Fulton Homes, Arizona’s largest family-owned and -operated homebuilder, and its premier Fulton Homes Design Center, is adapting to the demand that stems from nearly 12 months of exponential increases in the number of people working and learning from home.
In addition to a social disruption, Arizona is the midst of one of the country’s most active markets. Realtor.com expects the Phoenix metro market to see an 11.4% growth in sales over 2020.
With that in mind, Fulton Homes and its team of sales representatives and specially trained interior designers are sharing what they have seen change, and what they expect.
“This market poses exciting opportunities for homebuilders to really acclimate to the new future that residents will be living, while not overcompensating because of current events too much,” said Dennis Webb, vice president of operations for Fulton Homes. “Buyers want a home with curb appeal, quiet spaces and with outdoor space to allow them to gather safely in their backyards.”
Primarily, the homebuilder is seeing a new dedication to “flex space” in the home. Flex space is defined as rooms and spaces that are adaptable; for example, an office that can also work as a guest room; or a bonus room that could function or adapt as needed.
With the uncertainty of when and how people will return to traditional offices, there are new ways of turning bedrooms into temporary offices. Designers are adding a single door to a bedroom closet instead of using more traditional double doors to preserve the feeling of bedroom, if needed, in the long or short term. This also makes it easier to add a desk inside the closet, or to close it off at the end of the workday, while preserving the room as a bedroom for the future. Homebuyers are also thinking about ways to incorporate multiple offices inside a home to handle both work and the need for a classroom.
Lighting and videoconference-friendly backdrops are key when setting up a “Zoom room.” Trendy, professional backgrounds are growing in popularity that include bookshelves, subway tile, plants or artwork to complete the look.
Another design trend includes ceramic tile plank flooring that looks like wood. It offers the beauty of wood with a scratch-resistant finish to handle the extra hustle and bustle at home. The wood-look tile also offers the benefits of being waterproof, making it more durable in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Because of Arizona’s extreme temperatures, these tile floors handle changes in humidity and temperature better than wood floors.
The 13,000 square foot Fulton Design Center offers future homebuyers a one-stop shop in a retail-like environment to truly personalize and customize their homes. With thousands of options available, it makes the design process more hands-on and less stressful. Consultations are by appointment only, and social distancing and other health measures are in effect.
Founded in 1975, Fulton Homes is the largest privately owned and family-operated builder in Arizona. Known for its legendary Fulton quality, Fulton Homes has built more than 30,000 high quality single-family homes over the past 44 years in the Phoenix area. Fulton Homes is headquartered at 9140 S. Kyrene Road in Tempe, Arizona.
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