January 1, 2015 12:00 am | TAB Associates Blog

Looking for A Grand Design In Your Bedroom? Consider These Tall Headboards

Tall headboards help you to create a larger-than-life look for your bedroom.

Have you ever walked into a bedroom that was so grand it took your breath away? With tall headboards for beds, you can create that look in your own home.

Tufted headboards are great for creating a luxurious, soft look. They’re made from a hard backing with soft material on the front, and they come in a wide array of colors, so you can choose one that coordinates with your current color scheme.
Natural wood headboards are an ideal choice or a rustic or mountain home. One made from natural logs, stacked on top of one another, has an intriguing look and coordinates well with design elements such as exposed ceiling beams or hardwood floors.
Shutter-like headboards add a country-style, traditional look to your bedroom. They feature numerous horizontal panels, just like real shutters, and can be easily painted any color. Painting them a dark shade against a light wall is a great way to make a statement.

Creating a breathtaking bedroom requires careful planning, from the architectural design to choosing a color scheme. Contact TAB Associates to learn more about our design services, and to discuss your building or remodeling plans with our experts.

A Look at 2015 Bathroom Design Trends

Here are some of the hottest bathroom trends for 2015.

Are you thinking of remodeling your bathroom? Knowing the latest bathroom design trends will help you choose a layout, fixtures and a color scheme that’s right for you.

Here’s a look at a few of the hottest 2015 bathroom trends:

Walk-in Showers: Forget about one-piece shower and tub units. Spacious, walk-in showers are all the rage. Often constructed with stone surrounds and clear glass doors, they’re both beautiful and relaxing.
Free-standing Tubs: Many homeowners are choosing to go without tubs, but if you do want one, free-standing is the way to go.
Water-conserving Toilets: Green living is very trendy, and so are toilets that use less water per flush. Some even have dual flushing options, so you can use a higher flush volume when needed.
Double-sink Vanities: His and her sinks, mounted into a single vanity, are very popular in master bathrooms. They’re pretty convenient, too.
LED Lighting: Let’s face it — you need to see clearly in the bathroom. LED lighting allows you to do that, while also creating a warm and glowing space.

Contact TAB Associates if you’re looking for an experienced architect to help design the bathroom of your dreams.

How To Upgrade Your Kitchen Without Spending A Lot Of Money

It is possible to upgrade your kitchen without breaking the bank.

Many homeowners shy away from remodeling their kitchen because they assume it’s going to be an expensive project. However, if you make wise choices, this does not have to be true. Stop suffering with an outdated kitchen, and follow these tips for upgrading kitchen on a budget.

Apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls. A bright color can make your kitchen feel more spacious and open. Green and blue are popular kitchen colors right now. Coral and burnt orange are also modern and artistic.
Refinish your cabinets. A fresh stain job will hide scratches and make your cabinet doors look new again.
Replace your cabinet hardware. It’s amazing what a difference this small change can make. Get rid of outdated hardware and choose something simple and sleek to make your kitchen look more modern.
Mount hooks on your wall so that you can hang up your pots and pans. This not only creates more storage space in your cabinets, but also adds a modern, professional look to your room.

If your kitchen is in need of a thorough remodel, contact TAB Associates. We offer expert design services to transform your space.

Check Out These Kitchen Innovations That Will Improve Your New Home

These kitchen innovation tips will ensure that yours keeps working for you, making cooking and sharing meals with family as efficient and enjoyable as ever.

The kitchen is the heart of your home. These kitchen innovation tips will ensure that yours keeps working for you, making cooking and sharing meals with family as efficient and enjoyable as ever.

Instead of letting a bright white or black refrigerator interfere with your decorating scheme, consider choosing one that blends in to your other kitchen decor. Handles that match your cabinet handles, cabinet-like doors, and control panels that disappear are just a few features of today’s best refrigerators.
Lighting is about more than being able to see. Pendant lamps add ambient lighting above a kitchen island, and lights inside your cupboards can make it easier to find what you need late at night.
LCD control screens on ovens, microwaves and refrigerators make it easier than ever to control your appliances. Some even integrate with your smartphone for seamless control.
Upscale appliances, such as steam ovens, built-in fryers and induction cooktops, were once only found in restaurants. Now, you can include them in your home kitchen design.

If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, make sure you work with an experienced architect to design a layout that fits your lifestyle. Contact TAB Associates to learn more about our services.

How Having Mood Enhancing Lights Helps Everyone

Light has the ability to alter moods, and mood lighting is especially important in the winter when you spend more time inside and sunlight is in short supply.

Have you every noticed that your mood becomes brighter and more cheerful when you step into a brightly lit room, but more somber when you’re in dim lighting? Light has the ability to alter moods, and you can use this ability to your advantage by including mood lighting in your home design.

Mood lighting is especially important in the winter when you spend more time inside and when sunlight is in short supply. Mood-enhancing lights deliver 10,000 lux of light, which is not quite as bright as sunlight, but close.

Mood enhancing lights are easy to use, especially when they’re worked into your home decor. Set one up in a corner, and spend an hour a day reading underneath it. The effects are greatest when you’re 2 feet from the light, but anyone who enters the room will experience an improved mood, thanks to the instant energizing effects.

Including a mood enhancing light in your office, living room or even dining room will decrease your risk of depression and may even help curb winter cravings. You’ll sleep more soundly at night, too.

Contact TAB Associates if you’re looking for experienced architects to design your home with mood lights.

5 Things You Need To Know Before You Hire An Architect

Bear these tips in mind before you take the leap to hire an architect.

Are you considering hiring an architect to plan your home or resort? Doing so ensures that your project is in the hands of an expert and increases the chances that your final structure will meet your expectations. Before you hire an architect, however, it’s important to understand these five things.

Make sure you’re ready to listen to an architect’s suggestions. He or she has years of experience designing buildings and will likely recommend some changes to your ideas — be open to these changes.
Remember that your project will take time. Communication between you and your architect will take time, and steps like obtaining building rights cannot be skipped. These include the Design Review process and the building permitting process.
Set a budget upfront, so that you and your architect can work together to find designs and materials that fit that budget.
Get recommendations from friends and family members, and talk to several architects before choosing one. Talk to their references and see what the design process is like. It should be a fun process.
Remember that things can change along the way. Don’t look at the need to make changes as a roadblock — it’s just a part of the process.

If you’re looking for architecture planning services, keep TAB Associates in mind. Contact us to learn more about our commercial and residential design services.