Architectural Trends | Page 9 of 11

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.

Modern Bedroom by San Francisco Architects & Designers John Maniscalco Architecture via Houzz

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.

Traditional Patio by Edwards Architects & Designers TAB ASSOCIATES INC via Houzz

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.
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.
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.

Distinguishing Modern and Contemporary Architecture

Architectural styles are constantly changing and evolving. Many times, it can be difficult to determine whether a style is modern or contemporary because they are so similar in their appearance. In fact, their differences really come down to semantics.

Contemporary

Contemporary architecture is essentially architecture that is being produced right now. Its lines and features are typically common and can trace their roots all the way back to the Industrial Revolution when the American home began to change and evolve. Contemporary homes are often simple designs with square lines, white stucco walls, and few adornments.

Modern

Comparatively, modern homes may feature these elements, but they’re also not afraid to break from tradition. Hence, they will often feature more glass and more open space. They may or may not be whitewashed, and are designed to challenge the traditional notions of design. Most importantly, modern homes take great care to incorporate the very latest advances in engineering and material design within the structure.

For more information about the latest architectural styles and how you can incorporate them into your designs, contact us at TAB Associates and we will be happy to go over some ideas with you.

Bring Beauty Into the Home with Stone

There is no denying the beauty of stacked stone walls. Used for both the interior and exterior, the subtle colors and expressive texture of the stone create a visual and expressive design.

Stacked stone is unique in its 3-dimensional composition. Expressive stones of various colors and textures are created as modules, attached to backing and can be installed much like tiles. There is no need to grout dry stacked stones which results in smooth, uninterrupted lines.

Traditional Kitchen by Edwards Architects & Designers TAB ASSOCIATES INC via Houzz

The uses and locations for stacked stone is limitless when creating or redesigning a specific area. The modules make a dramatic backdrop to focal points in the home such as a fireplace or a kitchen stove surround. The stones also serve as a stand alone accent wall to enhance the texture of decorative accessories emphasizing wood, glass or metal fixtures.

Used to create a wall in a luxury bath, stacked stones add an element of relaxation and serenity when coupled with soothing hues from the palette.

From bold stone columns to colored stones that reflect the golden glints from the sunlight, stacked stones add the finishing touch to any design.

Clients can rely on the more than 30 years of experience at TAB Associates, Inc to design and construct projects on time and on budget.

Why You Should Include a Radiant Heating System in a New Home

Modern Kitchen by Kansas City Design-Build Firms Hufft Projects via Houzz

A popular trend for new construction is radiant heated homes — and it’s easy to see why. If you’re considering a new construction, keep in mind the cold winter months, and the benefits that radiant heating systems can bring.

Here are three reasons why you should include radiant heat in your new home:

Reduced energy consumption. Because the system heats the whole house, rather than trying to force hot air from one small section of a room to another, it heats evenly and efficiently.
Quiet running. The system will run so quietly, the only way you’ll know it’s working is that you feel nice and warm throughout the entire house.
Reduce dust and allergens. Because the system doesn’t depend on forcing air through the house, there is no kicking up of dust or allergens throughout, leaving you room to breathe.

Radiant heated homes are a popular choice when constructing a new home, and it’s much easier to include this in planning than it is to retrofit in many cases. Consider this option in your new house to help you easily endure the coldest winter day.

If you’re searching for a Colorado architect for your next home project, make sure contact us here at TAB Associates, today!

The Latest Lighting Trends for your Home or Business

Selecting lighting is a major decision when updating a home or office. With the many innovation choices in lighting and light sources available, homeowners and business owners have a plethora to choose from when it comes to assorted styles and sizes.

For 2013, lighting trends focus on several areas of home decor, from color to energy efficient bulbs. The main trend for lighting is the finish with this year focused on polished nickel and chrome.

Energy efficiency is also a focus. Along with a decrease in any electric bill, halogen, xenon, fluorescent and LED lights provide more luminescence and efficiency than incandescent bulbs.

Recessed and track lighting primarily in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, dining room and family room are current trends. Track lighting offers flexibility in movement while recessed lighting adds a soft ambiance.

Light fixtures are abundant and designers want to make a statement with unique pieces such as chandeliers. The intricate and ornate design makes them a piece of artwork worthy of use in any room, including the kitchen.

Trends say standard lighting with no pizzazz in the kitchen is a no-go. Incorporate LED lights in dark areas.

TAB Associates has provided expert design and quality construction services for over 30 years. Whenever it’s time to redesign your home, call on TAB’s professional architects to fully outfit your home in style.

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