admintabassociates, Author at TAB Associates Blog

The Elegance of Wooden Ceilings

At TAB Associates, we like to keep up to date with the latest in architecture and design trends, and there’s one Colorado home design trend that’s really grabbing our attention — wooden ceilings.

Wood plank ceilings are a popular choice for a wide variety of reasons. They not only add an element of elegance to a home, they also are practical, can be sustainable and ecologically sound, and can go along with different design varieties. From the planked ceilings of a rustic log cabin, to the high gloss of a dramatic vaulted ceiling, wood is one of the best media to use in designing an interior.

Different types of paneling can add different textures and moods to a room — dark woods, light woods, and everything in between can help you create the atmosphere that you want the most in your home. From a rich dark wooden ceiling to create an intimate dining room, to a bright, high gloss wood to create an open and bright space in the living room, this material is ideal.

Consider using wooden ceilings for your next remodeling project — this is a Colorado home design trend that’s popular because combines form and function!

Image courtesy of TAB Associates

Why Should I Hire an Architect?

When it comes to hiring an architect in Colorado, many people think they can save a bit of money by just hiring on a contractor. While it’s true that it often costs a little bit less to go with a contractor, going with an architect can lead to greater satisfaction.

Here are the top reasons why you should consider hiring an architect:

High satisfaction rate: Those who work with architects instead of just contractors find that they are more satisfied with the quality and look of the project upon completion.

Getting what you want: When it comes to big renovations and custom built buildings (residential or commercial), it’s important to get exactly what you want. Architects have greater schooling and vision to help you make that happen.

Working with authority: Think of the architects as the planners and builders, and the contractors as the work force. Architects can do more in terms of working with building codes in certain cities.

If you’re planning a big remodeling project or are looking for a custom built home, consider TAB Associates Inc. You may be pleasantly surprised about how much more satisfying the experience is.

Image courtesy of Tab Associates

Understanding the Architectural Language

While we believe our architects in Colorado at TAB Associates are easy to understand, we also know that it’s common for architects to use terminology that is understandable to professionals, but have different meanings otherwise. To best communicate with your architect, here are a few buzzwords in our profession and their meanings:

Structure. Though this term can mean the literal building or the components that hold said building together, it can also mean the way a space is organized.

Program. This is a term that gets used often. It simply means a description of your needs, desires, and budget constraints. It’s a good idea to share your program with your architect to get exactly what you want from your custom-built home.

Schematic design. These are often confused with construction drawings, but they’re not the same. Schematics are a detailed sketch of a preferred design, while construction drawings are complete descriptions of what will be needed to build the building.

If you’re looking for architects in Colorado who are happy to custom build a house that works with your lingo and lifestyle, please contact us, or call us at 970-766-1470.

What’s Trending: 2013 Fall and Winter Interior Design Trends

Fall interior design trends for 2013 affect the choices of residential home owners, commercial businesses, resorts or any location that benefits from creating innovative interiors. The fall/winter trends of 2013 utilize a palette of colors with an infusion of individual attitude, ranging from bold to pastel.

The four trends for the upcoming season are: Flint, Storm, Clash and Alpine.

Flint incorporates the rich colors of the earth’s soil, complimented by warm neutrals and rust. The trend blends bold with soft to generate a sophisticated environment, while retaining an edge.

Storm runs the gamut of color intensity, from hot to cold, using rich, deep blues and smokey shades to bright canary yellow and softer colors of salmon and sand. It is an expressive and light and airy theme.

Clash makes a statement using bold colors tempered with pastels, resulting in a positive and expressive interior. The elegant, bold and sophisticated theme works well in luxury environments.

Alpine is refreshing with its approach to warm reds and natural greens and brown. The trend is inviting and friendly, combining colors with natural materials such as wood and cork.

TAB Associates has more than 30 years of experience with in architecture services including development, planning and professional design services.

Image courtesy of TAB

Get to Know the Minds Behind TAB Associates, Inc.

How often do you get the chance to know your architects in Colorado? Not often enough, says TAB Associates; and not knowing your architects can lead to not getting the quality and style you want in a custom-built home.

We at TAB Associates are changing that with our architects in Colorado, one architect at a time.

In a recent interview with Tab Bonidy, president and owner of TAB Associates, he suggested that one of the most important aspects to providing superior service was putting aside the architect’s ego, so that the clients are free to express what they want most in their custom-built homes or log cabins. This comes from an architect who has a masters in environmental planning from Arizona State University, from their solar energy planning and technology program, with over 30 years experience in the industry.

It doesn’t stop there, either — both Greg Macik and Warner Hopkins bring their experience to building dream homes for clients, and remove their egos from the process, ensuring all of our clients get exactly what they desire, and what they think will be most pleasing to live in. This doesn’t mean our clients do not get our own expertise, just in a suggestive form. We always say, “It is your home, not ours, it is our job to give you what you want.”

Here at TAB Associates, we dedicate ourselves to making your dreams a reality, and a comfortable one, at that.

Image courtesy of TAB Associates

Learn More About Our Philosophy Here at TAB

Colorado has numerous outstanding buildings, resorts and accommodations designed by talented individuals from Colorado architecture firms such as TAB Associates, Inc. These architects are master artists when it comes to creating a vision based on your needs.

At TAB, the goal is all about designing what the customer wants while maintaining balance between the design itself and construction, along with the cost and budget. It is a team effort between the client and the architect to fashion exactly what the client envisions while keeping true to construction requirements and financial guidelines.

From start to finish, TAB Associates takes the client through each step of the planning and interior design, all the while listening to what the client has to say. Communication is key between the architect and the client, and TAB Associates support this every day of the project.

With over 30 years in the business of architecture, TAB Associates is dedicated to providing the utmost in professional architectural services from day one to ensure that the end project is the complete picture of what the client had in mind.

For your current or future architectural needs, contact TAB Associates, Inc. at (970) 766-1470 and speak with one of the experienced staff who will help turn your vision into reality.

Image courtesy of TAB Associates, Inc.

Vail Neighborhood Spotlight: Beaver Creek

Choosing from the many Vail neighborhoods can be a difficult task for anyone new to the area. However, we believe there’s no place that is quite like Beaver Creek. It’s one of the area’s favorite communities and a site to be seen by all visiting the Vail.

The motto for Beaver Creek is, ‘Not Quite Roughing It,’ and it’s exactly that. The area is host to a variety of year-round activities, from mountain hiking in the summer to skiing in winter. Perhaps the most appealing to new residents is the fact that this gated community allows for children to run around unimpeded in the fresh air and sunshine. Or, perhaps it’s the beautifully designed properties and homes that dot the landscape.

Beaver Creek is a resort, not just for tourists, but for residents, and even a brief visit to the Ritz-Carlton or Park Hyatt makes it easy to see why.

If you’ve been considering a home in Beaver Creek, TAB Associates can custom-design it for you. From luxury homes in Beaver Creek, or any of the other Vail neighborhoods, we will work hard to bring you exactly what you want.

Image courtesy of TAB Associates

Modern Trends in Mountain Homes: Home Position

TAB Associates has its finger on the pulse of mountain home trends. People are increasingly dissatisfied with the classic and claustrophobic ‘boxy room’ set up, and are looking for more creative, open spaces to utilize throughout the house.

One of the advantages of building a custom home in Colorado is that there is gorgeous scenery and abundant sunshine year round. This makes for open floor plans, which are already trending, more sensible for the Colorado home. One way to keep this space open is by combining a ‘total living area’ — an open floor plan that utilizes dining and living in one, then opens up to the kitchen.

The kitchen is the “heart” of the home. Big windows and other pieces finish off the design perfectly, allowing a great deal of light in, as well as the feel of ‘being in nature.’ We provide the windows and God provides the ‘art’.

When it comes to knowing mountain home trends, and how to customize a home to keep clients happy, TAB Associates has the experience and expertise to create a home that’s not only trendy but long-lasting and beautiful.

Artist Spotlight: JD Challenger

We feature many American artists here at TAB Associates, and one of our favorites is JD Challenger.

JD Challenger goes beyond most western artists by painting Native Americans and Native motifs, not just from his perspective, but from the history and stories of the many indigenous cultures. Not only is his work beautiful, it is done with respect and empathy.

Raised in Oklahoma, JD was close to his ‘step-father,’ a full-blood Choctaw, who helped shape his views on respect for Native culture, as well as influence much of his later work. From there, JD began to tell the stories and histories of many different tribes, bands, and nations. His heart and soul is put into every colorful brush stroke and vivid piece.

If you would like to purchase a commissioned piece, please take a moment to view his works and then contact him at 888-751-4677.

At TAB Associates, we believe that American artists add to the beauty of homes, just like a good architectural design does. JD Challenger is one artist who puts a great deal of emotion and feeling into his work, telling stories from the rich history of the indigenous American peoples.

“Like” Us on Facebook to Learn About Our Latest Projects & More!

Would you like a better way to get to know TAB Associates? One of the best ways to do that is to ‘like’ us on Facebook to get the latest and current news about TAB Associates.

Here are just a few of the benefits of liking our Facebook page:

News and updates: Changes, updates, and anything new happening at TAB Associates will be announced via our Facebook page for the convenience of our clients, as well as those who follow our page in their news feed.

TAB projects: When it comes to architecture and planning, we put some of our prime projects in the spotlight, to give our viewers an idea of the breadth and scope of our capabilities.

Photos: Nothing quite shows the fruit of our labor better than pictures. View past and current projects in one of TAB’s photo albums.

To learn more about TAB, ‘like’ us on Facebook. To learn about how you can benefit from our Vail architects and their expertise, please visit our website, or call us at 970-766-1470.