The Secret to a Great Home Is a Great Design Process

When it comes to designing a home, good planning leads to good design. Consider our steps below to start your home design process off right.

House planning tips
Source: TAB Associates
House planning tips
Source: TAB Associates
  • Personal planning. When designing a home, don’t immediately run to design books to find out what you need. The home design process begins with you. Consider what things you would like to see in your home, including size and types of rooms. A good starting point is thinking about what was missing from your previous residence.  This will help you develop a good program.  We take the program and develop a conceptual design on the site.  We are 3 dimensional puzzle builders.
  • Room design. Room design is a fundamental part of the home and where a majority of time will be spent. For example, would you like lounge space built into the bedrooms or would your prefer a different room in which to relax? Such considerations will significantly alter the home’s presentation.
  • Topography.Considering the landscape of your home and its environment is important. Many homeowners want to avoid the cost of a land surveyor, but the land analysis proves to be indispensable when determining how you can build upon the land and which direction you are likely to face external elements.  Also the views need to be shot on the survey so they can be properly incorporated into the design.  We always design on the site so the home blends into the site appropriately.

If you are designing a home, contact us at TAB Associates to discuss the home planning and design process with our trained architects.

Ways to Incorporate Your Side Yard Into Your Home Design

A side yard won’t quite support a swimming pool, but it’s large enough to fulfill a function on your property. If you are building a home, consider which elements you may be able to fulfill outside of the home, such as an entertainment or dining area. Design the side yard while simultaneously building your home to make the best use of your property.

  • Extra kitchen space. If you entertain guests often, but like do so outside, consider incorporating a cooking area into your kitchen design. When building the home, design a structure that can support a small outdoor kitchen and cooktop area.
  • Dining underneath the stars. Do you live in area with welcoming evening weather? Choose a long table and chairs to create an intimate outdoor dining setting. Opt for a more informal dining area in the home.
  • Reading Nook. Do you need a place to enjoy coffee and a good book? Create a comforting book nook with an arbor, plush seating and a crushed stone pathway over-layed with wood or stone walkway.

Are you building a home and in need of some guidance to bridge the interior and exterior design? Contact us at TAB Associates to discuss your building needs.

Three Trending Luxury Home Features to Include In Your Design

If you are designing the home of your dreams to suit your lifestyle and needs, consider trending luxury home features that you would like to include in your home. Luxury homes go above and beyond superior comfort and design. What truly sets luxury homes apart are the unique features and experiences that the home’s well-planned design provides.

Luxury amenities for your home
Source: TAB Associates
  • Wellness. Health and wellness are certain components in a luxury lifestyle and trending luxury home features include spa bathrooms complete with saunas, walk-in showers and grand spa bathtubs. Small features like mood-lighting and towel warmers also add to the space.
  • Large urban spaces. Homeowners want to enjoy proximity to the city without sacrificing space. Giving each lifestyle component a dedicated space in the home is fundamental to the luxury lifestyle. There is no need to share spaces.
  • Rooftop lounge. Luxury homeowners extend luxury beyond the basic needs of a comfortable place to enjoy a meal and lay one’s head. In addition, luxury entertainment hubs such as a rooftop terrace are key. Include an outdoor fireplace, herb garden or dining area.

Would you like to design your residence with trending luxury home features? Contact us at TAB Associates to discuss your new home today.

Get to Know the Modern Version of the Mountain Chalet

If your ideal home design gives the feeling of a cozy, welcoming haven, consider incorporating a “mountain chalet” design feel. While the rustic mountain chalet might seem like a thing of the past, you can bring it back to life in your home by evoking simplicity and austerity in your interiors. At TAB Associates, we’d like to call attention to some modern architectural projects that pull from the tradition of mountain homes of the past:

mountain chalet style
Source: TAB Associates
  • The Speculative Residence- Set in the mountains, this home is situated to take full advantage of the view. Going beyond the simple cabin style home, this reaches 5000 square feet.
  • TS Lot 42- taking some concepts of a more traditional mountain chalet home and expanding them, these townhomes are made from natural material to help them fit into their rustic environment.

Don’t be afraid to build out with your mountain chalet home, and include some more modern ideas like full glass walls. For more design ideas, follow our posts on Facebook.

To learn about the architectural and design services we offer at TAB Associates, contact us with inquiries.

Outdoor Living: Most Popular Home Features by Survey

Summertime weather puts an emphasis on outdoor-living features. As you’ll probably be spending more time outdoors in the coming months, you’ll want to put some effort into getting your yard or patio area looking great for all of the extra attention. At TAB Associates, we’d like to offer some information on outdoor design features that are attracting the most attention going into the summer of 2014.

2014 Outdoor Home Features
Source: Tab Associates
  • Landscaping and gardens– Obviously, landscaping is always one of the most prominent features when it comes to the outdoor design of a home. As landscaping will be most likely to be closely scrutinized during the summer months, it’s important to shift your design focus to your outdoor space.
  • Lighting accessories– Lighting fixtures set the mood in your yard once the sun goes down, creating a relaxing place to hang out at night.
  • Decorative water features – Water features like ponds, fountains, and waterfalls are becoming increasingly popular, and they can be surprisingly easy to maintain.

For more useful information that will help you keep your home looking great year-round, check out our Facebook and Twitter pages.

At TAB Associates, we’re here to assist you with your home design needs. Contact us to learn more about the services we offer.

Trends In Architecture to Watch for In the Future

The world of architecture is constantly evolving, and keeping track of new developments helps you take the best out of the trends that come and go. What’s new for 2014? TAB Associates offers the following information on four architecture trends that are expected to become prominent as the year progresses.

TAB Associates Green Projects
Source: TAB Associates
  • Greater attention from the public regarding large-scale construction projects- Members of the public are increasingly likely to take an active role in managing and deciding on large scale building projects that have a strong impact on the urban landscape and local economy.
  • Off-the-grid on the urban scene– Although going “off-the-grid” used to be associated with living out of town, even urban dwellers are attempting to avoid a dependence on the grid for power.
  • De-emphasizing vehicle traffic– Across the country, more and more commuters try to get where they need to be via public transport.
  • Affordable low-rise and mid-rise housing– Instead of towering high-rise residential structures, urban dwellers increasingly prefer approachable, low/mid-rise housing.

For more industry news, check out our Facebook page. Contact us to learn about TAB Associates services.