Tag Archives: decor tips

Choose the Right Area Rug

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With flooring such as wood or tile, area rugs help soften key areas and create a design focus in a room. Even carpeting can benefit from a rug to highlight a conversation area.

The Fulton Homes Design Center offers a generous selection of area rugs from Feizy, a company with 35 years in the business. Feizy Rugs is renowned for producing the highest quality hand knotted, hand tufted and power loomed rugs in the marketplace today.

This area rug section provides photos of full rugs plus samples that allow you to view the colors and experience the rich feel of these choices.

If you would like to add an area rug to your home, select your permanent flooring first, bringing a sample with you to determine the right rug choice. Rugs range from Oriental style, more traditional patterns and contemporary options.

For a dining room rug, be sure to select one that extends at least two feet past the edges of your dining room table on all sides. This allows your guests to push their chairs back without ending up off the carpet.

Living room rugs can sit inside the sofa and chairs or you can select one large enough to contain all of the living room furniture on it. This way it becomes an island in the space. Be careful to avoid a rug that leaves some furniture half-on and half-off, creating a makeshift look.

If your home is open-concept, area rugs can define specific areas in your space, and add a splash of color or pattern that finishes your home’s design. Take the time to consider an area rug or two to add interest and style to your living space.

Master Bedroom Lighting Creates Relaxed Environment

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While this master bedroom is spacious and inviting, the feature that makes it stand out is the lighting. This is an area that is often ignored when decorating, but its impact is significant.

This room, the master bedroom from Fulton Home’s Tehama model at Victoria Estates, actually has four lighting options available, along with a number of variations. The first choice is natural light. With plenty of windows, daylight would find this room cheerful and appealing.

In the evening, the ceiling fan provides a broad base of overall lighting with one flip of the switch. For a cozier look, keep that light off and take advantage of the spots on the ceiling. This type of lighting is softer and can be used to or provide a little minimal light. Dimmers on these lights give the owner even more options for light levels.

Finally, lamps on either side of the bed offer task lighting for a reader and add personality with the light patterns on the walls. Thanks to the variety of lighting options, this room can be brightly lit to make it easy to clean out drawers or make the bed. But it can also set a mood or just provide a comfortable space to watch television or read for a while before going to sleep.

Whatever room you work with, giving yourself a choice of lighting options makes the space more versatile. For example, spotlights can highlight artwork or just provide a little more light to brighten up a dark corner. Lamps can make a large room cozy by keeping the focus on one area. They also add a decorative touch. Lighting is as important to your décor as furniture and accessories. Like this bedroom, the more lighting options you create the more control you have over a room’s look and mood.

Family Room with Forest Flair

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Do you love the look of trees and leaves? With just a few touches you can create a hint of woodland style in your home. Let’s take a look at how this was accomplished in this family room, found in the Harmonique model at Fulton Home’s Ashcreek Community.

You might want to start with a hand scraped wood floor such as the one shown in this room. The rich mid-tone brown and the interesting surface bring a woodsy feel right into the space. The colors of the room also create the right mood, with numerous browns, rusty oranges and lighter tones calling to mind a forest with a hint of fall and plenty of sunshine.

Notice the preponderance of leaves throughout the patterns selected for this room’s décor. From the traditional acanthus leaves bordering the rug to the more daring selection of curtains with a variety of stylized leaves on a very dark brown background, the more leaves the better.

The art also echoes the forest with embossed leaf images hanging between the windows and the framed vines to the left of the fireplace. Lots of greenery wraps up the image, providing a sensation of being among the plants found on an outdoor hike through the trees.

Some people may feel that this much emphasis on leaves may make too much of a statement. But for those who love the woods with its engaging look, style, and mood, this room creates a sense of comfort. If you feel you may be part dryad, indulge your love of trees and leaves with a room like this. It will be a constant source of pleasure.

Glass Block Creates Great Door-free Shower in Luxury Bath

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With today’s larger master bathrooms, new design details can add to both style and functionality. This bath’s shower, from the Malibu model in the Shoreline community, is a great example.

Using glass block to replace traditional shower doors or curtains creates a dramatic design element. The shower’s size and layout also makes it particularly functional for couples, because the dual heads enable both to shower at the same time.

Notice the small step into the shower area. This is not just a design element. The minimal slant toward the drain the step provides keeps the water away from the rest of the room. The minimal-threshold also helps make this home work as owners get older, part of the new approach of “aging in place” that smart homebuilders such as Fulton consider with their designs.

This bathroom has all the elements needed for two. Separate vanities and sinks provide the space for couples to stay out of each other’s way while still being together. Both have plenty of storage, and the layouts are different enough that they complement each other rather than looking like twin spaces.

Design touches such as the mirror frames and the specialized trim on the tile in the shower and above the vanities add a luxurious touch to the space. The cabinetry, tile and glass block work together to give the room a rich and spa-like style. Altogether, this master bath is very functional, but the special design elements create a bath that is also inviting and comfortable.

A Dining Room that is Functional and Appealing

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Some smart decisions help make this dining room work particularly well.

When you have the space, a buffet is always an asset. Depending upon the event, it’s nice to have the top of the buffet available for appetizers or self-help desserts. With a larger party, the chairs can be pulled toward the walls, enabling you to use both the buffet and the table for food presentation.

It’s convenient to have the dining room accessible to the backyard for indoor-outdoor entertaining. Because this dining room, from Fulton Home’s Harmonique model at Ashcreek, has access to the back patio, it can be used during a barbeque as a place to stage cold food. Or you can set it up for people who prefer to eat inside and they will still feel like part of the group.

The dramatic chandelier is hung perfectly – at 30-34 inches above the dining table. Notice that the table, chandelier and lamp on the buffet all have similar metal elements. This helps keep the room in balance given the amount of wood present.

When it comes to draperies, adding a wide border of contrasting or patterned fabric to either the top or bottom of each panel creates a striking look. This drapery length is smart. It provides some of the luxurious feeling of pooling at the floor while staying short enough to make it easy to get in and out of the sliding glass doors. The weight of the fabric is also important. A lighter panel would be difficult to manage on windy days.

Choosing wood rather than carpeting for the flooring is also a smart decision. With people coming in from outside, wood is easier to keep clean. With the right finish, once-over with a dust mop will pick up most dirt quickly.

Altogether, this room was designed for entertaining, whether you’re talking about a formal dinner for eight, or a casual pot-luck supper for several families.

Luxurious Master Suite Made for Relaxing

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Today, many master bedrooms & baths are designed to be much more than functional. This roomy master suite, part of the Shoreline model in the Santa Monica community, provides extra space, extra comfort and extra style in every area.

The master bedroom itself is roomy, but not at the expense of the rest of the suite. The long vanity in the bathroom provides his and her areas with individual sinks and plenty of cabinetry to hold personal items without crowding. The center provides a place to sit for applying makeup or just relaxing. The generous glass block window is a rich source of natural light.

Another plus possible because of this spacious bath is a combination of a comfortable soaking tub and a spacious stand-up shower.

Choosing a diagonal angle for the floor tile makes the aisle between the cabinetry and the shower and tub feel wider and more spacious.

The entire space is designed and decorated to reproduce the comfort and luxury of a personal spa. By choosing flooring, countertops and wallpaper that coordinate without matching, the bathroom feels more interconnected. Dark cabinetry provides a nice contrast, and the framing around the mirror brings the darker tone up toward the ceiling.

Notice the large closet at the back of the bath, complete with built-ins to handle all of your clothes. Once again, the closet has plenty of room for two wardrobes. The full-length mirrors on the sliding closet doors help you make sure you look your best without taking away valuable floor or wall space.

With the demands of today’s life and the responsibilities of family and work, a master bedroom suite like this one – with space in every area – creates the opportunity to get away from your tensions without leaving your home.

Create a Welcoming Guest Room

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This guest room is simple yet striking thanks to the combination of dark furniture and rich fabrics.

Let’s consider what makes this room so inviting and ready for your guests.

The matching nightstands provide space for a book or a glass of water. Notice the decorative box at the nightstand to the left. It contains snacks and personal needs such as a toothbrush or shampoo. Both nightstands have lamps, which create the opportunity to read before going to sleep.

A guest room doesn’t need the decorating details you might put in the rest of your home. Lots of furniture, art or accessories may make a guest room feel cluttered or like a guest is borrowing someone’s room for the night. Instead, think of it as a particularly nice and comfortable hotel room, with just enough furniture to be functional and one or two simple accessories.

The chest of drawers at the right side of the image gives the room a great space for guests to unpack and place their things if they will be staying for a while. The top of the chest could hold a flat-screen television or anything else that will make your guests feel at home.

The window treatment is simple, with blinds giving the room privacy when needed. The big splash is reserved for the bed, with a striking rich red patterned duvet and coordinating dust ruffle and smaller pillows.

The final features a guest room should have aren’t visible from this photo, but a smile of welcome and directions to the rest room down the hall are all that’s needed to complete the picture. With just a little effort and a small budget, you can make your guest room as appealing as this one.

Coordinate Décor with your Tile for a Bathroom with a Spa Feel

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Creating a spa feel in your bathroom is about the finishing touches. This bath provides a soft, inviting place to relax. Tile, window treatments and accessories all work together to create a welcoming space.

Start with the oval tub. The generous framing provides space for candles, your favorite soaps or bubbles, and even a book to read as you soak. The faucet is positioned for easy filling and a hand-held shower sprayer helps rinse your hair after a shampoo without having to jump into the shower.

Glass block presents the perfect solution for bringing in natural light without sacrificing privacy. The simple valance is all that’s needed to soften the window and connect it with the rest of the room.

The stone feel to the floor tile and bath surround create that natural element that supports a spa impression. The matte finish on the faucet and shower surround match the more contemporary lines while still maintaining a traditional profile.

Wallpaper is a daring choice in a bath, but this selection ties in well with the tile. Overall, the bathroom is well coordinated and has a rich feeling. Simple accessories and art bring in touches of color. Notice the splash of red in the vase and its echo on the valance fringe. This color note adds personality and warmth.

With some simple, thoughtful design choices, you can turn your bathroom into an oasis for relaxing and reducing stress after a long day. This example from Fulton Home’s Harmonique model in the Ashcreek community gives great insight into what you can do with your own space.

Turn your Bonus Room into a Fitness Center

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With a busy life it can get harder and harder to take the time to stay in shape. Make it easier on yourself and create your own home gym out of your bonus room!

This family put together a treadmill, a glider machine with arm action and a bench for weights to create their own mini-gym. These choices help encourage fitness at all levels. Let’s take a look at their smart decisions.

First, these machines are sturdy and professional-grade. Take the time to look up reviews of equipment before buying, and consider used equipment rather than going for less expensive options. The variety available helps you vary your routines every day. Manage your budget by adding one new machine every year. An exercise bike would be a nice addition to the choices here.

Choosing free weights rather than a weight machine saves money and supports fitness better. Studies have shown that using free weights is more effective for building muscles than a weight machine. Free weights also support balance.

A large mirror helps make you more aware of your stance while exercising. Taking a regular look at yourself supports balance and posture. The mirror is also positioned to reflect natural light from the windows.

A ceiling fan helps you keep cool as you exercise. It whisks away perspiration, leaving you more comfortable and helping to make your exercise routine more enjoyable.

Add music to enhance your exercise routine, and possibly a DVD player to play yoga or other fitness videos. Carpeting will help provide the soft flooring you need for free-form exercises. This bonus room is large enough to hold the machines as well as provide space for exercise and simple dance routines.

Make your bonus room a special space just for you – designed to get you into the shape you want to be in a fun and relaxing way – just steps from your bedroom.

Boy’s Room with Grown-up Style

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It can be hard to walk the fine line between a boy’s room that is fun and appealing to your son and still meets your style goals. This bedroom has many features that work for both. Let’s take a look at this Malibu model from the Shoreline community and figure out how and why this room works.

Choose a theme: A nautical theme provides a way to introduce bright colors and interesting accessories. The art and pillows echo the feelings of semaphore flags, and the matching lamps look like large fishing lures. The brightly-striped bedspread brings the look together without pushing the nautical feel too far.

Buy good furniture: The matching chests of drawers provide plenty of clothes-space and can follow your son into his first apartment, or work well for a conversion to a guest room later. The simple red wicker chair adds a touch of whimsy to the room, but it is flexible enough to find a good location later somewhere else in the house. The only piece of furniture with limits is the single bed, but it’s a good decision because it provides plenty of floor room for play.

Choose neutral options: They beige carpeting and walls work great for this design but leave space for completely changing the look later. While the art is set in blocks contrasting colors on the walls, paint is easy to change. Add simple wood blinds under the window valances and this room is ready to work as a boy’s room or anything else.

With careful planning and design choices, you can make a child’s room that will grow with him and your family’s changing needs.