Tag Archives: relaxation in the home

Lovely Thanksgiving Plans

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morgue thanksgiving tableEveryone wants to have a lovely Thanksgiving, but too often the reality doesn’t measure up to our dreams. Here are a few simple tips to help you make the day special without making your life miserable in the process.

Let go of perfection: The Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving paintings are just that – paintings. Probably even his Thanksgiving celebrations had their share of spilled gravy and mashed potato food fights. Focus on the things that are important to you – having your family there, good food, laughter, friends dropping in, and let the rest go.

Pick one special touch for you: Maybe you love having fresh flowers on the table using your mother’s china. Or you dream of making napkin rings using real fall leaves. Let yourself have one indulgent touch, even if the rest of your family doesn’t understand it. And if you don’t have time for that special element this year, let it go. There’s always next year.

Let others help: It’s easy to get caught up in taking charge of everything so that you end up exhausted at the end of the day. Instead, ask others to help out. This can range from having guests bring a favorite side dish to assigning table setting, clearing and clean-up duties ahead of time. That way you can enjoy the holiday too.

Take the time to give thanks: With all the planning, cooking and cleaning, it’s easy to forget the reason for the holiday. But take a minute and think about all the things you have to be thankful for. We tend to take our lives for granted. But this is one day that encourages us not to do that. So be thankful.

Add Modern Luxury to Master Bedroom

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Master-BedroomwWhat can you do to make your master bedroom feel special and luxurious while still keeping a contemporary look? Here are a few suggestions to do just that, from this master in one of the Seaboard models at Cooley Station.

Dark colors: The rich dark brown wall behind the bed creates an immediate feeling of luxury. Darker colors are richer colors, and this tone strikes a feeling of bronze. The dark wood nightstands and pot as well as the lamp bases continue the dark tones.

Luxury bedding: With the European shams, two-color duvet cover with shams in a reverse color mix, and a generous number of pillows, the bedding says luxury. Making your bed look like someplace you want to land at the end of a long day is a great way to add a feeling of spoiling yourself to your bedroom.

Large-scale artwork: By positioning the large ocean-scape over the bed, it substitutes for a headboard. The blue tones work well with the dark brown wall to build almost a gallery feeling. This simple approach to art brings in a sense of luxury.

Unique ceiling fan: Investing in a ceiling fan that stands out from the norm turns a typical piece into a more sculptural light element. It makes a statement in the room.

Square shades on the table lamps: Once again, a non-standard choice makes the lamps stand out, giving them a decorator feel.

These elements turn a simple bedroom into something special – a hideaway designed for you to escape, relax, and prepare to face another day awake and refreshed from your moment of luxury.

Shower Luxuries

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shower-luxurieswMost of us don’t have the time to take a luxurious bath anymore. Getting ready for the day generally involves a quick hop in the shower. But what if your shower could give you the same luxurious feeling that you used to get in a tub? This shower comes close. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer.

First, let’s just consider how it looks. With oil-rubbed bronze bath hardware and luxury tile walls, it’s hard to believe that you’re not in a spa or high-end resort. Notice the metallic tile trim along the bottom third of the shower – unusual and intriguing – not your standard bathroom fare.

Next, take a look at the size of this shower. It’s definitely big enough for two if you want to share, or if you need to share if you both need to get ready for work at the same time. Although even by yourself  it’s nice to have plenty of space and both wall-mounted and hand-held shower-heads. You won’t find yourself bumping into walls getting through a shower here.

Having a step-in shower is particularly nice also. This works well for aging in place. As you get older it’s great not to have to step high to get into a shower/tub combo. And the extra space just outside the enclosure is the perfect spot to grab your towel and dry off.

Lots of natural light also gives this bathroom a spa-like feel. With the windows set high, you get both light and privacy.

How would you like to have this luxurious shower for your own, to step into every morning? Check it out in person at Cooley Station.

Outdoor Kitchen a Cook’s Alternative

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outdoor-kitchen-cooks-alternativewEven the greatest kitchen can get tiring when you’re cooking dinner in it every day. So while the weather is nice, how about making dinner outside for a change? A simple gas grill is a great start, but if you really want to spoil yourself, how about an outdoor kitchen like this one?

This outdoor set-up, at one of the model homes in the Cooley Station community, has pretty much everything you need. The gas grill is built in, making it easy to set your food up both before and after cooking. Guests can chat with the chef while sitting at the comfy outdoor bar. All you need to add are a few barstools to set up for outdoor living.

There’s plenty of room for prepping food with the generous countertop to the left of the grill. How about adding a cooler along the wall so that everyone can help themselves to sodas and drinks?

Everything tastes just a little better when it’s cooked outside, and spouses who are hopeless in the kitchen suddenly find themselves amazingly skilled with dealing with an open flame. Even if it’s just burgers or hotdogs, cooking it outside still makes dinner special.

And there’s a perfect place for everyone to sit and eat – a nice table with comfy chairs – upholstery that can handle the elements. If it starts getting a bit warm, just turn on the ceiling fan to make it a bit cooler.

An outdoor kitchen – what a nice dinner alternative.

Merging Indoor and Outdoor Living

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merging-indoor-and-outdoor-livingwLiving in Arizona, we’re lucky to be able to spend more time outside than in other parts of the country. That’s one reason why it’s nice to look for a home that allows you to merge indoor and outdoor living.

Whether you’re entertaining or just enjoying time with the family, it’s a pleasure to be able to move from inside to outside as you wish. It might be that your family enjoys breakfast outdoors once the temperatures drop enough to spend early mornings with doors and windows open. Some family members may just prefer to take their coffee and the morning paper outside.

If you have houseguests who come from the East, chances are they’ll take advantage of any time they get to spend out in the sun. How about a lunch of cheese and fruit on the patio? Or you could offer different cold cuts and potato salad or coleslaw. With this home it’s just a few steps from the kitchen to the back yard, so it’s easy for people to fill their plates and go back for seconds.

Maybe spending time outside gives some family members a chance to enjoy a little alone time, settling down in the yard with a good book or relaxing on a lounge chair for a nap. Have you considered putting up a hammock? It could become a popular feature in your yard.

With this generous sliding glass door that also includes two floor-to-ceiling windows, the outside is always calling and the inside is always near. So choose your spot. Going from one to the other is a breeze.

Kitchen Clean-up Center

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kitchen-clean-up-centerwFew people really enjoy cleaning up the kitchen, but if you have dirty dish duty, it’s hard to beat this kitchen clean-up center from Seaboard at Cooley Station. Let’s take a look at the advantages offered with this savvy layout.

Plenty of counter space: With room on both sides of the sink, dirty dishes and pots can go on one side and clean items can fill a drainer on the other. Which side? Why don’t you pick? There’s plenty of room in either direction. With a dual sink, use one for rinsing and the other can be filled with hot sudsy water for things that don’t go in the dishwasher like your sharp knives.

Silverware drawer: A drawer for your silverware right on the island is a real step-saver. Clean silverware can move right from the dishwasher to the island drawer to the table when it’s time for dinner. Or maybe you prefer that drawer closer to the table for silverware? Then how about using that drawer so that your sharp knives and other prep utensils are always handy?

A nice view: A sink that faces the wall may make the person who draws clean-up duty feel isolated. But this island location helps keep the cleaner entertained with an easy view of the television or other activities in the family room. It’s more fun if you can make chores a family event.

One final wipe of that appealing stainless dishwasher door and you’re ready to head out of the kitchen for the evening. It’s not so bad getting clean-up duty when you’re working in a space like this one!

Inviting Open Kitchen

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Inviting-open-kitchenwWhen you have room for an island in your kitchen, the end result is an open space that makes spending time there cooking and cleaning more pleasant.

Kitchens that are totally enclosed feel limiting. Very few people fit in such a space and often you find that more than one person working leads to awkward movements as people try to stay out of each other’s way. Holding a conversation can be difficult as there is no good place in an enclosed kitchen to put someone who is not working.

But with an open kitchen like this one, there are a number of convenient places for people to sit or stand, whether they are helping out or not. Park guests on the other side of the island and position some cheese and crackers handy. The cook has plenty of uninterrupted space to work yet he or she can still have a great conversation with family or friends.

If you have helpers in the kitchen, an open kitchen design like this gives you plenty of room for them to work in the space, yet you never feel crowded. This kitchen has lots of task lighting, but you also have a generous amount of ambient light because there is no wall blocking your access to all of the open floor plan windows.

Kitchens tend to be the warm center of a home, and this open and friendly kitchen certainly encourages everyone to spend time in it or nearby. To see this and other inviting open kitchens, visit the models at Cooley Station.

Accessorizing your Bathroom

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accessorizing-your-bathroom-webWith a bathroom, you have a limited space to work with when accessorizing, so you want to make the most of your choices.

Here are some things to consider  to make your bath a special space for you whether you’re getting ready for your day or relaxing while preparing for bed.

Color: Do you like soft subtle colors in a bathroom? Take a look at how well grey and white work in this bath from the Rancho Mirage model in the Oasis at Queen Creek community. From the natural look to the diagonal tile floor to the rich soft grey on the walls, the room has a gentle feel that encourages relaxation. Brown and grey towels fit well with this color scheme.

Lighting: Although a bathroom’s lighting is built-in, it has a strong influence in the mood of a room which really makes it count as an accessory. In this room the contemporary fixture features the same brushed nickel finish as the faucets and the trim on the shower. Everything feels coordinated and it all works with the grey color scheme.

Art: Although there is only one piece of art in this bathroom, it has a serene and appealing style, and it is set in just the right place for viewing when in the tub. The darkening cloud-filled landscape pulls some color into the room without requiring all of your attention. It is as relaxing and inviting as the rest of this space.

If you want to take a closer look at this bathroom and a number of others, we invite you to tour our models in Oasis at Queen Creek. You can explore all the choices before deciding on the perfect bathroom for you.

When Your Son Leaves for College

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From the Rancho Mirage model at Oasis at Queen Creek

From the Rancho Mirage model at Oasis at Queen Creek

It’s complicated but fun getting your daughter ready to go away to college, but it’s trickier with a son. While your daughter is likely to enjoy planning her dorm room’s décor, most boys, particularly in high school, have no interest in anything related to decorating, and wouldn’t admit it if they had.

So what do you do to make sure he’s ready without adding to the trauma of leaving home and living on his own for the first time ever? Here are a few suggestions to make it easier for both of you.

Focus on the basics: These include warm bedding, clean clothes, hygiene and first aid supplies, as well as adequate lighting and storage. Chances are you’ve taken care of all these things over the years, so it’s quite possible that your son won’t realize what he needs until he needs it. It’s your job to get him ready, and to educate him on what you’ve been taking care of for him.

Bedding: Look for sheet sets. Most dorm rooms offer long single beds, so look for that size when shopping. Places such as Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target are gearing up for the go-to-college set, so you should have a good selection of options available. If your son is going to school in an area that experiences cold winters, be sure to include a blanket as well as a warm bedspread. There are no guarantees that dorms are warm.

Laundry: If your son is not familiar with doing laundry, take the time for a basic tutorial. Pack laundry detergent and plan for at least a month’s worth of underwear, because no college kid does laundry more often than that. Be sure to include a laundry bag rather than a basket – a bag is easier to store and haul around.

First aid: Include band aids and any over-the-counter items that your son is used to having on hand. Find an easy container to hold it all in one place.

Lighting: Many dorms have fair lighting, but a lamp with task lighting is a useful accessory. Look for something simple and light enough to move around as needed.

Storage: Dorm closets are small, so consider some under-bed storage for extra sweaters, etc.

Don’t worry about music and other technology. Your son will probably be on top of that too. And don’t make gender assumptions. You may have a boy that really cares about what that bedspread looks like, or a daughter who just doesn’t care. Either way, follow these guidelines to ensure that your child, whether male or female, is ready to make that leap away from home.

Sofa Alternative

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family room la quinta webThe standard approach to seating in a family room is a sofa with one or two chairs, or maybe a sectional with one additional chair. But how about considering this arrangement from the La Quinta model at Oasis at Queen Creek? Four chairs with an ottoman in the center offers a number of advantages.

Reflecting its space: If you have a square space, a sofa and chair combination doesn’t take full advantage of the area, instead ending up more as a rectangle. This four-chair approach reflects the available space and actually takes advantage of it by supporting the symmetrical structure.

Everyone has a seat: Rather than having to share, every person gets a comfy chair to sit in as they choose. The ottoman is big enough for everyone to share it without getting in each other’s way.

Arranged for conversation: With a sofa, some people end up sitting next to each other, making it awkward to hold a conversation. This four-chair set-up creates an environment where everyone can converse comfortably with everyone else.

Additional seating as needed: The ottoman could also be used as seating, and the space between each chair provides plenty of room to pull up extra chairs and join the conversation.

Color and pattern coordination: By including throw pillows on each chair of the same fabric as the ottoman, this grouping feels totally integrated. The rug, picking up one of the patterned fabric’s colors, wraps up the space.

If you’re planning a living or family room seating arrangement, consider the possibility of using four chairs for a fresh and appealing look that functions as well or better than the standard sofa seating option.