Tag Archives: outdoor living

Plan Your Next Outdoor Event

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Patio-fire-PitwIt’s fun to plan parties and get togethers for family and friends. This time of year it’s tempting to plan an outdoor event. This backyard, one of those visible at Fulton’s Cooley Station, makes entertaining especially inviting.

First, you have an interesting water feature along the back complete with sculptural pots and edges made for sitting. Then the elongated fire pit encourages guests to enjoy the flames, either cooking up marshmallows for s’more’s or just sitting along the edge and warming in the heat.

Outdoor areas make better party places when they offer various centers for attention so that different groups of people can enjoy either fun activities or quiet conversations. This space has a number of sections, allowing guests to self-select the group that suits their style and mood.

Notice also the comfy upholstered outdoor furniture. Having chairs with ottomans rather than one-piece loungers gives your guests more seating options and leads to flexibility as different pieces can be moved around the yard. The warm earth tones of the upholstery fit well with all of the stone hardscaping in place, and plants and fabric soften the feeling of the yard.

Finally, the table in the foreground – the dining chairs are just visible at the front of the photo – provides a place for appetizers and drinks. Consider adding a few side tables to enable guests to set their plates and drinks down as they wander around the yard. The potted geranium is a nice touch on the table, and you could also add fresh flowers and greens to the décor.

Just by incorporating food and drinks, this yard is ready for company. What do you need to change in your yard to set things up for your next event?

Planning Your Outdoor Kitchen

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Legacy Models 064If you plan to cook and entertain outside it’s important to make your outdoor space work for your specific needs. The outdoor kitchen shown photo above, from the Legacy community is just one example. Here are some issues to consider when planning an outdoor kitchen space.

Grill: Do you want a stand-alone grill or one built into a counter? Would you prefer the convenience of gas or do you like the flavor provided by charcoal? How much do you want to invest in your outdoor grill? How large a grill will you need to cook enough for all of your family and guests when you entertain?

Electricity: Are there other items you would appreciate in your outdoor kitchen that would require electricity? Maybe you’d like a blender to mix icy drinks for parties, or a coffeepot for an outdoor brunch? Think about the possibilities.\

Water: Would a sink come in handy so that you could rinse dishes and pots before taking them inside? What about being ready to rinse off countertops and tables before eating outside? If you think you’d need more than a hose, consider an outdoor sink.

Lighting: Are you likely to entertain and even cook after dark? Some well-planned task and ambient lighting can create a wonderful atmosphere for entertaining and enable you to keep on grilling long after the sun goes down.

Counters and Seating: Some outdoor kitchens feature counter seating, allowing you to cook and chat with family and friends at the same time. Those counters can also serve as a buffet when it’s time to serve.

If you think about how you will use your outdoor space, you can make sure that your outdoor kitchen is everything you want it to be.

Bring Color Outside

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exterior color 1For years, the best way to introduce color to your patio or courtyard was through flowers or painted furniture. But today’s indoor-outdoor fabrics allow you to introduce cushion color to your outdoor living areas. Here are some suggestions for making your exterior areas as colorful as your home is inside.

Plan a color scheme: Just as every room in your home has a predominant color or set of colors, you want to do the same for outdoor areas. Consider issues such as the type of patio, plants and trees, and whether you have a pool or other water feature.

The photo above uses light terracotta for the hardscaping combined with dark brown beams on the cabana. The choice of dark furniture combined with rich rust cushions allows the seating area to stand out while still complementing the entire outdoor space. The splash of color makes that seating a focal point in the yard, drawing guests to the comfort of a space designed for conversation.

exterior color 2Bring in patterns: The photo to the right uses a neutral color scheme to fit well with the warm wall and fountain surround. Here the contrast comes from patterned throw pillows. They add interest to the seating area along with a touch of modern style. Indoor-outdoor fabrics are now available in a variety of patterns in every style and color combination.

exterior color 3Combine color and pattern to add interest: The furniture waiting to be distributed on this patio combines a tone-on-tone stripe with a pop of bright red. Don’t hesitate to use vivid colors in controlled ways to make your outdoor space interesting and inviting. See this patio furniture in person when you visit Fulton Home’s Legacy community.

 

Decorating the Exterior of your Home for the Holidays

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Models 070With the expansive exteriors of Fulton Home’s new Legacy community, the traditional wreath on the door may get lost. Here are a few suggestions to create a festive exterior for your new Legacy home.

Start decorating before you get to the door. You could place wreaths on the front of the matching columns to start setting the mood right away. The symmetrical arrangement supports carrying a doubled theme from the front pillars right to the front door.

Models 090Go big. Look for oversized wreaths and decorations. Before you shop, measure your front door and decide what size range would work best.

Go for multiples. One option is to purchase a number of large poinsettias from Costco or a similar retailer and place two on either side of each stair. You would create a sea of red holiday charm all the way to your door. If you would rather use smaller plants, you could line the walls with them or even place them in the planters shown in the top photo.

Consider luminaria. For a spark of charm consider lining your walkway and walls with many luminarias – a common holiday decorating choice in the Southwest. These simple decorations – just brown paper bags partially filled with sand with a lighted candle inside – could be used to outline the dramatic arrangement of the landscape and walls surrounding the front of your Legacy home.

No matter what decorating choice you make, your home will be lovely and ready to entertain family and friends this holiday season. For more on the Fulton Homes Legacy community, visit us online at: http://www.fultonhomes.com/our-communities/freeman-farms/legacy.

 

Fountain Magic

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Courtyard20DSC_0250In desert countries centuries ago fountains helped relieve the feeling of heat and a burning sun, creating an oasis of cool water to refresh the eyes and the throat.

Today in Arizona we have misters outside and air conditioners inside to help us tolerate the heat of summer. But we can still create our own oasis in the desert by placing a fountain on a patio or courtyard.

Fountains provide a visual break from the desert heat – cool water on the move just seems to make a space fresher and more inviting. But that’s only part of the charm. The sound of water running through a fountain relaxes the most stressful guest and provides a much-needed melody to help you find your feet after a rough or extra-busy day.

This fountain from the Fulton Homes Starlight model allows a bit of space to perch next to the water and run your hands through it. Water soothes and provides solace. In the middle of summer’s heat, there’s a promise of cooler times to come.

Whether you prefer a wall-based fountain such as this one or a stand-alone piece – a contemporary architectural design like this inviting choice or something with cupids or dolphins – consider adding a fountain to your home. There’s no denying that this space begs you to step outside and enjoy the day or the evening. By bringing a fountain into the mix, you kick the entire outdoor space up a notch to something that welcomes you home and says, “Sit back and enjoy.”

Outdoor Living – Many Choices

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Fulton Homes Daylight Model

Now while we’re in the outdoor living stretch in Arizona, take a few minutes to think about how you want your yard to function. Do you enjoy having your coffee and reading the paper in comfy chairs outside in the morning? Are family dinners more fun outside? Should there be a spot for the kids to play, or is your focus entertaining and your dream a plush outdoor kitchen?

This time of year it’s tempting to buy outdoor furniture first and then arrange the space, but you may find yourself with pieces that don’t coordinate, or that don’t meet your real outdoor goals. Just a bit of planning can help you create a space that looks beautiful and really works for you.

Take a look at the table in the foreground. It seats six comfortably, and you could put three chairs on a side and make it big enough to handle eight. Planning a larger party? How about using the table as a buffet, and arranging the chairs around the yard. The raised planters have a nice wide ledge that’s perfect for perching with a plate.

The fact that the two chairs in the background are the same color as the dining set but a different material and style keeps this yard from being too matchy-matchy. With today’s amazing weather-proof fabrics, you can find cushions that can handle the outdoors in a rich selection of colors and prints. Adding cushions to the dining chairs in a stripe that picks up the rust from the easy chairs would pull everything together beautifully.

With careful thought and shopping, you can make your backyard lovely, functional and versatile enough to meet all of your outdoor plans this spring.

Summer fun Means Observing Pool Safety

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15845300_SIn July’s heat, a pool turns the backyard into an enjoyable place no matter the temperature. At the same time, pools pose a risk, particularly for toddlers. According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, “drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4.”

Follow these steps to secure your pool to minimize the risk for your children and others in your neighborhood.

  • Make sure your pool fence is at least four feet tall or taller, with self-closing and latching gates.
  • If you have a spa, use a lockable safety cover over it.
  • Install door alarms on any doors that lead directly to your pool.
  • Use pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go in or near the pool.
  • For extra security, consider a surface wave or underwater alarm to notify you if a child or pet falls in the pool.

During parties and gatherings, include these steps in your planning to keep children playing in the pool safe.

  • Walk through basic pool safety tips with the children before the party starts – things such as no running near the pool, no hitting or kicking at each other, and no horseplay on the diving board.
  • Have the adults take turns serving as the designated lifeguard to watch when children are in the pool.
  • Check the pool or spa immediately if a child is missing.
  • Make sure that you or someone in your family has basic CPR training

The best way to keep your children safe around a pool is to make sure they know how to swim. Even very small children can learn basic floating techniques. With just a little effort, you can do your best to keep your family safe and happy and swimming all summer.

Preparing for Summer: Outdoor Prep

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6089971_SNow that summer’s heat is upon us, it’s time to come up with ways to enjoy being outdoors in spite of the temperatures. Here are a few suggestions to make the most of the season.

Al fresco breakfast: The temperatures stay cool in the morning here in Arizona well into the summer. How about planning breakfasts outside instead of dinners? Place dishes, bowls and silverware on a tray, and add cereal, eggs or whatever is planned for breakfast that day. It only takes a few minutes to move outside, and you and your family will have a cheerful start to the day before temperatures rise.

Shade: The best shade comes from trees, but a covered patio or umbrellas such as the ones in the photo provide a close second. Just remember to close the umbrellas when you’re not using them, because our Arizona sun can fade and wear them out quickly.

Misting: You can hire a company to install misters or pick up a do-it-yourself kit at your local hardware store. The cool damp air works well in our dry weather as an informal evaporative cooler. When sitting under the mist, the temperature can feel much more enjoyable.

Outdoor ceiling fans: NOT to be combined with misting systems! These fans don’t actually lower the temperature, but they can make you feel cooler when sitting under them. Even though your fan may be under a covered patio, be sure to buy one designed for outdoor use. It is then protected from dust and other weather elements.

Choose your best options from among these or others, to allow you to extend your outdoor enjoyment for a few more months every year.

Spring Break Plans

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9480227_SEven if you can’t leave town this year for Spring Break, you can plan some special family activities while your kids are out of school. Here are a couple of fun ideas.

Start a garden: Whether you begin with a few herbs in pots or decide to rent a rototiller, a garden is a great way of getting involved in something different. You might want each child to choose a vegetable to grow or give everyone a small area to plant whatever they want.

Begin by visiting a local nursery. Talk to the experts there to find out what options would be best for your available space and the season. You might want to mix some plants with a few packages of seeds to you have immediate crops and some that will come up later.

Look for heirloom varieties of vegetables, the ones that are hard to find in stores. Cherry tomato plants are also a good choice for the Arizona desert climate.

Let your children take the lead in planning and choosing. Get them directly involved in the planting and tending. If one child wants flowers rather than vegetables, that’s OK. It’s the process rather than the results that are important.

7954179_STake a hike: No, this is not a rude remark. How about planning a nature walk either in the area or within a few hours’ drive? Once again, let your children take the lead. Pick up a book of interesting local hiking areas at your local bookstore or library.

Make the hike extra fun by including a picnic that everyone contributes to making and packing. Take along a book that helps you identify local plants and birds. Have someone wear a pedometer so you know how far you’ve gone at the end of the day.

Make this Spring Break special by finding an activity or event that everyone in your family can enjoy and working together to make it special for everyone.

Create an Outdoor Room

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Peninsula 149This is the time of year when it’s wonderful to live in Arizona. So before the heat shows up, how about creating an outdoor space that can substitute for your living and dining room only outside?

It doesn’t take that much effort, just add a few things to make your patio an inviting place to eat a meal or spend an afternoon. Take a look at this space from the Fulton Homes Woodside Model at the Oasis in Freeman Farms Community.

Peninsula 153This patio has plenty of room for a living-room style seating arrangement and a comfortable spot for al fresco meals. Thanks to the new outdoor fabrics, all-weather cushions add comfort as well as color. Here are a few other ideas to build a living space outside.

Hang outdoor art: Metal or ceramic wall art such as this cast iron piece adds an element of charm while still able to handle the elements. Check patio stores, garden shops and small boutiques for pieces that match your style.

Add accessories: The throw pillow and plant on this patio help build a fully-furnished feeling. These pieces warm up the space.

Remember lighting: Your outdoor lights help make your outdoor space work through the evening. Add candles or lanterns to brighten the patio for parties and family gatherings.

Peninsula 150Choose flooring that mimics indoor style: Choosing tile, pavers or stone instead of settling for standard outdoor concrete allows you to add color and texture to your outdoor rooms. Consider picking up an outdoor rug to add even more color and personality.

Take your time choosing the right furniture and accessories, and you can take advantage of this season’s weather and add living space to your home by spending time outside.