Tag Archives: home design

Lighting that Shows Style as well as Function

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Legacy Models 131 (1)One of the special treats awaiting you at Fulton Home’s Legacy community is a wealth of great lighting options. Take the opportunity to get a glimpse of the newest lighting styles as well as smart lighting decisions room-by-room.

This space, the breakfast nook in the Basha model, demonstrates how lighting can transform a space. The dramatic double light fixture over the table catches the eye immediately. Combining the strong lines to the ceiling with the contemporary-meets-traditional line of the glass framing the lights, and you have fixtures that set the tone for the entire room.

These fixtures mirror the contrast between dark and light painted wood in this space. Clean lines and this contrast make the space comfortable yet still on point for design. The smart choice to use two chandeliers provides even lighting across the table while adding balance for the generous breakfast arrangement.

The other lighting in the room – under the molding and cupboards on the built-in cabinetry – allows you to highlight certain accessories while adding another design feature. The additional lighting is particularly effective in highlighting the tile lining the back of the counter.

This space is ideal for holding a brunch buffet, and the lights combined with the backsplash add a splash of style to the space. Dark and metallic serving dishes would make the arrangement feel integrated and inviting as guests helped themselves.

Every model at Legacy showcases the smartest and most intriguing lighting decisions. We look forward to sharing these special design features with you when you visit.

Pops of Red add Personality to Bedroom.

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DSC_0090 (1)Whether the bedroom is a guest room, a child’s room, or your own, would you take a chance at adding strong color into the space?

Today it’s easy to find furniture in bright and inviting colors, or maybe you have a few pieces with nice lines but a dull look. A little paint and that boring piece can become the focal point of a room.

DSC_0091 (1)Two choices make this bed head and étagère stand out. The color is definitely one of them. The other highlight comes from the turned wood spindles that link the two red pieces together.

At one time, a bedroom like this would be loaded with at least one chest of drawers or dresser. These days, thanks to larger closets and well-arranged built-ins, most bedrooms can use furniture for decoration and style rather than clothes storage.

If you would like to create a mood like this in one of your own bedrooms but don’t have the furniture pieces, you can take advantage of consignment or thrift shops to look for older furniture with inviting lines. You don’t have to worry about the finish since you will be painting it.

Choose an accent color that works for you. It might be a red such as the one in this bedroom, or maybe a bright yellow, blue or green. If you prefer a more subtle color palette, consider a warm pumpkin or dark forest green. If you’re more daring, orange is still a popular color.

Pull the color into the room in other areas. For example, the curtains in this bedroom display elements of that same vivid red, and help bring the room together. You don’t have to keep everything red; the nightstands in dark wood work well in this space. Too much of even a great color can be overwhelming.

Want to take a closer look at this room as well investigating as a number of other interesting and creative design ideas for bedrooms? Visit our newest community, Legacy. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Balancing Cabinetry and Appliances in your Kitchen

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Models 061This kitchen, from the Fulton model at Legacy, shows two ways of approaching appliances in your kitchen: showcasing them like this Bertazzoni range and hood, or reducing their impact by blending them in with the cabinetry. You can see this with the built-in refrigerator to the right.

In this example, both design choices work. The drama and color of the oven creates a focal point in the kitchen. The generous size of the space allows this dramatic piece to shine without overwhelming the room. On the other hand, if the refrigerator had a stainless skin, it would be a distracting influence. Its size would draw the eye away from the strengths of this kitchen – the range and the island.

Transitional design allows you to take advantage of many choices combined into one integrated whole. In this case the moderately-traditional cabinets take a back seat to a strongly-contemporary island and a retro-style range. Smartly, the dark red of the range is allowed to stand alone rather than having the color echo throughout the kitchen. If you wanted to carry the color further, a few accessories would provide all the impact you need.

Notice the stainless microwave to the right. That could have been installed in black, but there are enough stainless accents throughout the kitchen to make this work. The small size ensures that this appliance does not become a distraction. However, cabinet pulls are dark rather than stainless. Design is always about balancing strong features with others that fall into the background.

For a better look at this kitchen as well as two others with interesting style and design elements, visit Fulton Homes Legacy in Gilbert and wander through our three new model homes.

 

A showstopper in your kitchen: Bertazzoni

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Legacy Models 027 (1)You want to be the star in your own kitchen, and a star benefits from having other performers that will show you at your best.

Well, here’s a co-star that will enable you to shine. Bertazzoni’s 48-inch gas range and oven combination is a stand-out in any kitchen. Bertazzoni has been making quality cooking products in Italy for over 135 years.

The heritage style shown was inspired by the original wood-burning stoves Bertazzoni built in the late eighteen hundreds. Look for Antonio Bertazzoni’s signature carved into the stainless above the oven, showing the pride of a family known for quality since his father Francesco built the first Bertazzoni wood-burning stoves and made them popular throughout Italy.

The amazing range and hood come in this glorious red as well as a luscious cream and classic black. Whichever you choose, this will make your kitchen into the showstopper you dream about.

And the beauty is designed to last. Because of their durable double-layer coating that uses the latest processes developed for the automobile industry, you will find the finish to be acid and temperature resistant, giving you a luster that will hold up over time.

This product is also more than just a pretty face. Its performance will help you create the gourmet meals you want with plenty of space on its six-burner range complete with griddle and double oven. Bertazzoni’s exclusive dual valve burners in brass provide high-efficiency, from a delicate low simmer to full power (750 –18,000 BTU). The power burner delivers best-in-class heat-up times.

Pots are placed closer to the flame, reaching the boiling point more quickly and reducing gas consumption during the cooking process. The one-touch, child safety ignition system lets you light and adjust burners with one hand. The safety system automatically stops the gas flow if the flame goes out, even when electrical power is cut

Bertazzoni’s one-piece worktop molding is best-in-class. With sealed burners, no sharp angles or dirt traps, cleaning is fast and easy. Heavy-duty cast iron grates allow easy movement of any kind of pot.

To see this stellar example of a kitchen appliance in person, visit the Fulton Design Center or check out the Fulton model home at Legacy. You’ll be glad you did.

 

The O’Connor: Yellow Accents Family Room

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Models 079This open floor plan demonstrates a good way to make subtle tones pop. The grey upholstery gets a wiggle of color with yellow accents and a warming feeling with plants.

Grey is a sophisticated and versatile neutral, and this space takes full advantage of it. The soft taupe on the walls and floor complement the tile used as the backsplash in the kitchen. Countertops coordinate well with the glossy stone floor, but too much of the warm neutrals would quickly diminish this room. Enter grey to rescue the room with its strong contrast and modern aesthetic.

With the tone showing on all of the upholstered furniture, it’s the contrast of shades that makes it stay in the foreground. First the dark shade for the two sofas and the island chairs, then the lighter patterned chair echoes several of the throw pillows and the dining room chairs.

Yellow is used sparingly, which works well. The accents on the kitchen island and side tables add the interest you want without calling too much attention to them. Then the throw pillows pull all of the shades of grey together with yellow to make the space feel planned and smart.

Finish up with a bevy of sophisticated lighting – from the pendants over the island to the ultra-modern ceiling fan set in a coffered ceiling and the classic contemporary chandelier over the dining table. Each piece is unique, yet they flow together to make the space fit the transitional profile while still leaning in the direction of edgy.

For a closer look, visit Fulton Home’s Legacy community and see the full O’Connor model home for yourself.

The O’Connor: Beautiful Bedroom

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Legacy Models 097This master bedroom has the feel of a luxury hotel suite, one where the rooms are renovated regularly to keep the décor cutting-edge yet comfortable. What secrets does this bedroom contain that you can borrow to make your master as plush and inviting as this one? Let’s take a look.

Contrast combined with consistency: Light and dark tones together add a pop of personality to the space, while consistent colors and shades within the darks and lights keep the room integrated.

Plush features: From the fluffy duvet to the bench at the foot of the bed and upholstered chairs in the seating area, this room has a soft feel. The generous use of throw pillows also adds to the warmth.

A touch of bling: Nothing says special like things that shine, and the lamps on either side of the bed meet that goal. Add in the knobs holding up the curtains, the silver shimmer of the upholstered bench and the touch of gold edging the coffered ceiling and you have a shimmering feel that adds glamour.

A few daring design choices: Taking a chance with some of your design decisions can really make a room feel special. In this case the choice of the dark modernist piece running from the bed to the ceiling becomes part headboard, part art, allowing the bed to stand as a strong focal point in the room. The ceiling fan provides another intriguing feature with its contemporary lines and sharp blades.

To check out this and other interesting rooms from the Fulton Homes O’Connor model, visit our newest community, Legacy, in Gilbert.

 

The Basha: Architectural Details Pop

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Legacy Models 125When planning any room in your new home, first consider architectural details that will add charm, convenience and interest to the space. Let’s take a look at this family room, from Fulton Home’s Basha model at Legacy, for some ideas.

To begin, the coffered ceiling draws the eye upward, and you are rewarded by the view of rich brown beams running across. To make the space even more intriguing, two non-traditional ceiling fans add a breeze and some retro-industrial style to the space at the same time.

A generous window wall brings the outside indoors visually every day and, when weather permits, the glass doors slide back to make the connection between outside and inside complete. Notice how the outdoor architecture contributes to the mood inside also.

Take a look at the focus wall, holding both a flat-screen television and a fireplace. The lines are clean and contemporary while the glass cabinets on either side add style and storage. This look is miles better than the days not so long ago when a large television would dominate a room like this one. Instead, this media wall contributes to the style of the space while subtly providing solid functionality.

Even the doorway to the next room shows personality with its soft arch. The contrast between the rich taupe of the walls and white ceiling and trim adds to the overall interest this family room offers. With the right choice of architectural features, a room shows its personality even before furniture is added. To see more, visit Legacy and wander through all three of our inviting model homes.

The Basha: The Power of Hardscaping your Home’s Exterior Spaces

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Legacy Models 112Would you enjoy the luxury of an outside area in your home that is completely private and secure? The interior courtyard offered in Legacy’s Basha model creates a lovely outdoor setting that is accessible from several parts of the home and invites the outdoors in with charm and grace. When it comes to a courtyard, it’s the hardscaping that makes this area a natural continuation of the home’s interior.

Hardscaping refers to all of the permanent architectural features offered in an exterior space. In this case, it includes the stone flooring, which uses a pattern of large squares with dark borders to contrast it with the interior flooring while still making a connection. The outdoor fireplace, another effective hardscaping decision, provides warmth in design as well as extending the season for using this outdoor room.

While the lights strung along the ceiling area aren’t technically considered permanent, they provide the sense of a roof while creating a festival atmosphere within your home. Whether you are enjoying the evening outside under their canopy or looking out from inside as they light up the courtyard itself, those lights are just the right touch to make the space special for you and your family. Imagine a party on a clear night when all you need to do is throw open the doors to provide an indoor-outdoor event that takes advantage of the best of both worlds.

Would a courtyard like this add to your home’s appeal and flexibility? Why not visit the Basha model at Fulton Home’s Legacy community and experience its charm for yourself?

 

The Basha Unique Master Suite

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DSC_0057 (1)Bedrooms tend to be boxes with closets, and master bedrooms tend to be larger boxes with larger closets. However this master bedroom, from Fulton Home’s Basha model at Legacy, takes several big steps outside the box.

Start with a rich coffered ceiling highlighted by dramatic dark wood beams. This creates a sense of a room within a room, providing a special focus on the area above the bed. Contributing to the special feeling provided by this “fifth wall,” the chandelier lets you recognize that luxury has an important role to play in this space.

Notice next the wall behind the bed. The pattern mirrors the feeling of fine leather with well-placed oversize tacks supporting this image. By providing a special wall feature combined with an indentation for the bed and nightstand placement, a cozy and private space for sleeping is created within the room itself.

Finally, the window-rich embrasure gives the bedroom’s occupants a separate area to relax after a long day. Imagine settling in those chairs with a cup of tea or your favorite beverage for a break before getting ready for bed. It would also make the perfect morning coffee location, with a few minutes to read the paper or check your phone for news or messages before starting your day.

Is this the kind of master bedroom you’ve dreamed of having? Does the rich warmth draw you in and make you want to relax within its walls? If so, we encourage you to explore it in person at the Fulton Home luxury Legacy community in Gilbert.

 

The Basha: High Style Dining

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DSC_0022 (1)Some smart design decisions bring style to this dining space, from Fulton Home’s Basha floorplan at Legacy. The wall-mounted column and ceiling-based frame defines the dining and living spaces with a natural hallway that keeps the room open.

Proportion also has a place here. The chandelier has the grandeur to connect the raised ceiling to the table, while its delicate tracings of metal keep it light and graceful rather than too massive. This provides a good balance against the strong beams and more prominent design of the wall sconces. The lights in the hall could fit over a dining table in a smaller space, but here they stand up well to the requirements of the generous room.

The large dining room table is complemented by adding upholstered armchairs to each end. Dark leather works well with the massive mirror on the wall and the beams on the ceiling, while the stripes on the side chairs pull the room’s colors together.

While some people may consider a rug to add definition to the dining space, the other architectural details make that flooring choice optional. And positioned right next to the kitchen as a natural extension of the living room, this dining area is ideal for entertaining.

In the Basha, design and décor blend to create a friendly, welcome environment. We invite you to visit the Basha at Legacy in Gilbert. We think you will enjoy the style and appeal of this Fulton Home.