Interior Design | Page 6 of 12 | TAB Associates Blog

New Trends for Home Staircases

Staircases are becoming more than just a way for someone to get from one floor of a home to the next. The latest trends are turning stairs into a fashion statement and using them to add to the appeal and design of a home.

Glass guardrails allow the stairs to be seen from the lower floor, while also serving as a manner of protection for those traveling up or down. The simple look of glass is perfect for a modern, minimalist home design.
Centrally located stairs, encased in a glass box, are another trending design element. The stairs look like they are floating in the middle of the glass space. Switchback stairs are typically used with this design.
No longer are all stairs comprised of a simple, single flight of steps. Twisting, turning staircases provide an attractive alternative. Often made from wood, these structures add character to natural homes.
Floating stairs, which are supported by metal rods hung from the ceiling rather than structural supports originating on the floor, are incredibly futuristic and innovative.

If you’re interested in working unique stairs into your home design, contact TAB Associates to discuss your plans today.

TAB Associates Tips for Renovating Your Basement

Basement renovations can be challenging because many basements were not built with the intention of them becoming living spaces. Don’t let the challenges keep you from the basement remodel you’ve been planning. Here are a few tips for success:

If ductwork or piping means you won’t have enough head space in a remodeled basement, consider digging down to add ceiling height.
In older basements, make sure you check for hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead. These can cause harm if you start ripping them up without taking the proper safety precautions.
To make sure noise in your remodeled basement does not spread through the home, include sound insulation in the ceiling along with other sound mitigating techniques.
Keep exit requirements in mind. Most municipalities require emergency exits, so you may have to include a window in your design that’s large enough to crawl out of.
Check for moisture issues before you begin renovating. If there is water seeping into a part of the basement, have it fixed before proceeding so you don’t end up with soggy materials. This may include waterproofing walls and/or adding a sump pump to extract the water.

Leave your basement remodel to the experts at TAB Associates. Contact us today to learn more about our architectural services.

Design Tips for Working With a High Ceiling

High ceilings in homes are seen as a luxury. However, once you have your high ceiling, designing the rest of the room in a way that takes full advantage of the spacious room’s beauty can be challenging. Here are a few tips to help you create a stunning and grand design in your home with a high-ceiling.

Include millwork in your design. Detailed carpentry including broad crown molding and expertly crafted door frames adds texture, which makes the space feel more balanced rather than just roomy and excessive.
Use a dark color on the ceiling. It will help balance out other darker elements that are lower in the room. A natural wood ceiling looks lovely, or even a gabled ceiling painted brown or deep gray or red. A darker ceiling will bring down the space to minimize it from feeling overwhelmingly large.
Add structural elements to your ceiling design. Exposed beams are very in-style right now, and they help add character to your high ceiling. There are many different styles and designs to consider, from arched beams to horizontal ones. natural wood beams are perfect for a mountain-style home. These structural elements create a lower psychological ceiling and can make a space feel more intimate.

For help designing a breathtaking high-ceiling room from the floor up, contact the experts at TAB Associates.

Planning a Home Build? Here are Tips for Deciding Where to Put Your Laundry Room!

When building a home, the placement of the laundry room often gets overlooked. Because a laundry room can be virtually any size, it often gets wedged into an awkward corner or squeezed into the basement. If you take a little time to plan your laundry room placement carefully, you’ll end up with a more functional space. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

If you live in a 2-story home, remember that placing the laundry room in the basement means taking the clothes up and down 2 flights of stairs. You may want to put it on the first floor.
In many homes, putting a small laundry room off of the kitchen makes sense. Washer noises are less disturbing near the kitchen than near living rooms and bedrooms.
For smaller homes, consider placing the laundry facilities in a walk-in closet off of a centrally located hallway on the first floor. If the closet is large enough, it can be used to store towels and sheets too, making it convenient to put these items away after washing.

Contact TAB Associates if you’re thinking of building a home. We’ll work with you to configure a layout that suits your needs.

Looking for A Grand Design In Your Bedroom? Consider These Tall Headboards

Tall headboards help you to create a larger-than-life look for your bedroom.

Have you ever walked into a bedroom that was so grand it took your breath away? With tall headboards for beds, you can create that look in your own home.

Tufted headboards are great for creating a luxurious, soft look. They’re made from a hard backing with soft material on the front, and they come in a wide array of colors, so you can choose one that coordinates with your current color scheme.
Natural wood headboards are an ideal choice or a rustic or mountain home. One made from natural logs, stacked on top of one another, has an intriguing look and coordinates well with design elements such as exposed ceiling beams or hardwood floors.
Shutter-like headboards add a country-style, traditional look to your bedroom. They feature numerous horizontal panels, just like real shutters, and can be easily painted any color. Painting them a dark shade against a light wall is a great way to make a statement.

Creating a breathtaking bedroom requires careful planning, from the architectural design to choosing a color scheme. Contact TAB Associates to learn more about our design services, and to discuss your building or remodeling plans with our experts.

How To Upgrade Your Kitchen Without Spending A Lot Of Money

It is possible to upgrade your kitchen without breaking the bank.

Many homeowners shy away from remodeling their kitchen because they assume it’s going to be an expensive project. However, if you make wise choices, this does not have to be true. Stop suffering with an outdated kitchen, and follow these tips for upgrading kitchen on a budget.

Apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls. A bright color can make your kitchen feel more spacious and open. Green and blue are popular kitchen colors right now. Coral and burnt orange are also modern and artistic.
Refinish your cabinets. A fresh stain job will hide scratches and make your cabinet doors look new again.
Replace your cabinet hardware. It’s amazing what a difference this small change can make. Get rid of outdated hardware and choose something simple and sleek to make your kitchen look more modern.
Mount hooks on your wall so that you can hang up your pots and pans. This not only creates more storage space in your cabinets, but also adds a modern, professional look to your room.

If your kitchen is in need of a thorough remodel, contact TAB Associates. We offer expert design services to transform your space.

Check Out These Kitchen Innovations That Will Improve Your New Home

These kitchen innovation tips will ensure that yours keeps working for you, making cooking and sharing meals with family as efficient and enjoyable as ever.

The kitchen is the heart of your home. These kitchen innovation tips will ensure that yours keeps working for you, making cooking and sharing meals with family as efficient and enjoyable as ever.

Instead of letting a bright white or black refrigerator interfere with your decorating scheme, consider choosing one that blends in to your other kitchen decor. Handles that match your cabinet handles, cabinet-like doors, and control panels that disappear are just a few features of today’s best refrigerators.
Lighting is about more than being able to see. Pendant lamps add ambient lighting above a kitchen island, and lights inside your cupboards can make it easier to find what you need late at night.
LCD control screens on ovens, microwaves and refrigerators make it easier than ever to control your appliances. Some even integrate with your smartphone for seamless control.
Upscale appliances, such as steam ovens, built-in fryers and induction cooktops, were once only found in restaurants. Now, you can include them in your home kitchen design.

If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, make sure you work with an experienced architect to design a layout that fits your lifestyle. Contact TAB Associates to learn more about our services.

How Having Mood Enhancing Lights Helps Everyone

Light has the ability to alter moods, and mood lighting is especially important in the winter when you spend more time inside and sunlight is in short supply.

Have you every noticed that your mood becomes brighter and more cheerful when you step into a brightly lit room, but more somber when you’re in dim lighting? Light has the ability to alter moods, and you can use this ability to your advantage by including mood lighting in your home design.

Mood lighting is especially important in the winter when you spend more time inside and when sunlight is in short supply. Mood-enhancing lights deliver 10,000 lux of light, which is not quite as bright as sunlight, but close.

Mood enhancing lights are easy to use, especially when they’re worked into your home decor. Set one up in a corner, and spend an hour a day reading underneath it. The effects are greatest when you’re 2 feet from the light, but anyone who enters the room will experience an improved mood, thanks to the instant energizing effects.

Including a mood enhancing light in your office, living room or even dining room will decrease your risk of depression and may even help curb winter cravings. You’ll sleep more soundly at night, too.

Contact TAB Associates if you’re looking for experienced architects to design your home with mood lights.

Trendy Bathroom Fixtures For Your Home

The bathroom fixtures you choose can have a huge impact on the design of your bathroom space.

When it comes to the design of your home, every little feature counts. For example, the bathroom fixtures you choose can have a huge impact on the design of your bathroom space. The following are a few trendy bathroom fixtures to consider:

Low-flow wall-mount showerhead – There are plenty of styles and finishes to choose from, thereby giving you some real design flexibility. Opt for a low-flow model to reduce the use of water without sacrificing the showerhead’s performance.
Rain showerhead – If you’re looking to add a bit of luxury to your shower, go for the rain showerhead that mounts to the ceiling and provides more water coverage than traditional showerheads.
Body sprayers – Compliment your showerhead with body sprayers to provide massaging spray of water.
Vessel sink – For a real visual statement, go with a vessel sink that sits on top of your counter.
Motion-activated faucet – Remove the necessity of handles or knobs with a motion-activated faucet. This also helps to reduce water usage, making it a more eco-friendly option.

Consider some of these trendy fixtures for your bathroom design. For additional information and advice concerning your bathroom or home design, contact us at TAB Associates.

Designing A Resort Style Bathroom For Your Home

TAB Associates can help you design a resort style bathroom for your home.

When you have a resort styled bathroom in your home, you don’t have to go on vacation in order to take a relaxing and rejuvenating bath or shower. TAB Associates can help you design a resort style bathroom using some or all of the following ideas:

A free-standing tub, mounted on top of a stained wooden platform looks luxurious, especially when surrounded with plenty of green plants.
To allow for a soothing, sunny glow, consider positioning your resort bathroom on an outside wall and incorporating a patio and double doors into the design.
A natural wood floor can give your bathroom an outdoorsy vibe without looking overly rustic. Pair it with gray tile for a look that reminds you of the beach.
To make your space as relaxing as possible consider dividing your bathroom into two sections, divided by a curtain or sliding doors. Put a bath tub and sink in one section, and a comfortable sofa in the other half.
Position your mirrors carefully so that you can use them, yet they don’t become an overwhelming part of your decor.

Contact TAB Associates for help designing the luxurious, resort-style bathroom of your dreams.