Tag Archives: Home decor

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.

Laundry Room Provides More than Clean Clothes

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As homebuilders, we at Fulton  understand the needs of women and families and have turned the simple laundry room in some of our models into a full-service space for supporting a number of home needs.

This room from the Tehama model in the Victoria Estates community is a great example.

First, the room provides a deep sink for hand washing and pre-rinsing clothes. It’s large enough to soak the chlorine out of a couple of swimsuits or bleach a soccer uniform that had lots of contact with grass and dirt. Having the sink right next to the washer helps minimize drips on the nice tile floor.

The laundry cupboard space can be used for sewing supplies, extra school or office supplies, or holiday storage. With this many cabinets, special serving dishes for entertaining could also find plenty of room here.

With all the counter space, there’s room for individual laundry baskets for every family member. Dirty clothes would be placed in the assigned hampers and delivered to the laundry room on a specific day and the clean clothes would be replaced in the containers, ready for a trip back to each room. This may be a pipe dream, but it’s worth a shot!

The counter  space complete with electrical outlets creates the perfect opportunity for setting up a common place for specialized technology tools such as a color laser printer or copy/scan/fax machine. With Wi-Fi easily installed in a home, everyone can send their printing requests to the one printer and then walk over to the laundry room to pick up their papers.

And while they’re there, maybe they’ll take the time to bring their clean clothes back to their rooms. Parents can always dream.

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.

Multitasking easy with Extra-large Kitchen Island

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Kitchen islands provide much-appreciated extra storage and counter space for serious cooks. But cooking is only the first purpose for an island. You will soon find that your island can become a location for many projects and tasks.

You can encourage using the island for other purposes by planning to optimize the space for the whole family. Here are some uses to consider and tips to support these ideas.

Breakfast bar: Pre-set the island with bowls and position various cereals on the table. Add granola, some chopped nuts and fresh or dried fruit. In the morning, each family member can create a favorite mix and add milk. The best part of this approach? Everything can be set up the night before except for the fresh fruit, which could be ready cut-up in the refrigerator. Different schedules or preferences are supported with this system. Make regular changes in the selection to keep the idea fresh. This makes an easy breakfast one or more mornings a week.

Homework center: You may need to fix dinner while your children complete their homework for the night. Make it a family affair by setting up the island to meet homework needs. Have a supply of paper and writing instruments available and a laptop for computer needs. You can answer questions or help solve problems while working in the kitchen. Your regular attention makes it more likely that your children will take their homework assignments seriously. You might want to designate a drawer or shelf nearby for each child to keep track of assignments and ensure that school books or day packs are ready to go the next day.

Sous chef set-up: If you want your children to be comfy in the kitchen, you may want to start them as your assistants with some simple chopping or prep work. By providing a cutting board, the raw veggies and a good knife if they’re old enough, you can start developing their skills and take advantage of their help at the same time.

No matter how you chose to use your island, it will provide a wealth of possibilities. You may even find yourself using it for your own cooking efforts.

 

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.

Front Entrance says Welcome

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Before you even step in the front door, this home welcomes visitors. The design of the home itself provides a natural courtyard at the front entry. The layout draws you to the home, and a number of option and design choices enhance the look.

First, notice the stone covering the patio. Instead of more traditional concrete, using these pavers ties the patio floor to the rich color of the stucco walls. By choosing this type of flooring, there is a sense that you are already in the house.

Next, the white trim on the windows feels like the casing you expect inside a home. The molding and gutters framing the roof also almost have the same impact as crown molding in a home.

Choosing to use furniture on the patio provides a comfy place to sit and strengthens the sense that you are almost in an indoor room. With today’s outdoor fabrics, you can find colors and designs that are just as nice as anything to cover a sofa inside. This red with a thin white stripe provides a dynamite and inviting color contrast to the neutrals of the courtyard.

Finally, the plants in the corner add an indoor-outdoor feel and nicely accessorize the space. With no open dirt for plantings, the three pots with high-profile plants add a warmth and natural element to that corner. This entryway, from Fulton’s Spyglass model at Victoria Estates, can make your friends and family feel welcome the minute they come up your walk.

Outdoor Lighting – Make the Night Beautiful

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Most people pay attention to the curb appeal of their home during the day, but what about at night? Outdoor lighting can combine functionality with beauty to create a home that is as appealing in the evening as it is all day long.

This Fulton home provides a good example of combining aesthetics and function with its lighting.

To start, the driveway entrance is clearly defined by low directional lights. Visitors don’t have to rely on their headlights alone to pull into the drive. The carriage lights on either side of the garage door as well as the windows on the door itself ensure that the home is easy to see.

From a security standpoint, the lighting and landscaping leave no places for trouble to hide. Even the backyard has lights that show off the trees while providing enough light to keep that area safe.

The front entrance is well lit, allowing the homeowners to see who is at the door and making sure evening visitors can see the entrance clearly. The walkways are easy to see from the street and the covered area by the front door protects guests from inclement weather while they’re waiting for their hosts.

The lines of this home are personality-rich, and the lighting really shows that. Notice how the rooflines create shadows that make the home even more attractive. Lights shining through the cross-hatched window panes add a feeling of welcome. This Fulton home provides just the right ambience for visitors and party-goers before anyone even walks in the door.