Make a Fulton Home Yours: Bathroom Design Online

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Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 11.15.52 PMIs this the master bath of your dreams? The rich espresso cabinetry, the daring finish on the vanities and shower surround? What about the oil-rubbed bronze choice for faucets, mirror frame and shower trim?

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 11.16.10 PMHere’s the surprise. This really is a dream bathroom, created through the Fulton Homes bathroom design tool on the Fulton website. This is just one of hundreds of choices you can make while experimenting with what your dream bathroom will entail. Do you want a tub and shower – that layout is available to experiment with, or maybe you want tile on the walls or lighter flooring.

Why not try out every choice? It just takes seconds to select another option, and you can save your favorites on your personal Fulton Homes account. Here’s a second approach to the same bathroom, with a lighter and cooler palette and using brushed nickel instead of oil-rubbed bronze.

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 11.17.02 PMHere’s another bathroom created on the website. Notice that the details below the image give you the specifics for each product you chose, down to the paint color. Just print your favorite or favorites out and bring them to the Fulton Design Center to help you as you move from imagination to reality – making your bathroom match the one you dream about.

Why not experiment? Visit here to create your own look!

Make a Fulton Home Yours – Kitchen Design Online

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Fulton Design Center Kitchen Vignette

Fulton Design Center Kitchen Vignette

Is this your dream kitchen? Maybe – but what if you would rather have a more traditional cabinet style, a lighter wood, and a more dramatic range hood.

But maybe you’re not sure. You have an appointment at the Fulton Design Center next week, but you are still debating about the look you want in your kitchen.

Well, you’re in luck. With Fulton Homes Design Online program for kitchens, you can take a look at many styles and tones of cabinets, different countertops, flooring, lighting, backsplashes, appliances and even paint. Thinking about lighter cabinetry – try it out here. Are the black appliances too dark against the cabinets you like, switch to stainless steel – you can always switch back if you prefer.

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 11.11.39 PMSave your favorites so you can go back and review them later. Fulton lets you create your own account to collect your ideas.

The best part is your ability to try just one little change to see which way you like your kitchen best. Thinking about staggered cabinets but you’re not sure? Try your kitchen both ways to see which appeals to you the most. Dark cabinets can look good with dark countertops, but you might find a golden tone works best for the kitchen you want.

No, Fulton doesn’t offer every choice here that you have at the Fulton Design Center – it would take you forever to narrow everything down online with the incredible mix of options available. But this does give you a tool to figure out what you want as an overall look. Print out your favorite and bring it with you to your design appointment. Then focus on selecting just the perfect options to make your kitchen as unique as you are.

Why not experiment? Visit http://www.fultonhomes.com/kbchanger/changer to create your own look!

Architectural Features Make a Home Yours

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From the Fulton Home Daylight Plan

From the Fulton Home Daylight Plan

A staircase can be so much more than the path between levels in a home. In this case, the combination of wood and wrought iron make this staircase into a central architectural feature in this house. Imagine it decorated with greens for the holidays or used as a background for family photos.

When you buy a new Fulton home, selecting your model and community is just the starting point. When you visit Fulton’s online and physical design centers, you will begin to discover the choices you have to make your home totally yours.

Want a darker or lighter wood railing? You can have it. Would you like a simple modern look? It’s available. And notice the little extras such as the on-the-floor outlet for lighting. If you want wainscoting in your dining room or an arts & crafts look in the living room, the selection of special architectural features available through the Fulton Design Center will help you meet your design goals.

With a Fulton home, you can have the advantage of well-planned communities with production prices while selecting those special extras that make your home feel like a custom creation. With hundreds of combinations of architectural touches, built-in cabinetry, flooring, lighting and other options, your home will be unique, inviting and totally yours.

Our team of skilled and knowledgeable designers looks forward to helping you dream and create the home that fits your style and needs.

A Space all your Own

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Kitchen DSC_0292Yes, this is a lovely kitchen. Pendant lights hang down on an oversized island. You have plenty of room to fix even the most complex of meals. But we’re not talking about the kitchen today. Instead, take a look to the left in this photo – to a small room off the kitchen with a built-in desk and cabinets. That space belongs to you.

What would you do with this piece of real estate all your own with no structured purpose? It could be a spot for organizing the household – keeping the family calendar updated along with lists of responsibilities and plans for upcoming weekends.

It could be used to track and pay bills, check email and visit Facebook or Pinterest. Or how about using the space for scrapbooking or writing holiday cards or thank-you notes? The cabinets above the desk could hold extra notepaper or those holiday cards you bought on sale last January – easy to find when November rolls around again.

What about gift wrapping? It might be the place where you keep extra office and school supplies or even some art supplies for emergency homework projects. You could tuck yourself in here every evening with a nice cup of tea and write up your to-do list for tomorrow – or just read a magazine.

Finally, this space could fuel your dreams. Always wanted to start your own business? You could start it here. It’s your space to do with what you want. Fulton Homes wants to help you make all of your dreams come true, and give you the space for it.

Dream Closet

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From the Fulton Homes Starlight Plan

From the Fulton Homes Starlight Plan

What would your dream closet be like? First, it needs to be more than a walk in. Ideally it would be large enough to use as a dressing room. Next, you want to have the space to allow you to see everything so you can plan your outfit for the day.

The idea of a place for everything and everything in its place fits your dream closet. Look for racks to hold shoes, hooks for scarves and purses and plenty of drawer space for underthings and sweaters. Shelves, hooks and drawers in abundance leave you plenty of room to assign each type of clothing its own area.

Finally, hanging space – longer areas for dresses and slacks, shorter spaces for shirts, shorts and tops. Maybe one section for professional garb, ready for selection, and another area for casual and weekend wear.

Do you sort your clothes by color? By type? Or do you sort by purpose? In your dream closet, you could use any sorting method you like, you’d have the space. One other thing you might want to add to this closet – a nice full-length mirror to make sure you’re well put together before you step out the door.

One last thing – this closet is all yours – you don’t have to share. Everyone has their own dream closet in this dream house. Maybe add a comfy chair or ottoman to sit on for slipping on shoes and socks or hose.

What a Dad Does

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9609167_SWhen you’re barely old enough to remember, a father swings you high into the air – almost too high but while it’s scary it’s also amazing. You see the world from on high for just a minute before safely landing on the ground, and you reach your hands up and say, “More.”

Wrestling, running, jumping – dad plays harder than anyone else. As the evening goes into night games of tag and races across the yard are more exciting because the biggest boy of all joins in – dad.

At parties, your father is the first person who ever asks you to dance. Feet in your dress shoes stand on his as he slowly turns you around the floor to the music and you are the happiest child in the room.

20387713_SRiding a bike is hard, but it’s easier with your dad right there, holding the seat, talking you through how everything works, picking you and your bike up when you fall, and telling you to go faster and faster until you realize that he’s no longer behind you and you are riding your bike all by yourself.

For every milestone, dad is there. Cheering you on at little league, helping you learn how to throw and catch a ball or kick a goal in soccer. Clapping at every school play, recital and concert. Telling you that you were wonderful and nobody noticed when you forgot a line.

There are the tough days too, when he has to let you know that what you did was wrong and help you find a way to fix it.

Every kid needs a dad. But don’t limit your thinking. So many people in your life can be a dad for you, including uncles, family friends and even moms. It’s about knowing that whatever happens, your dad or dads will have your back. And that’s what Father’s Day is all about: thanking all the dads in your life. Be sure you do.

Make Father’s Day Special

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17605308_SDo you want to celebrate Father’s Day in a fun and special way? How about capitalizing on a dad cliché instead of trying to do something different?

One fun party idea could use the theme “Dad in Plaid.” Get everyone in the family plaid shirts and some kind of plaid shorts including the guest of honor – they don’t have to match. As a matter of fact, they could clash and make the look even more entertaining.

Use a plaid tablecloth, napkins and see what you can find in terms of plaid decorations. Or create your own special look by picking up plaid shirts and shorts from a thrift shop and scattering them on the table and draped over pictures on the wall.

14626444_SYou may find paper plates or cupcake covers such as the one shown in the photo to the right. Be sure to take lots of pictures of the party and see if you can work the plaid theme into any gifts or gift wrap. For example, plaid boxers or madras shorts would fit the look.

Another party theme could be “Dad and the Ties that Bind.” Have everyone wear ties, including the youngest members of the family, and use ties gathered from a thrift shop or two to decorate. Extra wide ties from paper could serve as placemats. Old ties would also make good ribbons for gifts.

You may want to have every child draw with fabric paints on plain ties to give dad some “fancy” handmade ties from the family. Once again, get photos.

Father’s Day is worth celebrating, so why not give the dad or dads in your life a chance to be a little silly on his day? You’ll create an event that everyone will remember.

Father’s Day Gifts from the Heart

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7200927_STraditional dad’s day gifts such as ties and shirts get old, so how about making sure Father’s Day is celebrated in style with a gift the dad or dads in your life will treasure?

Here are a few ideas to make that special day memorable for a father.

Give a memory. Create a special experience for dad. How about a surprise family picnic with all of his favorite foods? Make sure all he has to do is hop in the car and you can head to a favorite park. A trip to the zoo or a favorite museum such as a science museum would also be fun. Be sure to take plenty of photos so you can remind him of the day long afterwards.

18615974_SGive flowers. Men generally aren’t used to receiving flowers, but a simple arrangement in a dad mug can be an unexpected treat. And by putting the flowers in a nice mug, he has a remembrance long after they’re gone.

Give photos. Does dad have a current photo of the family in his office? If not, start taking photos and choose the best to frame. Digital photo frames work if you want to share more than one shot.

Go handmade. Handmade cards, drawings or simple items for a desk have extra meaning if made by your children. Covering a can to make a pencil holder or a clay creature as a paperweight can be fun for the kids to make and fun for dad to receive. For more ideas to make Father’s Day special, visit The Fulton Homes Pinterest board. And have a wonderful day!

Pinterest on Furniture

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21363428_SIf you walk into a furniture store and immediately want to curl up on the nearest sofa and forget about shopping, you can start the process on your computer instead.

Do you know what you want in a sofa? A chair? A coffee table or bookcase? If you’re not sure, take a cruise to Pinterest and see all sorts of options in a room setting. Many furniture manufacturers have taken to Pinterest, so you can shop there. Or start simpler with a search for the type of room you’re looking to furnish.

Start with your own Pinterest account. Create a board that defines what you’re looking for – say a dining table and chairs. Then do a search for photos of your almost-unlimited options.

Pinterest allows you to envision the exact look you want, down to the paint color and accessories, just by seeing what other people have done. Be specific. If you want a traditional oval dining table, look for that. Or if you’re not sure, just browse the rooms in general and pin the ones that you’re drawn to. There’s a good chance that you’ll start seeing a trend.

Many designers also pin the rooms they’ve created, so you have the advantage of looking at what the professionals do. You can start by pinning everything you like and narrow down your choices later. Once you’ve developed a collection of pins you like, sit down and look at the board you’ve created. Do one or two pins stand out? What draws you to them? Think about color, furniture style and material, shapes and textures. With notes on your favorites, or pins in your Smartphone, you can shop with a much better idea of what you want.

Pinterest is a natural replacement for those folders of favorite rooms many of us keep with us while shopping for our home decor. Take this approach instead. It’s free, easy and much less cluttered than all those magazines and photos. Give it a try.

Pinterest on Kitchens

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From Fulton Home's Cascade model

From Fulton Home’s Cascade model

If you’re in the process of choosing finishes for your new Fulton Home, you may be challenged by all of the cabinets, countertops and other options. Pinterest provides a great way to start determining the right kitchen look for you. Check out the Fulton Homes Pinterest site and our board Kitchens. There you’ll find many of the kitchens created at the Fulton Design Center as well as in the various model homes.

Wondering if you want dark cabinets? You’ll see a number of kitchens with that choice. On the other hand, if you want painted cabinets take a look to see whether the look appeals to you. You can also get ideas for just the right backsplash, flooring and appliances.

Are you thinking of some special tile choices to make your island stand out? Fulton’s Pinterest board has some good examples. You’ll also see many of the kitchen lighting options in place.

While you’re looking at the photos, you may also want to read some of our past kitchen blogs to gain insights into the design process for your kitchen. You can access them at this site, or review the kitchen blogs on our Pinterest kitchen board.

Fulton Homes on Pinterest has been custom designed to make your home buying experience easier and provide interesting information for you once you’re settled in your new home. We hope you’ll visit it often.