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.

 

Accessorizing your Outdoor Areas

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Legacy Models 065 (1)When designing a backyard pool space, often your focus is on the pool itself to the detriment of the rest of the area. This yard, from the O’Connor model at Legacy, shows how some careful attention to the furniture and features of your pool space can turn your yard into an appealing haven for family and friends.

Throughout this yard, clean lines and a contemporary style combine to make this yard clearly the result of a designed approach. The rectangular pool is echoed by the choice of rectangular stones for the hard surfaces. By continuing this same stone at the back of the pool with the raised area that holds the fountains, this yard maintains an inviting consistency.

Legacy Models 060 (1)Take a look at the lounge chairs surrounding the pool. Built for comfort, the blue cushions also add style by mirroring the color of the pool in a darker shade.

The planter shown in the photo to the right combines the sharp lines of every element of this yard with some height and color to break up the generous pool deck. Notice also the dark square next to the furthest lounge chair. Pieces such as these can be moved into various locations as needed, recruited to hold drinks or snacks around the pool.

Altogether, this minimalist approach with its clean lines and limited color palette lends itself to a contemporary approach to your yard. By taking this angle, the outdoor space for this home has the same design aesthetic as the rooms in the home itself. This yard demonstrates that design doesn’t need to stop at the back door.

 

Think Outside the Box with Lighting

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DSC_0020 (1)With the generous amount of wall space and raised ceilings available at the Fulton Homes Legacy community, it pays to think outside the box with your lighting plans. This photo shows several ways lighting adds appeal to a generously-sized space.

DSC_0019This shot, taken from the entryway of the Basha model at Legacy, shows a number of lighting choices. The sconces in the foreground are part of the foyer lighting plan, combined with the dramatic ceiling light shown in the photo to the right. By sticking with the same bronze finish and curved elements, the sconces echo the feel of this large-scale ceiling fixture to create a lighting plan that takes full advantage of the turret-style space.

It would have been easy to use spots on the ceiling of the hall extending from the foyer, but instead three dramatic bowl lights carry the foyer’s focus into the home. In a smaller space these fixtures might grace a dining room, but here the scale is large enough to use them as hall lights.

Legacy Models 115So what type of scale is needed to do justice to the generous dining area provided in this home? Take a look. This photo on the left showcases the powerful impact of a chandelier that fills the space perfectly. The size is impressive, but the graceful lines and use of negative space keeps this light from dominating. Two sconces provide additional light and interest.

Combined, the lighting of this home is designed to pull you into the home from the time you first enter it. Lighting is a powerful tool when decorating your home, as this model demonstrates. Use your lighting choices to welcome people into your home.

 

Using and Accessorizing your Kitchen Island

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Models 081 (1)A large island such as this one from the Fulton Homes’ Legacy community provides the opportunity to accessorize and still have space for functional uses. Let’s look at two versions of this island to see several approaches.

In this first photo, the yellow accessories combine with the green plants to add color to a neutral kitchen. The yellow pops against the dark kitchen cabinets and adds warmth to the view.

Notice that several collections of accessories are positioned on trays. Each tray contains several smaller objects which gives them more importance from a design perspective. More importantly, trays can be easily moved to allow the island to serve as a breakfast bar or buffet for a party or family gathering.

Legacy Models 118In the photo to the right, the accessories bring a darker tone into the light kitchen, linking the island with the backsplash and above-cabinet tiles and anchoring the island in the space. In this case the positioning of accessories provides plenty of room to use the front area as an eating or snacking area without having to move anything.

Both of these islands have a powerful presence in their respective kitchens. By breaking up the surface with carefully-chosen accessories, you can take full advantage of the space while using the area to add interest and charm. Notice that each island’s accessories vary in height and heft. This helps create balance.

You can also use this space to incorporate personal items that make the kitchen your own. If you have heirlooms from a family member or favorite kitchen accessories, islands such as these provide the perfect place to showcase them. And don’t forget these islands’ primary functional purpose – to add much appreciated counter space for food preparation!

 

Lovely Lighting

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Legacy Models 044With the steady increase in higher ceilings and open floor plans, lighting designers have finally started to think bigger with residential chandeliers, with dramatic results.

Take a look at this breathtaking example from the Fulton model home at Legacy. The chandelier inside has some traditional elements such as the candle-shaped lights and display of crystals. But add the surrounding bronze hoops and you suddenly have a daring transitional light that captures the eye and sets the tone for the entire room.

It takes a certain amount of design daring to flash this type of lighting fixture in your home. You can’t take it easy with the rest of the décor. Your other choices will have to live up to this. And you could never get away with it without the space to set it off properly. A high ceiling, plenty of space to showcase its drama, and other architectural details to complement it provide the proper setting.

259 (1)Take a look at its position in the room to the right. It takes two of these chandeliers to make this space work. Adding a second one just contributes to the impact. And the ceiling provides just the right frame for this exciting choice.

The normally-recommended height for hanging a chandelier wouldn’t work here. Too low and these pieces would take over the table, compromising the entire feel of the room. Instead they are positioned half-way from ceiling to table, allowing guests to take in the entire picture when walking into the room.

Is this chandelier the light of your dreams? Visit our models at Legacy and see for yourself. Enjoy this and other lights that are designed to capture your interest and imagination.