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Let Us Work On Your Interiors: Kitchen Trends for 2014

If you’re a fan of warm tones or interesting colors in kitchens, then you’ll love this year’s trends. All-white designs are out and natural materials with bold designs are in.

2014 Kitchen Trends — Source: TAB Associates

Here are a few of the hottest kitchen trends for 2014:

Blue: This color might seem like an odd choice for a kitchen, but it’s becoming a popular one. Homeowners are choosing all different shades of blue, ranging from soft sky blues to bright turquoise and sophisticated navy tones. Blue is mainly making an appearance in tiles and cupboards, as well as decor items.

Eye-catching backsplashes: These areas above the stove or sink are really standing out, thanks to brightly colored splashbacks with bold patterns. These work well with kitchens that are mostly done in white or neutral colors since they create contrast.

Natural materials: Wood, stone, brick and other natural materials are giving kitchens some rustic appeal and creating a warm and welcoming environment. This trend also involves exposing older beams and structures, as well as adding new features.

Want to see examples of kitchen trends for 2014? Contact TAB Associates for more information or check out our online portfolio today.

How Much Time Should You Plan for To Build Your Home?

Planning on having a home designed and built? Make sure you plan accordingly, especially when it comes to how long this process takes. The amount of time it takes depends on how your home is being built and where you live.

Home Building in Colorado — Source: TAB Associates

Building a home can take as little as five or six months from permit to completion if you live in certain parts of the country like the southern states that border the Atlantic Ocean, the Midwest, and the western states that do not border the Pacific, such as Idaho, Nevada and Montana.

Having a home built in Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee generally takes around seven months, while building a home along the west coast or in Alaska, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio usually takes an average of eight months. The northeastern region takes the longest time. Home building from Pennsylvania to Maine takes between nine and ten months.

If you hire a contractor to build your home, it typically takes about eight months to complete. When you handle the contracting duties yourself, it can take up to 11 months.

Ready to discuss your home building project? Contact TAB Associates, and follow us on Facebook.

Build a Cohesive Home by Coming Up With a Master Plan

If you want to build your dream home, having a master plan is crucial. With a master plan, you can create a cohesive home that has the right flow and style. When you’re working on planning a home, keep these tips in mind to ensure that every part fits in with your master plan:

Creating and Sticking to a Home Plan — Source: TAB Associates

Focus on what’s important. Start out by focusing on what you consider to be the most important parts of the project. You can base these on which projects are currently within your budget or which projects are the most urgent.

Keep the flow in mind. The overall flow or style of your home should remain consistent, which can be hard to do when you’re working on individual projects. Keep referring back to your master plan to ensure that any changes you make preserve that flow.

Consider your entire property. When deciding what to build, look at your entire property to determine what’s going to work. Don’t forget to consider factors like landscaping features, surrounding views, and drainage. Also consider water features, as they can add a dramatic effect to your home.

Need more input on planning your home? Contact us at TAB Associates to learn more, and follow us on Facebook.

How Will Your Dream Home Come Together? Seven Steps

Being able to build your own home gives you the freedom to consider a variety of concepts and designs, but you also have to be realistic about it. Functionality is just as important as a stunning design or impressive layout.

Planning your dream home — Source: TAB Associates

Keep the following steps in mind when planning a new home:

List your goals. Figure out how you want your home to look and what features you want to include.

Determine your budget. Figure out how much you can spend, and include design fees and other costs of a home building project.

Buy property. Choose land that’s in a location you’ll love, such as near water or close to practical places, like work.

Hire your team. You’re going to need the help of skilled professionals, including architects and builders, to make your home design dreams come true.

Keep planning. Focus on every detail of the project, no matter how minor it seems.

Prepare for problems. A few issues are bound to occur, so be prepared to handle them.

Appreciate your new home. Explore every inch of your newly built home.

Ready to get your new home started? Contact TAB Associates, and visit us on Facebook.

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.

Keys to Designing a Small Bathroom

A small bathroom space can be challenging. There are a variety of ways to make your small space seem bigger.

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

When it comes to small bathroom designs windows are an option, if your willing to use heavily frosted glass. However, if your bathroom is located on the top floor, you should look into having a skylight installed. The skylight provides you with natural light and creates the illusion of space. If the skylight is operable, even better. This is the best way to get rid of shower mist. If it faces south it is a great way to get some free heat from direct solar gain. This is especially beneficial during the winter months; otherwise, it may need a shade on it.

If a skylight isn’t an option, you should consider the possibility of having a coffered/tray ceiling placed over the space. This type of ceiling makes the room feel bigger and helps with air flow, if the tray is vented to the attic.

When working with small bathroom designs, resist the impulse to place the bathroom sink right in the middle of your counter space. By utilizing a corner sink, the bathroom will feel less cramped and more counter space will be created. The best sinks will be ones that have deep basin and plenty of under cabinet storage.

When it comes to tiling the tub/shower space, glass tile is your best choice. These tiles make the space look bigger and brighter than it actually is.

The Philosophy Behind TAB Associates

When the services of an experienced Vail Valley architect are needed to bring a vision to life, the designers at TAB Associates, Inc. have the insight, energy, one-on-one understanding of a client’s desires and an extensive creative palette to do a thorough job.

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

TAB Associates goes above and beyond the norm to provide their clients with every possible need involved in planning, designing and building what the client wants, not what the architect wants. There’s no room for egos at TAB as the responsibility of the architect is blending the client’s desires with a doses of artistic expression brought to the table by the designer. There is also the scientific side of the equation, the technology that TAB brings to the table. These include building skin, insulation systems, glazing options, daylighting, solar, geo-thermal, HVAC systems, A/V systems, building automation, etc.

By listening to each client and keeping them involved in the project, every step of the way, TAB architects are able to balance the design with the program and construction ultimately finalizing the project by balancing the cost and budget.

TAB Associates is responsible for developing multiple properties including single homes, multi-family residences, resorts, and spiritual, medical, institutional and commercial architecture that met the needs of their clients.

With more than 30 years of experience, the architects at TAB Associates, Inc. have the know-how to turn a client’s dream into an innovative and realistic design.

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.

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

TAB Additions & Renovations: Eagle River Presbyterian Church

Vail architects provide a variety of services to clients, from complete designs to renovations on residential and commercial property. Another part of the field that Vail architects have entered is working with organizations, providing construction, labor and materials that are in need for repairs, remodeling, or renovations.

A successful project involved the Eagle River Presbyterian Church. Renovations and additions were provided through the efforts of TAB Associates, Inc.

The construction and upgrades provided by TAB were designed to increase floorspace and update specific church areas. Changes included expanding the sanctuary, upgrading classrooms and office space and designing a new fellowship hall to include a larger kitchen. The fellowship hall and sanctuary have views of the Eagle River from the newly installed patio.

The addition of 11,000 square feet allows the church to expand and welcome new church members, provide additional room for Sunday services, and allows them to be available to serve as a venue for events such as weddings, christenings and group meetings. The Eagle River Presbyterian Church also serves as an office and home for Habitat for Humanity for Eagle County.

With foresight, vision and the client’s specific wants, needs and goals always in sight, TAB Associates, Inc. leads the way in design services that produce positive results for its clients and the community.