Month: December 2013

Distinguishing Modern and Contemporary Architecture

Architectural styles are constantly changing and evolving. Many times, it can be difficult to determine whether a style is modern or contemporary because they are so similar in their appearance. In fact, their differences really come down to semantics.

Contemporary

Contemporary architecture is essentially architecture that is being produced right now. Its lines and features are typically common and can trace their roots all the way back to the Industrial Revolution when the American home began to change and evolve. Contemporary homes are often simple designs with square lines, white stucco walls, and few adornments.

Contemporary Style
Source: TAB Associates

Modern

Comparatively, modern homes may feature these elements, but they’re also not afraid to break from tradition. Hence, they will often feature more glass and more open space. They may or may not be whitewashed, and are designed to challenge the traditional notions of design. Most importantly, modern homes take great care to incorporate the very latest advances in engineering and material design within the structure.

Modern Design
Source: TAB Associates

For more information about the latest architectural styles and how you can incorporate them into your designs, contact us at TAB Associates and we will be happy to go over some ideas with you.

How to Properly Utilize Scale and Proportion

With the mountains in the background and the wide open sky above our heads here in Colorado, finding the right scale and proportion for your new home can be a bit tricky. Getting both right will not only help your home blend into the landscape, but it will make it a much more comfortable place to live.

golden rule in architecture
Source: TAB Associates Portfolio

As architects, we use the golden ratio when designing a home. This system is applied to everything from the rafters to the light switches and makes it possible for all the pieces of the home to fit together in an aesthetically pleasing and functional manner.

To establish the right dimensions for a home, we use everything from different finishes to trim, moldings, stone, and brick to provide depth where it is needed, and to scale areas to create proportions that are spacious and comfortable, yet not overwhelming. The end result is a home that is built around a “human” scale that will leave everyone who enters your home content and thrilled.

When you are ready to begin designing a home here in the Rocky Mountains, be sure to contact TAB Associates, Inc. by sending us a message.

How to Work With a High Ceiling

As the ceiling in your home reaches for the sky it can be difficult to determine the proper way to decorate it, and make all the pieces in the room fit together to create a comfortable ambiance. When working with high ceilings, you should consider the following tips:

Working with high ceilings
Source: TAB Associates
  • To make the room feel cozier, bring elements down from up high. Long curtains, chandeliers and hanging lights should be used to fill the space so that it doesn’t feel empty.
  • Splurge on carpentry and decorative features. These provide texture and a sense of balance to the room. They also help to break up the space and make it more inviting. Integrating exposed beams, arches, trusses and other elements into the home design is a fantastic way to accentuate your personal style and complete the space.  These also bring the virtual ceiling down to a more intimate level.
  • Use colors carefully. Darker colors nearer the ceiling will provide a sense of depth to the room, while floor to ceiling coloring can be used to create a contrast that gives the room definition.

For the finest home design services in Colorado, be sure to contact us at TAB Associates, Inc. today.