Considerations When Designing a New Home

Planning a new home is a task that may seem daunting, but is worth your time. One of the most important things to remember, especially if it will be completed in stages, is that all the construction needs to be cohesive. You don’t want to ruin a good home design by not having everything fit together.

tips to improve home design
Source: TAB Associate’s Portfolio

Always use a master plan. This helps save a lot of time and ensure better results, because you’ll be dealing with your home as a whole. You won’t need to worry about whether the master bedroom blends with the loft, or whether the staircase will look good in the entry area.

Make sure you keep the entire home site in mind during the planning phase. Issues such as whether you intend to add a pool or guesthouse at a later date need to be considered to avoid further troubles.

Know which parts of planning a new home need to come first in your case. Handling the most pressing parts of the construction first will make the rest of it go more smoothly.

TAB offers the planning services you need for a great home, contact us to learn more.

Bring Beauty Into the Home with Stone

There is no denying the beauty of stacked stone walls. Used for both the interior and exterior, the subtle colors and expressive texture of the stone create a visual and expressive design.

Stacked stone is unique in its 3-dimensional composition. Expressive stones of various colors and textures are created as modules, attached to backing and can be installed much like tiles. There is no need to grout dry stacked stones which results in smooth, uninterrupted lines.

building with stone

The uses and locations for stacked stone is limitless when creating or redesigning a specific area. The modules make a dramatic backdrop to focal points in the home such as a fireplace or a kitchen stove surround. The stones also serve as a stand alone accent wall to enhance the texture of decorative accessories emphasizing wood, glass or metal fixtures.

Used to create a wall in a luxury bath, stacked stones add an element of relaxation and serenity when coupled with soothing hues from the palette.

From bold stone columns to colored stones that reflect the golden glints from the sunlight, stacked stones add the finishing touch to any design.

Clients can rely on the more than 30 years of experience at TAB Associates, Inc to design and construct projects on time and on budget.

The Philosophy Behind TAB Associates

When the services of an experienced Vail Valley architect are needed to bring a vision to life, the designers at TAB Associates, Inc. have the insight, energy, one-on-one understanding of a client’s desires and an extensive creative palette to do a thorough job.

vail valley builders

TAB Associates goes above and beyond the norm to provide their clients with every possible need involved in planning, designing and building what the client wants, not what the architect wants. There’s no room for egos at TAB as the responsibility of the architect is blending the client’s desires with a doses of artistic expression brought to the table by the designer.  There is also the scientific side of the equation, the technology that TAB brings to the table.  These include building skin, insulation systems, glazing options, daylighting, solar, geo-thermal, HVAC systems, A/V systems, building automation, etc.

By listening to each client and keeping them involved in the project, every step of the way, TAB architects are able to balance the design with the program and construction ultimately finalizing the project by balancing the cost and budget.

TAB Associates is responsible for developing multiple properties including single homes, multi-family residences, resorts, and spiritual, medical, institutional and commercial architecture that met the needs of their clients.

With more than 30 years of experience, the architects at TAB Associates, Inc. have the know-how to turn a client’s dream into an innovative and realistic design.

Tips to Winterizing Your Home Before the Winter Cold Arrives

The seasons are slowly changing and that means it is time to start getting ready for much cooler temperatures as winter begins to arrive.  While we think about reorganizing our wardrobes and having our vehicles inspected in anticipation for the colder season, we shouldn’t forget about our homes in the midst of our annual preparations.

prepare your house for winter

Here are tips for winterizing a home that will help you get your house ready to face the snow, freezing rain, and plummeting temperatures:

  • Keep your gutters clean to prevent snow from accumulating where it can thaw and re-freeze. This allows it to seep into your roof.
  • Check doors, windows, ventilation ducts, electrical outlets, and other spaces for air leaks. Then seal them properly.
  • Have your furnace cleaned and inspected to ensure that it is working properly.
  • Make sure your plumbing is well-insulated to prevent freezing pipes when the temperature drops.
  • Take your hoses off the outside faucets (or sill cocks) so the water can drain from them and not freeze back in the wall.  This will burst the pipe in the wall and when you turn the outside faucet on next spring, you will have a very wet inside wall.

If you wish to learn more about winterizing a home, our consultants at TAB Associates are available to answer your questions and offer suggestions.  Contact us today and let us work with you to meet all of your architectural needs.

TAB Spotlight: The Catlin Residence

One of the projects that we here at TAB Associates have completed with pride is the Catlin Residence in Bachelor Gulch. Situated on a ski-in, ski-out lot, the 10,000 square foot house has breathtaking views of the mountains.

mountain home builder
Source: TAB Associates’ Official Website

With eight bedrooms, eight full baths, two half-baths, there are plenty of spaces in this open floor plan to enjoy, yet still maintain privacy throughout. The exterior features a heated in-ground pool and spa, fire pit, and water feature, and gas heat from overhead on most decks allows for outdoor activities in cool weather.

The interior boasts a wine room, hearth room, ski room in addition to the standard rooms in homes. The family room hosts a built-in bar, pool table, and large sitting area. Because of the open floor plan, it’s an ideal place for entertaining guests.

Unlike many homes in Bachelor Gulch which house the Master Bed suite on the Main Level, the Catlin Residence has its Master Suite including Master Living, Master Kitchen and Master Study in the Penthouse location with commanding views of the Gore Range and Beaver Creek Ski Mountain.  In this way, the couple has every thing they need on their own level of the home up and away from the rest of this spectacular home.

The Catlin Residence is just one of our many home construction projects that demonstrates presenting what our clients want in an aesthetically pleasing manner, and helping to make each residence a dream home come true.

 

If this residence interests you, and you would like to learn more about TAB Associates, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Important Tips to Remember When Designing a Home Theater

Important Tips to Remember When Designing a Home Theater
Use these tips whenever you’re designing a new home theater. Source: TAB Associates 

Planning out the many rooms of a home calls for architectural balance — knowing the balance within the design itself. One of the best elements to add to a new home is a media room. Yet, home theater design can be tricky when it’s not properly planned.

Here are a few tips to remember when designing your home theater:

  • Whether you’re redoing a basement or adding a completely new room, consider how much room you’ll need for all of your home theater equipment and how many people you wish to accommodate for a movie night.
  • Make the room tidy by designating a special storage area for all the equipment — DVD and Blu-Ray players, audio controls, etc. In other words, create a small ‘master control room’ for a streamlined look to the space.
  • Decide on what kind of seating you like, and stick with it. Keep in mind that some people prefer movie theater-style seating, while others want to get comfy and curl up on a sectional couch.
  • Decide if you want any special effects for gaming in your room, requiring additional monitors to appear from the backs of the seats and in front of each seating row.

Enjoy having a room dedicated to movie nights and entertainment that’s built to your needs. Use these home theater design tips to achieve the media room design you’ve always wanted in your Colorado home.

The Elements of a Good Mudroom

The Elements of a Good Mudroom
Source: TAB Associates Inc.

A big part of good home design is knowing what elements go into each room. There are quite a few considerations for mudroom design — which is often one of the most neglected rooms in the home and needed in almost every Colorado home.

Here are three of the biggest “dos” for designing a mudroom:

  • Ensure the room is what you need for your lifestyle. If you have pets and children, that will change the room’s function based on their activities and routines. If it’s just a two-person home, the mudroom will take a completely different shape.
  • Give your area plenty of room to come in and settle down. It doesn’t have to be a sprawling room, but there should be enough space for maneuvering comfortably.
  • Keep storage space in mind. Coats, boots, backpacks, rucksacks, umbrellas, outdoor and sporting equipment all need a place to go neatly once you arrive home.  This means the proper closet space that possibly includes cubbies or built-in cabinets.  Make sure you have room for yourself and your belongings so the area won’t look cluttered.

Save your floors and entryways with an excellent mudroom design, and use these ideas to help you get started on placing this crucial home element into your residence.

If you’re looking to add a mudroom, contact us at TAB Associates and we will be sure to answer any questions you have about a new addition to your home!

Get to Know the Minds Behind TAB Associates, Inc.

Get to Know the Minds Behind TAB Associates, Inc.
TAB Associates has a group of dedicated architects who will strive to make your vision a reality.

How often do you get the chance to know your architects in Colorado? Not often enough, says TAB Associates; and not knowing your architects can lead to not getting the quality and style you want in a custom-built home.

We at TAB Associates are changing that with our architects in Colorado, one architect at a time.

In a recent interview with Tab Bonidy, president and owner of TAB Associates, he suggested that one of the most important aspects to providing superior service was putting aside the architect’s ego, so that the clients are free to express what they want most in their custom-built homes or log cabins. This comes from an architect who has a masters in environmental planning from Arizona State University, from their solar energy planning and technology program, with over 30 years experience in the industry.

It doesn’t stop there, either — both Greg Macik and Warner Hopkins bring their experience to building dream homes for clients, and remove their egos from the process, ensuring all of our clients get exactly what they desire, and what they think will be most pleasing to live in.  This doesn’t mean our clients do not get our own expertise, just in a suggestive form.  We always say, “It is your home, not ours, it is our job to give you what you want.”

Here at TAB Associates, we dedicate ourselves to making your dreams a reality, and a comfortable one, at that.

Image courtesy of TAB Associates 

Learn More About Our Philosophy Here at TAB

Colorado has numerous outstanding buildings, resorts and accommodations designed by talented individuals from Colorado architecture firms such as TAB Associates, Inc. These architects are master artists when it comes to creating a vision based on your needs.

Learn More About Our Philosophy Here at TAB
TAB Associates has architects that are skilled and willing to work toward bringing a client’s vision to life.

At TAB, the goal is all about designing what the customer wants while maintaining balance between the design itself and construction, along with the cost and budget. It is a team effort between the client and the architect to fashion exactly what the client envisions while keeping true to construction requirements and financial guidelines.

From start to finish, TAB Associates takes the client through each step of the planning and interior design, all the while listening to what the client has to say. Communication is key between the architect and the client, and TAB Associates support this every day of the project.

With over 30 years in the business of architecture, TAB Associates is dedicated to providing the utmost in professional architectural services from day one to ensure that the end project is the complete picture of what the client had in mind.

For your current or future architectural needs, contact TAB Associates, Inc.  at (970) 766-1470 and speak with one of the experienced staff who will help turn your vision into reality.

Image courtesy of TAB Associates, Inc. 

“Like” Us on Facebook to Learn About Our Latest Projects & More!

"Like" Us on Facebook to Learn About Our Latest Projects & More!
“Like” us on Facebook to keep up with projects undertaken by TAB Associates.

Would you like a better way to get to know TAB Associates? One of the best ways to do that is to ‘like’ us on Facebook to get the latest and current news about TAB Associates.

Here are just a few of the benefits of liking our Facebook page:

  • News and updates: Changes, updates, and anything new happening at TAB Associates will be announced via our Facebook page for the convenience of our clients, as well as those who follow our page in their news feed.
  • TAB projects: When it comes to architecture and planning, we put some of our prime projects in the spotlight, to give our viewers an idea of the breadth and scope of our capabilities.
  • Photos: Nothing quite shows the fruit of our labor better than pictures. View past and current projects in one of TAB’s photo albums.

To learn more about TAB, ‘like’ us on Facebook. To learn about how you can benefit from our Vail architects and their expertise, please visit our website, or call us at 970-766-1470.