TAB Associates Blog | Page 24 of 28 | TAB Associates Architecture Blog

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.

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.

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