Featured | Page 13 of 15 | TAB Associates Blog

Tips to Winterizing Your Home Before the Winter Cold Arrives

The seasons are slowly changing and that means it is time to start getting ready for much cooler temperatures as winter begins to arrive. While we think about reorganizing our wardrobes and having our vehicles inspected in anticipation for the colder season, we shouldn’t forget about our homes in the midst of our annual preparations.

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

Here are tips for winterizing a home that will help you get your house ready to face the snow, freezing rain, and plummeting temperatures:

Keep your gutters clean to prevent snow from accumulating where it can thaw and re-freeze. This allows it to seep into your roof.

Check doors, windows, ventilation ducts, electrical outlets, and other spaces for air leaks. Then seal them properly.

Have your furnace cleaned and inspected to ensure that it is working properly.

Make sure your plumbing is well-insulated to prevent freezing pipes when the temperature drops.

Take your hoses off the outside faucets (or sill cocks) so the water can drain from them and not freeze back in the wall. This will burst the pipe in the wall and when you turn the outside faucet on next spring, you will have a very wet inside wall.

If you wish to learn more about winterizing a home, our consultants at TAB Associates are available to answer your questions and offer suggestions. Contact us today and let us work with you to meet all of your architectural needs.

TAB Spotlight: The Catlin Residence

One of the projects that we here at TAB Associates have completed with pride is the Catlin Residence in Bachelor Gulch. Situated on a ski-in, ski-out lot, the 10,000 square foot house has breathtaking views of the mountains.

mountain home builder — Source: TAB Associates’ Official Website

With eight bedrooms, eight full baths, two half-baths, there are plenty of spaces in this open floor plan to enjoy, yet still maintain privacy throughout. The exterior features a heated in-ground pool and spa, fire pit, and water feature, and gas heat from overhead on most decks allows for outdoor activities in cool weather.

The interior boasts a wine room, hearth room, ski room in addition to the standard rooms in homes. The family room hosts a built-in bar, pool table, and large sitting area. Because of the open floor plan, it’s an ideal place for entertaining guests.

Unlike many homes in Bachelor Gulch which house the Master Bed suite on the Main Level, the Catlin Residence has its Master Suite including Master Living, Master Kitchen and Master Study in the Penthouse location with commanding views of the Gore Range and Beaver Creek Ski Mountain. In this way, the couple has every thing they need on their own level of the home up and away from the rest of this spectacular home.

The Catlin Residence is just one of our many home construction projects that demonstrates presenting what our clients want in an aesthetically pleasing manner, and helping to make each residence a dream home come true.

If this residence interests you, and you would like to learn more about TAB Associates, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.

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 Elements of a Good Mudroom

A big part of good home design is knowing what elements go into each room. There are quite a few considerations for mudroom design — which is often one of the most neglected rooms in the home and needed in almost every Colorado home.

Here are three of the biggest “dos” for designing a mudroom:

Ensure the room is what you need for your lifestyle. If you have pets and children, that will change the room’s function based on their activities and routines. If it’s just a two-person home, the mudroom will take a completely different shape.

Give your area plenty of room to come in and settle down. It doesn’t have to be a sprawling room, but there should be enough space for maneuvering comfortably.

Keep storage space in mind. Coats, boots, backpacks, rucksacks, umbrellas, outdoor and sporting equipment all need a place to go neatly once you arrive home. This means the proper closet space that possibly includes cubbies or built-in cabinets. Make sure you have room for yourself and your belongings so the area won’t look cluttered.

Save your floors and entryways with an excellent mudroom design, and use these ideas to help you get started on placing this crucial home element into your residence.

If you’re looking to add a mudroom, contact us at TAB Associates and we will be sure to answer any questions you have about a new addition to your home!

Advantages of Building Your New Home

When it comes to the choice of a resale, or building a new home, there are many benefits that come along with building a home to your liking. Although resale has its conveniences, nothing is quite like having a dream home built just for you and your family.

Here are the advantages of building a new home over a resale:

Customization. You can build a dream home with things the way you want them, rather than try to find a pre-made home that fits your needs and wants.
Lower maintenance. New homes, custom built, are designed with materials and engineering designs that need far less maintenance than you might find with a resale. This can be from not having to paint an exterior, to ensuring the roofing is done with low-maintenance in mind.
Avoid resale repairs. Having a newly built house will help you avoid potentially costly repairs over having an older home.

When you consider the benefits of building a home from the ground up, one must often weigh whether or not to purchase a resale. Get what you want from your property, and build your dream home with the help from TAB Associates, Inc.

Moving the Master Suite to the Attic

When you have the luxury of an attic with ample floor space and workable ceilings, it opens up numerous options on how the space can be converted from storage space to a livable environment. With the help of an experienced architect, redesigning your attic can not only add more floor space to your home; it also increases its market value.

The ideas for attic conversions are many. Just a few examples include adding a mini apartment for a college student, a spare bedroom for guests, an at home office, an in-law suite or a craft, hobby or sewing room. Part of the fun is in planning and designing the layout then watching as the attic takes on a life of its own.

Another option for homeowners is to turn the unused space of the attic into a gorgeous master suite. With careful planning, the attic can be turned into an oasis of privacy in the treetops. Utilizing every inch of space, adding a dormer, skylights or large windows, even a small patio, can turn your attic into a luxury suite.

TAB Associates has provided its expert services in planning and interior professional design to commercial and residential customers for over 30 years.

What to Consider Before Finishing Your Attic or Basement

Appleby Bachelor Gulch Residence — TAB can guide your project if you’re thinking of finishing a basement.

Many households are experiencing a growth in the family unit with parents or grown children moving in. While this is a great way to combine incomes and save money, for many homes, there just isn’t enough room.

To eliminate the shortage of floor space, finishing your attic or basement is the next step to adding the space you need. Before taking on the project, there are several key areas to consider.

Assess the home and determine if an attic or basement remodeling project is possible.
Contact local authorities about building codes for your area, and research which permits will be necessary.
Consult with a professional architect who can guide you through the planning process.
Ensure whichever location you plan to redo has sufficient light and space. The addition of a dormer addresses the issue of small attics.
Support to the flooring is vital for attic remodeling. This is an area where the architect will know exactly what to do.
Attics and basements need to have adequate heating and cooling systems.
Address moisture issues that come with basements.
Don’t forget to include an emergency exit for safety.
Whenever you’re mapping the floor plane, utilize every inch of space.

TAB Associates has been serving customers for over 30 years in the design, development, construction and remodeling of homes to suit individual needs. So, contact us today if you have any design or architecture needs.

Image via TAB Associates

Architecture Should Reflect the Client

When it comes to learning how to choose an architect, there are a lot of different factors that can come into the process. But, before it gets overwhelming, there are a few basic principles to keep in mind that can serve as guidelines.

Choose someone who will listen. A sign of a good architect is a listener who will do what you like, without their own ego getting in the way. They can help realize your dreams, not the other way around.

Your architecture should reflect you — whether it’s a residence or business. A good architect understands that.

Find an architect who is as passionate about your individuality, as you are, and who can help you build your structure in a cooperative manner.

These tips on how to choose an architect can help you get the right designer for your dream home. At TAB Associates, we believe that the architect must set aside his or her ego in order to give our clients exactly the home they want. Remember, above all, you are the one who will live in that home and you should get exactly what you choose.

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.