The Enduring Beauty of Stone for Homes

stone wallWhat better material to bring out the natural, soul-refreshing beauty of living in the Vail Valley than stone? Imagine the perfect home for all seasons. Chances are, you’re envisioning stone within the architectural balance of the space.

Stone Is a Mass that Works for You

Today, with the importance of energy conservation for our environment is well-understood and stone comes forward for its energy-saving properties. Its heat retention powers are outstanding, creating a reliably cozy warmth in the Colorado winter. Yet it has an equally remarkable capacity for helping to keep indoor spaces cool under the summer sun.

Passive eco-aware and solar design features boost these natural benefits considerably. To build with stone is to blend inherently good insulation—and the all-season comfort it brings—with timeless elegance.

Stone Endures

It is famously beautiful, with many hues & textures, and eminently durable. It resists insects and stands up to all of nature’s elements. Maintenance is simple and minimal. With neither painting nor siding needed, a stone exterior retains its appeal through the years.

Great design work with stone exteriors and interior touches will combine form and function, selecting the best stone for each feature. Whether creating a home from the start, or redesigning a specific area, we often call upon stone to dramatically offset key architectural features in the home—a fireplace, a classic hearth, a Kitchen stove surround, an entry vestibule into a Master Suite or Entry Vestibule into the home.

Stone also performs as an enhancement of lasting beauty when surrounding metal, glass, or wood features. It offers a luxurious and serene wall setting in a bathroom, kitchen, or space for relaxation such as a den.  It can also enhance a water feature within or outside a home.

Call Upon Our Expertise

If you are seeking an architectural firm with decades of experience, we invite you to get to know TAB Associates. Our reputation for design and timely completion of projects within the budgets of our clientele is as solid as our construction. To discuss the future of your home with our leading architects, call (970) 766-1470.

4 Tips To Help Maintain Beautiful Hardwood Flooring

game roomHardwood floors bring a warm glow and elegance to any space. Whether you enjoy the luster of sturdy 18th Century flooring or contemporary hardwoods, it’s important to take a few precautions to protect their natural beauty from scratches and scuff marks. Our Vail Valley architectural firm understands the importance of vibrant living and work spaces. Consider these simple preventative measures to help maintain your floor’s long-lasting glow.

Pad Furniture Legs

One the most common ways that wood floors get scratched is from moving furniture across them. By fixing felt or other soft pads on the bottoms of chair legs, coffee tables and heavy pieces of furniture, wood-to-wood contact can be avoided.

Rugs and Carpets

Strategic use of floor coverings adds ambiance and mitigates impact on high traffic areas. A beautiful wood floor looks a little less so when some areas appear more worn out than others. Entryways, hallways and sinks can benefit from a little colorful foot traffic padding.

Shoe Check

Creating a place and policy that shoes come off and remain in mud rooms or by the door helps keep your space clean and avoids tracking grit across polished flooring. Obviously, foot traffic creates the most floor contact and wear. Think about all the potential scratches rolling through that door, from kids’ sports cleats to work boots to high heels. A solid shoes-off program will reduce the potential need for refinishing work.

Regular Maintenance

Hardwood floors enjoy tremendous strength, but the lovely sheen that gives them the warm glow may be subject to wear from everyday dirt, liquids and harsh cleaners. Sweep floors regularly and don’t allow spills to settle for very long. Everyday wear and tear may not cause permanent damage, but it will make your floors look unnecessarily dull. Select only cleaners designed to interact with wood floors.

We hope these suggestion prove valuable. If you are interested in professional services, contact our architects today!