Fulton Homes that we have been named 2015 ENERGY STAR partner of the year.

Why is Fulton Homes committed to building only ENERGY STAR certified new homes? Because this certification ensures that you get a better house.

When we apply rigorous ENERGY STAR requirements to our new homes, the result is a home that is constructed better from the ground up, providing you with better durability, better comfort, as well as substantially-reduced utility and maintenance costs (up to 30% savings compared to a typical new home). This makes an ENERGY STAR certified home your logical choice for energy efficiency.

carousel_supergirl_3Building in Benefits for You

The fully-integrated approach to design and construction that is required to receive ENERGY STAR certification makes a difference you can see, feel, and hear. We apply these tried-and-true best building practices are applied to every ENERGY STAR certified new home, giving you the following plusses:

Reduced Leaks and Drafts: We minimize warm and cold spots through comprehensive air sealing, quality-installed insulation, and high performance windows and doors.

More Consistent Temperatures: With the installation of a high-efficiency heating and cooling system, designed for optimal performance you will experience better comfort in every room, year round.

Better Durability:With the comprehensive water management system built into your home, including flashing, moisture barriers, and heavy-duty membranes, roofs, walls and foundations are protected from moisture damage.

Improved Indoor Air: To keep your indoor fresh and refreshing, your ventilation system includes a fresh-air system that introduces a controlled amount of outdoor air. Combined with a high-performance filter, this improves air quality while reducing the dust, pollen and other allergens we experience here in the desert.

Peace of Mind: ENERGY STAR certification requires independent inspections and testing by trained and certified professionals, so you can sleep well knowing things were done right.

The average ENERGY STAR certified new home saves its families about $300 each year. And compared to other new homes, these homes reduce greenhouse gases by about 3,700 pounds per year, equivalent to the emissions absorbed through planting 43 trees. At Fulton Homes, we hope you will join our homeowners and over 1.5 million others across the United States and make the choice to purchase only an ENERGY STAR certified home.

Attack Closet Clutter

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closet_montage_Ironwood-webAre you finding it hard to keep even the most generous closet you’ve ever had under control? Even if your master closet is as spacious as this one from Ironwood Crossing, it may be time for a serious attack on your clothes clutter. Let’s take this step-by-step so you can take back your closet and stop going crazy every time you step into it.

Step 1: Empty your closet. This may seem foolish, overwhelming, or unnecessary, but you need to start this way to truly make a difference. There are several reasons for this. One is you may find that once your closet is empty, it could do with a cleaning. Clothes can hide a multitude of sins. Vacuum the floor and wipe down the shelves and clothes poles. You’ll start feeling better immediately. Pile your clothes on the bed and put shoes, purses and anything else you find in there on the floor.

Step 2: Remove anything that doesn’t belong in your closet from the room. Did you discover where you hid that birthday present for your daughter that you couldn’t find when you wanted to? Maybe your closet has become a catch-all for books, papers or other items you wanted to stash quickly before company came. Whatever it is, if you don’t want it in your finished closet, get it out of the bedroom.

Step 3: Take each clothing item and honestly decide whether it belongs in your wardrobe. You’ll hear people say that if you haven’t worn something in a year, then it should go. Instead, take a look and decide if you feel attractive and comfortable in it. If the answer is yes, it stays. No and it goes. Try on any clothes or shoes you’re not sure about and take the time to look in the mirror. Would you buy each item again if you saw it in the store? If the answer is no, get rid of it. Check the look of purses, scarves or other accessories. Let go of items that are worn, out of style, or that you’re simply tired of wearing.

Step 4: Create a plan before rehanging your clothes. Do you like to have work clothes in one section and weekend clothes in another? Maybe you want to sort by color or type of fabric. Have you been hanging clothes that would do better folded in a drawer? Figure it out and replace accordingly.

Step 5: Use bins and baskets to sort shelves. Keeping smaller things contained by category will make it easier to stay organized. Shop your own home for likely boxes and other containers before rushing off to the store. You may find some solutions that work well and add a decorative touch to your closet.

Step 6: Add some hooks to the door or a free wall. These can be used for clothes you’ve worn once but that aren’t yet ready for laundering. They’re also handy for scarves and belts. Hooks can help you keep everything off the floor, which makes a closet feel more spacious and workable.

Step 7: Pack up the give-away clothes and get them out of the house immediately. Otherwise you may be tempted to dive in and rescue some items later. Don’t let that happen.

Step 8: Step back and admire your handiwork! This has been quite a job but you now have a closet filled with clothes you love. Be sure to reward yourself for your hard work – maybe by going shopping???