Pinterest on Paint

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20237301_SWhen you visit the Fulton Design Center, it has a good selection of neutral paint colors for your home. The right neutrals can make a big difference in how your home looks.

Suppose, however, you want to add some color to your walls. Visiting a paint store can seem overwhelming. If you want yellow, how yellow do you want to go? It’s easy to move from a light lemon to a horrifying egg yolk without realizing it until you see the final version on your walls.

With its strong focus on visuals, Pinterest provides a great resource for choosing the right paint colors. Instead of studying 30 different versions of the color you want, you can see various rooms with the paint colors listed. Pinterest also lists popular colors with designers which can help you determine the right choice for your home.

If you need direction for choosing the right color, several pins provide clear steps that explain a process for selection that will help ensure success. In addition, check out the many tips and tricks to enable you to tackle any painting project like a pro.

The Fulton Homes Pinterest site has a board, Painting Your Home with pins selected to help you approach painting successfully. Our board is just the beginning of the support Pinterest can offer as you begin your search for just the right wall colors to make your home perfect. While you’re at it, how about visiting some of our other boards? You may find just the decorating or design advice you are looking for!

Sharing Family Photos

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14570371_SMany people love to collect and share photos of their children and grandchildren, and parents know that these are appreciated gifts. If you have people in your life who want photos of your family, it pays to think about the best delivery system.

A photo album provides the traditional approach to photos. If you are a scrapbooker, you might want to give key family members albums with removable pages, and give them updates to add regularly. This way they can enjoy the photos and also take part in the story of your trips or holidays.

14234026_SFor family members with limited space, consider giving a digital photo frame. This way they can have multiple photos within one small area. Updates are also easy – just load additional photos on the frame when you see them or send a flash drive for those family members who are tech-savvy. You may also want to give a pocket digital photo carrier so grandma can carry it in her purse to share with friends.

19428252_SOne fun gift for family requires some pre-planning. By taking holiday or seasonal photos of your child or children for a year, or even seasonal family photos, you can give personalized photo calendars in December with a different seasonally-appropriate photo for each month. For doting grandparents, aunts and uncles, this calendar is so much more fun and appreciated than a generic one picked up at a bookstore, and not that much more expensive.

Thanks to digital photography, photos of loved ones provide easy and welcome presents. You can share the joy of your family by giving thoughtful photos presented in inviting ways.

Displaying Family Photos

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18886173_MThe image to the left shows a standard approach to displaying family photos. This provides a charming way to use a mantel while enabling you to keep family pictures close.

By choosing frames of various materials, shapes and sizes the look stays lively. Including items that add height such as the candlestick and mirror also help the display.

The final reason for success comes from the decision to stay in the same color family with the frames and other display pieces. Warm brown, gold and cream link together to make everything feel cohesive. Don’t hesitate to mix frame styles when you’re sharing a collection of family photos. This helps make the look seem spontaneous and casual rather than planned.

13568701_SToday’s photo displays don’t have to follow traditional patterns. You can vary your approach to displaying as much as you can vary the look of the photos themselves. Take a look at this set of three black & white photos of a father and his newborn, for example.

The photos were selected from a much larger number of shots, illuminated with a single light in a dark room. By showing only parts of the parent and child, an image comes through of a strong connection and lots of love.

The simple wire and clothespin display suits the delicate simplicity of the photos. Depending upon the size of the photos, you could hang them at the end of a hall or in a corner by the front door. Or this might be an appealing addition to the nursery. Photos could be added and changed as the baby grows.

For more ideas on displaying photos, visit the Fulton Homes Family Photo Tips Pinterest Board at: http://www.pinterest.com/fultonhomes/family-photo-tips/.

Taking Successful Family Photos

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17538445_SWhether you have family photos professionally done or take your own pictures, a few tips can make the difference between a great set of photos or a bunch of typical shots.

Here are some suggestions for making your family photos something special now and for the future.

Avoid the traditional line-up or “grip & grin” approach. Look for ways to make the photo more intriguing by using non-standard poses and groupings. Take a look at the photo above. By placing the mom and daughter to one side, the photo draws you in.

14427973_SConsider depth of field. This is something professional photographers do all the time. In the photo above, the background is completely out of focus. This allows the viewer to pay attention to the two participants without the background serving as a distraction. In the photo to the right, once again the pose is different and charming, and the background is just slightly out of focus.

Coordinate colors without going matchy-matchy. In the photo to the right, all family members are in blue but the patterns, tones and styles differ, making them look coordinated but not too pre-planned.

26609668_SUse props. In the photo to the left, dad and daughter are interacting with favorite toys and a book. This can make a big difference with babies and toddlers. Their patience can quickly fade without some good distractions. Props can also help a child – and an adult for that matter – forget the camera and act naturally.

For more ideas to make your family photos special, visit our Fulton Homes Pinterest Family Photos board. You’ll be glad you did!

Mirrors as Room and Light Expanders

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17799270_SThis contemporary room is appealing thanks to its stone wall, daring staircase and intriguing chandelier,. But the mirrors on the first floor closet doors provide the element that keeps the space from feeling boxy and limited.

These mirrors are large and simply dressed, which encourages the viewer to register the reflection of the room and double the perceived space. These mirrors also reflect the window on the opposite wall, adding more natural light to the scene.

If you cover the mirrors with your hand, you can see that the room suffers without them.

Mirrors can be a powerful tool when compensating for a room with too little space or light. They feel a bit like a window but work in spaces where windows aren’t possible.

16825383_STake a look at the large mirror in the room to the right. Although the frame has a strong presence, its tone and style are consistent with the moldings and doors on the other walls.

By adding a mirror of this size in this position, the room seems to have added an additional window while also expanding the sense of space with its reflection. At first glance, this mirror could be a doorway to an additional dining space just past that wall.

If you have a room with awkward proportions or limited light, consider adding a mirror to help compensate for the space’s limits. Look for an opportunity to connect the frame to the style of the space like the photo above, or minimize its visible frame like the closet doors in the first photo. You may be surprised at how much of a difference the perfect mirror can make in your home.

Mirrors as Art

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8427071_SWith the rich variety of shapes, sizes and frames, mirrors make great art in a room.

Take a look at the mirror in this photo. With its round shape and interesting silver frame, it proves to be just the right addition to this bedroom. The silver tone meshes with the throw pillows on the bed and the circular shape adds needed curves to a sharp-edged headboard.

Mirrors can be found in the nicest furniture stores as well as any thrift shop. Look for beveled edges on the glass and thicker distortion-free views when evaluating a mirror for quality.

Don’t limit your thinking when browsing thrift-store finds. You can cover a mirror and paint the frame in any color or finish, creating just the look you want. For one interesting effect, buy a collection of small mirrors or frames in different shapes and styles and paint them all the same color, arranging them together on a wall.

10355556_SYou can add glass to any frame to custom-make your own mirror. The four frames in the photo to the right would create mirrors with very different styles and moods. With a mirror created with a custom frame, you also can determine the ideal size and have the mirror added to match your need.

When you bring a mirror in as a decorative object, be sure to hang it with thought. When a mirror is used as art, the reflection becomes part of the picture. Some mirrors end up reflecting the ceiling or something like the door to the guest bathroom.

As with any piece of art, hang a mirror at eye level. This may seem too low, but mirrors can also be useful to check your hair or face, and a mirror that is set too high for that can be frustrating. So have fun and include mirrors when you determine what you want on your home’s walls.

Mirrors as Functional Pieces

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HRM0253Mirrors have more versatility than almost any other type of furniture. They can be functional, decorative, light enhancers and space enhancers.

This mirror, from the Fulton Homes Tehama model in Victoria Estates, serves all these roles. As a functional mirror, it provides the reflection needed in the morning, yet the framing adds a decorative element. In addition the large size adds a feeling of space and enhanced light to the master bath.

People have been looking at their reflections since the first child spotted their twin in a still pool of water. Polished metal served as a limited mirror in later years. Glass combined with a reflective backing became more common in modern times, and it’s rare to find a home with fewer than two to three mirrors today.

Bathrooms are the most common locations for mirrors, but they have moved into every room in a home.

Entryway mirrors allow visitors to check their appearance when walking into and out of a home. Full-length bedroom mirror provides a look at the complete effect of an ensemble in the morning.

9985404_SIf you plan to hang a mirror for functional use, be sure to set the position carefully. Make sure that everyone in your home, from shortest to tallest, can see their reflection. Also, any furniture in front of a mirror shouldn’t be too deep, so that its position makes it hard for viewers to get close enough to see themselves easily.

The mirror on the right is low enough for this woman to see herself well, yet the vertical position makes it useful for taller individuals also. Take a few minutes to factor in your home’s population when choosing the right height for a functional mirror.

Healthful Summer Snacks

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13142752_SWith summer coming, active children need good food to fuel their days. You can help direct them to healthy choices by making it easy to select the foods that are best for them. Here are a few ways to deliver healthful foods to your family.

Make it easy to eat well: Just the effort of washing and cutting up fruit and veggies can discourage your children from choosing those options. If you have pre-washed fruit cut in easy sizes to grab, and pre-chopped veggies next to a tasty dip – maybe made with ranch dressing mix and Greek yogurt – your children will be more likely to reach for the good stuff.

Make the junk hard-to-get or unavailable: You choose what goes in your shopping cart, so you control what options your kids have when it comes to food. If you know that bags of cookies last only hours in your house, just don’t buy them. Choose flavorful but more healthful options such as fruit-flavored frozen yogurt or cheese and crackers. Buy smaller containers of sweets, or distribute a limited amount yourself as part of a complete snack or dessert after a meal.

Consider smoothie: Kids love the cold and taste of fruit smoothies. You don’t need any fancy equipment to whip up a partially-frozen treat. Put some of the fruit in the freezer to keep things icy, and then blend in a standard blender. Frozen berries are often less expensive and more convenient than fresh and they taste just as good when added to the mix. Include some yogurt, almond or coconut milk, a banana and a few ice cubes to favorite fruits to make a drink that’s tasty and healthful.

Make your kitchen a great source for healthful food all summer. It will be good for them and for you too!

Summer Safety Reminders

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12658846_SWith the end of the school year freedom is within sight for children. Be sure to reinforce safety issues as school schedules give way to more free time and the summer heat comes back.

Sun Safety: Today’s sunburns lead to tomorrow’s problems with skin cancer. Set a standard approach to the sun with your children, including when and how long they spend outside and the application and regular re-application of sunscreen. For more insights, check out this FDA video about sunscreen selection and application.

Heat Safety: This can be a serious issue in the Arizona desert. Be sure to discuss drinking water with your children as heat rises. Buy water containers and thermos choices and make sure they understand the importance of staying hydrated.

Traffic Safety: Drivers without children will be startled when school’s last day brings kids out into the streets again. You may want to review the basics of pedestrian and bike safety, and make sure their bikes and bike helmets are in good repair.

Water Safety: Make sure to have a designated adult present to play lifeguard when kids are in or around a pool. Set safety rules limiting horseplay in or near a pool, with time-outs for anyone who doesn’t want to follow them. Make sure your children know how to swim and make sure you know how to handle basic first aid and CPR.

This summer can be amazing and fun for everyone in your family. With a strategy of safety, you can ensure that everyone enjoys the next few months.

What to do when School’s Out

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21383271_SIt’s almost time for summer break, and if you have school-age kids you’re probably already wondering how you’re going to get everyone through the next few months.

You don’t have to plan an exciting summer. The little things can make a child’s vacation memorable and special. Here are a few ideas.

Learning goals: Yes, it seems mean to talk about learning on summer break, but many children backslide on their understanding of concepts and skills over the summer. Consider options such as a summer reading list with rewards for completing books, math games and contests, and visits to local museums combined with studying up on some of the exhibits. The Fulton Summer Fun Pinterest board has samples of interesting and easy science experiments and other activities that combine learning with fun.

Set a schedule: Planning an outing every Wednesday or swimming every Tuesday and Thursday makes the weeks move faster. Children who know what they’re doing each day find it easier to manage days that aren’t as exciting. You can make changes in the schedule as time goes on if you find some days work better than others for various outings.

Plan special events: Birthday parties play dates or special short trips make summer more fun for everyone. If you will be taking a vacation get everyone involved in the process. If you stay home, make sure you include some visits up North so that you all can get away from the heat for a time. Movie nights, backyard or indoor camping, or other activities such as the pirate scavenger hunt mentioned on one of the Fulton Summer Fun Pinterest boards make summer move faster and minimize the cries of “I’m bored.”