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Architects in Vail Valley and Western North Carolina know that lighting should complement the interior of the home and its overall design. However, the task of providing adequate illumination for task fulfillment while maintaining ambient mood lighting is a task best left to the professionals. With a keen sense of scale and size, the experts offer these tips for establishing lighting that truly defines the space and brings balance to the setting.

Designing Each Room with Lighting in Mind

Your Vail Valley, Colorado and Western North Carolina architectural firm is likely to sit down with you for a discussion about your lifestyle and day-to-day needs. This helps them ideate each room with your vision in mind while making sure the lighting is adequate.

For relaxing zones like a living room one might choose adjustable lighting or multiple sources to suit any situation while opting for skylights that bring natural brilliance in during the daytime. Spreading the light around makes the difference, so make the light count!

Let the Focal Points Shine

Homeowners who want to draw guests’ eye to certain focal points in the home should talk to their home design team about establishing lighting to achieve the final goal. In a living room or hallway, picture display lights on walls, drop down pendants or angled recessed lighting can put just the right light on every situation. Special art lighting can illuminate the art and nothing else, visually popping it off the wall.

Customize Lighting Controls

Thanks to the innovations amid technology, we have more control than ever before over what is happening in our homes—even when we aren’t there. Dimmers, motion detectors and other settings for lights can be customized to activate when you want them to via an app if you invest in ‘smart’ lighting. These often connect to the home’s security system, so integration during construction is ideal, and that’s a task your Vail Valley and Western North Carolina architects will be happy to include in the design plans!

Let the Experts Ensure Lighting Success

When you have the professionals at Vail Valley and Western North Carolina architects at TAB Associates on your design team, you’ll always have a clear vision of where your construction project is headed. Reach out to us today for more information!

Vail Valley and the Smokies are a great place for new construction. Whether you want the most beautiful new home imaginable or you’re investing in something commercial, these are regions where opportunity is vast. In order to make your project a success, you’re going to need help, and that means investigating architectural firms. There are several points you want to consider in your search. Great firms will have a focal point, such as an architectural balance, but all of those considerations come after the big three.

The Portfolio of Past Success

This is the obvious place to start. A firm’s portfolio allows you to look directly at the work they have already done. You can judge for yourself how you like the designs and decisions made. Are you a fan of the aesthetic? Is there anything that captures and holds your attention? Do the designs fulfill practical needs? When you ask these questions while browsing a firm’s portfolio, you can quickly decide if you want to work with them or not.

The Architects Doing the Designs

It might seem redundant, but you need to see that the architects who did the work you like are available for your project. A firm can commit to principles of architectural balance and provide consistency, but the work is ultimately done by an architect — not the whole firm. If there is someone you like, you have to fight to make sure they are running your project.

The Contractors Working With Your Architect

Ultimately, architects don’t build anything. That’s the work of contractors. Most architecture firms have preferred contractors, but it is smart for you to investigate them. You can get an idea of how often they are on schedule and within budget. If you really want to know how a build will go, this is the most important point to check.

Since you’re looking for Vail Valley and Smokies architects, contact TAB Associates Inc.! We’ll discuss your plans and help you design something amazing.

Dealing with a major home issue is rarely fun. Whether it’s a leaky pipe or a broken window, emergency home repairs can put a real strain on your time, your energy, and your wallet. You can keep yourself from getting overwhelmed, however, by being prepared to ask yourself these crucial home repair questions.

Should You Invest in Repairs or Start Over?

If your house is in need of serious repairs, it may be better to think about looking for a home that will better fit your needs and lifestyle. Now, you could always hire home builders to create a custom house so that you get everything you want without also paying for anything you don’t really need. It may be worth speaking with local builders to determine if you should consider building a new home rather than investing any more time or money into major repairs.

As you talk with builders, it may also be worthwhile to ask about more involved remodeling projects that they may be able to help with, such as adding a room to your home. This is an extensive undertaking, but it could be a practical solution if your home is too small for your current or future needs, and if you have the budget to pay for such a major improvement. Working with a realtor to find a new home can also be a smart move if your current home is in poor condition. Just keep in mind that selling a home that needs extensive work can involve many more challenges, so take some time to research and weigh your options.

Should You Use Credit Cards to Cover Repairs? 

When you’re faced with a major home repair, your first priority is going to be getting the issue fixed, but that means coming up with a way to pay for unexpected expenses. If you currently have a credit card with low interest rates, then this could indeed be your best bet for taking care of emergency home repair expenses, and if you need to apply for a new card, looking for low interest rates is a wise move. Many cards even offer 0 percent interest grace periods to new customers, but only use these offers if you are certain you can pay off the balance before time is up. If you prefer not to use credit cards to finance your home repairs, you can also research your loan options. Loans for home repairs will likely fall into one of three categories: personal loans, home equity loans or home equity lines of credit. Understanding the differences between each is essential to finding interest rates, lending terms, and repayment plans that work for you.

Should You Hire Licensed Professionals or Try to DIY? 

When cost and time are an issue, you may be tempted to take care of major home repairs on your own. If you have the right tools and enough patience, triaging unexpected repairs can be a good way to prevent further damage until you can call a contractor, but most major repairs should be left up to licensed professionals. Aside from the risk for personal injury and property damage, attempting to take care of highly involved home repairs, such as replacing plumbing or working on electrical systems, could also result in homeowners’ insurance if you have future issues. You could also end up financially liable for any damages or injuries, so proceed with caution with any DIY home repairs or maintenance. In most cases, you are much better off using one of the financial tools above to help out with the costs of hiring reliable contractors. After dealing with your major home repair, you should also think seriously about ways to start an emergency fund, to help out with any future unexpected issues.

Knowing what to do and where to turn when an emergency home repair pops up can save you so much stress and time. Plus, understanding your funding options can help save you from putting out too much cash for unexpected repairs. So be proactive and plan for repairs and repair costs before they have a chance to happen!

Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of every home, and in many ways, this is true. It’s not only where you create nourishing meals — it’s also where the family gathers to share food and stories. That can be quite the challenge for smaller homes, given the limited amount of space. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible as long as you keep these things in mind when designing a small kitchen:

Opt for a minimalist look

While design is very important to making a space feel completely your own, it’s best not to go overboard with ideas. Stick with a Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic with clean and simple lines to make the room look bigger than it actually is. The Spruce points out that you can also enlarge a room with the right paint, specifically those that come in lighter colors. But make sure to stick to one color to create an illusion of continuity. And to make a room even more spacious, place windows to let the natural light in. Another idea is to use mirrors for your splash back to add depth.

Think of the kitchen work triangle

Functional beats stylish given that you don’t have a lot of room to work with. Going back to the Scandinavian concept, everything in the kitchen should serve its purpose. Think of the kitchen work triangle, for instance, which refers to the sink, stove, and refrigerator. It’s best to keep these areas close together — which shouldn’t be hard for a smaller space — so you can create a more efficient workflow. Make sure that they are not disjointed. TAB Associates can help you layout your kitchen and show it to you in 3D, which you can later show your contractor. This kind of careful planning is crucial for smaller spaces so that you can really maximize what you’re given.

Work around appliances

Designing around your appliances, which you should already have an idea of at this point, is a great way to increase practicality. These are called integrated appliances, and they match the overall aesthetic while making sure that there’s no wasted space. The dimensions of your fridge and dishwasher, for instance, are important factors to consider. This is why rice cooker review platform We Know Rice highlights the value of multi-functional appliances, as these tools don’t just do the job of several different appliances, but they also save precious countertop space. It means you won’t have to sacrifice anything in your cooking as long as you select gadgets that serve more than one purpose.

Build adequate storage

Smart storage solutions can make your kitchen more organized and efficient. For limited spaces, House Beautiful recommends open shelving over closed cabinetry to really maximize the space. This is perfect for storing your pantry staples in clear jars, too, so you can easily see the supplies that need to be replenished. If you do have enclosed kitchen storage, consider installing pull-out cabinet shelves. These added storage solutions can be the key to a clutter-free kitchen.

Consult a professional

Your kitchen might be small, but designing it is not necessarily an easy task. Even a kitchen this size comes at a cost, especially if you want a sleek and functional design. That’s why it’s important to consult with professionals, and luckily for you, TAB Associates is in the business of creating expert designs that are well worth the investment.

Written exclusively for TABassociates.com

by Paige Hudson

acooper.speakz@gmail.com