Author: admintabassociates

Ideas for Opening Up Your Home to Nature

Most homeowners settle on using more plants and fresh flowers to incorporate nature in their home. But what if you could open up your home to nature through your building design? Work with your architectural designer to incorporate the following nature-friendly components into your home.

incorporate nature into home design
  • Winter-friendly Porch. Even in snowy climates, you can extend the porch’s lifetime well beyond the chilly fall and spring months. Employ the use of a wood burning stove or fireplace, plush seating and warm throws to entice your guests with an enclosed porch. Floor to ceiling windows give the illusion you are outdoors, and do so without the chill.
  • Entry-way. Recreate the entry way to your home and emphasize the natural beauty of your surroundings. Emphasize architectural elements of the home that resemble a natural setting, such as wood, stone, water and other elements.
  • Ample windows. Using ample windows in your home opens up the interior to different natural views on the property. Work with your building design professionals to create window space around the scenic views on your property. Enjoy year-round natural views from the comfort of your home.
  • Sliding Glass Doors. Using large sliding glass doors that pocket into a wall provide a large opening in a wall to bring the outside inside.  This can open to a deck or a patio, covered or not.

Are you interested in a building design that emphasizes nature and sustainability? Contact us at TAB Associates.

 

 

How to Build Your Home to Control the Sun

Balancing your need for protection from the sun with its appeal is important in sunny climates. Instead of blasting your air conditioner over the summer, explore the suggestions below for incorporating sun control into your building design.

Build your home to control the sun
Source: TAB Associates


  • Stone walls. Stone walls are a fascinating building material because they store and release the warmth of the day in the evenings when homes are cooler. Stone walls on the patio with slotted openings block out the sun while allowing light and wind to illuminate and provide a much needed breeze on the patio.
  • Solar Paneling. For a unique and sustainable option, employ the use of solar panels that will re-purpose heat as useful energy in the home. Make use of the natural shade this “solar panel canopy” provides by designing a rooftop seating area under the panels.
  • Extended walls. Extend the roofs for proper overhangs and walls of your home beyond the windows to elongate your indoor space while simultaneously enjoying shade from the sun’s heat. You may want to build these extensions into your home’s structure or incorporate a retractable awning into your building design.

 

If you would like to discuss controlling the sun in your home’s building design, contact us at TAB Associates.

Three Things That Architects Want You to Know About What They Do

Understanding a bit about how architects work and how you are involved in the process simplifies the home design approach.Working with an architect is a two-way process that involves the homeowner’s input as well.

benefits of using an architect
Source: Shutter Stock
  • We draw on interior and exterior inspiration. Ask any architect, and they’ll tell you that they use the exterior just as much as the interior for design inspiration. Vocalize your ideal exterior to help your architect visualize your ideal interior.
  • Actively participate with us in the design process. The more you participate in the design process, the higher likelihood that you’ll be happy with your home. While it’s the architect’s job to develop the actual design, you should be upfront and sincerely honest about your budget, expectations and feedback. Open and honest communication is key.
  • Tell us your likes and dislikes. If you explain what you like by showing us pictures of what you like, also show us what you dislike.  We need to get into your head and understand both your likes and dislikes.  In this way we can design what you want and stay away from things you do not like.

Are you interested in working with an architect to design your Colorado home? Contact us at TAB Associates.

Building a Home? Consider Adding an Interior Courtyard

A key benefit of designing your home is the ability to incorporate distinctive features not available in most track homes. The transition between interior and exterior space is a common design trend,  which has led to use of interior courtyards in the home.

benefits of an interior courtyard

With a large front and backyard, you are likely wondering why you should consider an interior courtyard. Reflect on a few of the benefits of an interior courtyard below:

  • Natural Light: Interior courtyards are highly sought after because of the natural light that they bring into the home. At midday, a second story interior courtyard can illuminate the entire second floor.
  • Open Space: An interior courtyard opens the space, and an accessible design will add another passageway through the home. Sliding glass doors are a popular option.
  • View: Second-floor courtyards can serve as windows to a landscape view of the surrounding area.  And just to grab some sky can be a real treat to a space.
  • Air Movement / Breezes: An interior courtyard can bring air movement to interior home spaces thereby increasing thermal comfort.
  • Added Security: An interior courtyard can provide an exterior experience and all its added value while still being part of the inside of the home from a security standpoint.

Interior courtyards can take on various forms. The courtyard doesn’t always need to be accessible or feature lush green landscapes. Xeriscaping with sand, pebbles, bamboo or other natural materials is an equally common option.  The goal is to have visual access to daylight and the sky.  Being attached to the exterior is always a pleasant experience.

If you are designing a home, contact our architectural team at TAB Associates for personalized assistance in creating your ideal property.

Unique Features to Incorporate Into Your Home

To create a home that truly embodies you, architects incorporate unique features that make your home specially suited to your lifestyle.

unique home design elements

Check out some distinctive architectural features below that  add character to home design:

  • Layering. In larger spaces architects use the layering technique to bring the scale down to the space. Floating walls and columns divide large empty rooms into zoned ends and beginnings.
  • Rotations. Rotating squares and rectangles by 45 to 90 degrees creates a distinguished exterior visual that adds emphasis to your home’s architectural design.
  • Bridges. You don’t need a giant properties for a bridge. A bridge could connect dry land across a water body, such as a pool, backyard pond or front yard water feature. In addition to serving as a physical connector, a bridge is a forceful visual transition from two exterior areas or two interior areas.
  • Solar Panels. A growing class of super-efficient homes rely either completely or partially on natural resources for heating and cooling. Solar panels are not a highly-attractive element of home design, but can be a unique design feature as well as providing energy to the home.
  • Natural light. Capturing natural light adds warmth to the home and energizes the space.

Would you like to find out which unique architectural elements are well-suited to your home design? Contact us at TAB Associates.

See Your Home Before You Build It With 3D Renderings

When you’re thinking about and planning your home, there’s only so much you imagine. In fact, there are times when even with the best intentions, you’ll likely be surprised about how your home turns out.

3d printing home models
Source: TAB Associates

One way to eliminate the uncertainty factor from your home’s drawing and plans is to create a 3D rendering of your home’s design. Using computer generation, you can have a chance to explore your home before it’s built and look around to see if you like the look. This will also allow you to experience your home as it will be designed and potentially save you from spending a lot of money on something you won’t be happy with later.

One thing to remember is not to choose an architect solely because he offers 3D renderings. In fact, you should always make it your goal to choose an architect who both does 3D renderings and whose work you love. You can be sure that artists who do photorealistic renderings use the most advanced practice.

For more information about designing and building your dream home, please contact us at TAB Associates Inc. today.

Understanding Balanced Geometry in Architecture

Architecture is much more than slapping on a roof, doors and windows. Visualizing the shapes and forms that go into a home, and keeping those shapes balanced, is an important aspect: balanced geometry, the act of combining various shapes into a collected whole, adds character to the home.

geometry and architecture.
Source: TAB Associates’ Website (Octagon, Gary Residence)
  • Octagons and Rectangles. The 8-sided octagon is the most common shape for a home. In the Gary Residence project, our architects placed a octagonal shape for the Breakfast Nook and Exercise below. For added emphasis, the different shapes also displayed differing patterns, stucco and stone respectively.

    geometry and architecture
    Source: TAB Associates’ Website (Rectangles, Lot 112)
  • Rectangles and squares. Lot 112 features a variety of shapes put together, but the shapes are tempered by the rectangles and squares. The floor-to-ceiling rectangular windows are divided into square panels which enhance the look and feel of the home.

    geometry and architecture
    Source: TAB Associates’ Website (Cylinders, Lot 5)
  • Cylinders, Rectangles and Squares. The Bonidy Residence adds a layer of complexity to the rectangles and squares model by introducing cylindrical shapes on the side and back of the house. The tangentially incorporated circles add interest but don’t overpower the overall design.  This is also exemplified in the Brady Residence.

If you are designing a home and would like to reinforce the building blocks of your home, contact us at TAB Associates, Inc. to discuss your ideal geometric palette.

Featured Artist Spotlight: JD Challenger

A house is a structure that doesn’t become a home until you adorn it in the styles and artistic expressions that reflect your personality. Here in the Rockies, we have a number of talented artists that would be honored to have their masterpieces displayed in your home.

native american artists to hang in your home
Source: TAB Associates’ Website

Among them, JD Challenger stands out as one of the most prominent painters of Native American culture in the country. His paintings, pottery, and sculptures offer a window into the people and heritage that can still be felt throughout our state.

While Challenger’s work is diverse and well recognized, he is most famous for his focus on the Ghost Dance period which defined a large number of the Plains tribes and the experiences they had in the late 1800’s. Indeed, the imagery and stories JD Challenger captures in his paintings show how this religious movement spread across Native American tribes. He also does a masterful job of showing how the ritual itself evolved and was used to unite and unify the many tribes.

For more details about the many American artists who are eager to help decorate your home with unique works of art, contact us at TAB Associates, Inc.

Building a Home? Find Space for a Workout Room

If you have an extra room in your house that you aren’t using, transform it to a room that meets your lifestyle needs. One way to do this is to create a home gym.

Add a workout space to your home
Source: TAB Associates


A home workout room doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as moving the treadmill from the middle of the living room to an unused extra room and adding a few finishing touches. Here are a few spaces that you can transform to a workout room:

  • Two-car garage. If you are very health conscious and have a lot of workout equipment, it’s highly likely that your garage would be the ideal gym. Installing a floor-to-ceiling mirror, new doors and attractive wood panel flooring could easily transform your gym space.
  • Sunroom. The sunroom is ideal for yoga workouts, with minimal equipment or weights.
  • Bonus Room. If you’re an empty nester or you don’t want to fill your bonus room with toys, transform it into a wellness space.  Put free weights and balance balls in one corner, a stationary bike in another, and some yoga mats and blocks for stretching.

If you are designing a home with a workout room, contact us at TAB Associates.

Architect’s Toolbox: Creating In-Between Spaces

At TAB Associates, we love the creativity that goes into our work. Unique, traditional, and modern ideas are what bring our projects to life. One of the architectural design trends great for homes is an in-between space. It is an area that bridges the indoors and outdoors for a place to relax and enjoy the scenery.

bridging indoor and outdoor spaces
Source: TAB Associates’ Website
  • A patio or balcony is the perfect spot to create an in-between space. The photos show how opening or sliding doors create the walkway. With a table and chairs, you can sit take in amazing views of surrounding nature.
  • In-between spaces are most ideal in the bedroom because they create a peaceful entry to take in the outdoors.
  • An in-between space doesn’t have to be large. A small area with just a few feet will do. Something that is simple, yet elegant, can be just the space you need to create a relaxing spot for a good read to simply enjoy nature’s beauty.

Creating an in-between space for a home is a terrific addition, bringing style and comfort. For more information on TAB Associates, contact us online.