An architect should assist in bringing your vision to life, not the other way around. Source: TAB Associates
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.
Hiring an architect will help to bring clarity to any project, large or small.
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.
TAB Associates has a group of dedicated architects who will strive to make your vision a reality.
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.
Check out these neat reasons why certain rooms earned their name. Source: TAB
Have you ever wondered about how the rooms in your home received their name? To help you understand, we have broken down the meaning of the most popular rooms and where they get their name from in a recent post we published on the DCD Home website. Check it out for yourself:
What is in a name anyway? Great Room, the most misused room name today. A BIG Living Room is not a Great Room. It may be a GREAT room, but unless the Kitchen and Dining are part of the same space, it is just a plain old Living Room, maybe large nonetheless.
Colloquial terms are head scratchers too. In Florida, a room that started as a screened porch, then got jalousie windows, then finally awning windows was a Florida Room. It is just a renovated closed-in screen porch. And the screen porch here in Colorado is a Lanai. I think it is a Hawaiian name?!
The room next to the Kitchen, the one with the couch. No, not the Living Room. The less formal one. Some places it is a Family Room. Oh, not here in Colorado, it has a fireplace, so it must be the Hearth Room.
We once got a project from a developer, a lot in Beaver Creek, that had a set of design drawings with it. We threw them away, but in these drawings there was a foyer, then a hall named the Antebellum, then a cross axis hall. What in the hell is an Antebellum? We looked it up. It means “before the Civil War”. I guess it was a very OLD hall?! Why not Grand Hall? No, ‘Hall’ is negative, “that house has a lot of halls.” Wasted space. So we rename halls to friendly names, like Gallery. Yes, that is where we find art or sometimes just windows with plein art. Art is cultural. Culture is good. Gallery is good.
Office, Study, Library. Which is it? Can not be a Library unless it has lots of shelves and books. Lots of books. Is it a Study? What are we studying? It is probably an Office. But just part time.
Breakfast Nook? Is it really a nook? You can get six people and a turkey in there.
Mud Room. If you bring mud in there, Mom will whip your butt! Take your boots off in the Garage.
Awwww…. Powder Room. Not since the 80’s. It is not a half bath either. It has no bath, let alone a half of one. What should we call it? The Crapper? John D. was not fond of that one.
We need a Colorado Room. What do you think? A large dark room, with a nice bar, a pool table and a lot of dead animal heads on the walls, cigar smoke, and tequila. I like it. Feel free to use it. Or make up any other names that come to mind. We do, but we keep it in this century.
If you are looking to redesign your home or one of your rooms, please contact us at TAB Associates, Inc. We can be reached at 970-748-1470!
When hiring an architect, you are hiring someone to come in and design your personal property to your liking. However, sometimes it just does not workout to your liking. That is when you may be thinking about relieving them of their duties. But when is the right time to do so? We are here to help and let you know when to call it quits on an architect.
Save yourself time by reading up on these reasons to let go of an architect. Source: Keoni Cabral
Check out our published post on when to fire your architect that was published on the DCD Home website:
We have had a few clients who came to us after they fired their Architect. One client actually fired three different Architects before coming to us. They all live happily in their new homes in various gated communities in our beautiful valley. They have had various reasons, but the most common reason is the previous Architect’s inability to listen to their desires.
Architects need to keep their clients involved in every phase of a project. Starting with a proper analysis of the site, the client’s program needs to be developed primarily from client input. Program relationships follow suit here. The client’s involvement is most important during the conceptual design phase. A great concept with the full involvement goes a long way to a client’s embrace of the final results. An Architect who designs in a vacuum has done himself and his client a grave injustice. We say, “An Architect’s worst enemy is his ego”. Give up the ego and gain a satisfied client.
We, as Architects, are destined to provide our clients with professional expertise and design competence to fulfill their program requirements. A combination of art and science, sculpture and technical resolve, form the relationship of the Architect’s challenge to structure and site. Architecture is unlike the practice of medicine or law, because most people have a strong sense of what they like or dislike. Everyone has been in or seen a building they fancy. Few know the best medicine for their ailment or the most practical means of resolution to their legal woes.
Should I fire my Client?
Attentive clients are great. Those that share the enthusiasm we do make the process fun. This is an experience that takes at least five months in design and up to a year and a half or more in construction. The net result is a project that everyone can enjoy.
We have had to fire a few clients. One contracted for one size home and programmed a larger home. When informed their program exceeded their contractual size, they suggested we continue and see how it works out. When the completed home’s design exceeded the contractual amount, they would not pay the increased fees for the increased size.
Another case consisted of a client that was consistently absent minded of previous discussions. It made the process hell. The Project Manager was either contemplating suicide or murder. Life is too short to deal with people with no scruples.
Are Contractors good or evil?
We say Contractor make us look good. Sure we have to draw the right lines on the paper, but they are just lines. The constructed environment is far more difficult. Protocol in the office is if a Contractor calls with a question, stop what you are doing and help him solve his problem. We consider the Contractor an integral part of our team, Client, Architect and Contractor. Together we can make something great. The day of the Change Order Contractor is basically gone. Everything has value and someone is going to gain from it. Mistakes are inevitable, but the finesse of corrections is substantial.
Should I have fun?
Speaking of life being too short, if we are not having fun, doing what we do, then we stop! Architecture is a passion, far beyond a profession. It is in our brains, heart and soul. We get excited about the process and revel in the results.
Are we having fun yet?
Hell, yes. Come join us! It is how it should be!
If you’re looking to bring on a highly skilled architecture firm, contact us at TAB Associates, Inc. today.
The future site of the Dando Residence will overlook the National Forest and Cordillera.
Here at TAB Associates, we take great joy in helping people build their comfort zone — a place to call home. One of the projects our architecture planning services are being used for, right now, is the Dando Residence.
This residence, situated in a very private Aspen forest, in the gated community of Colorow, is a timber and stone structure of 8,200 square feet. It is in the works to be outdoor living friendly, which shows in the design of the large exterior, with at grade and raised patios.
The patios are covered and uncovered. This will allow for outdoor living and entertainment all year round, with phenomenal views of the surrounding National Forest and the Cordillera golf course. The home itself will include four bedrooms, five bathrooms, powder room, living room, kitchen, dining, office, family, and exercise rooms.
Features and amenities of the Dando Residence include a water feature, pool, hot tub, three-car garage, and tractor storage.
If you’d like to be part of the process of building your dream home, contact our architecture planning services today at 970-766-1470.
Built-In refrigerators provide a seamless quality to any modern kitchen.
When our clients are looking for innovative kitchen appliances, we’ve noticed they turn to Sub-Zero for their needs. In fact, Sub-Zero is the popular brand for those who are building their ideal gourmet kitchen. It’s easy to see why, with all the choices they have for built-in refrigerators. Here are our top three favorites:
The BI-48SID Side-by-Side: This is the perfect solution for people who love to have ice and chilled water at their fingertips, but don’t like the appearance of having it on the outside of the refrigerator. Sub-Zero is the first in the industry to put the on-demand system inside the refrigerator.
The 736TR All Refrigerator: If you want your kitchen decor to have a seamless look, opt for this model because it has two distinct temperature zones and integrates with your cabinetry.
The 736TFI All Freezer: This freezer is 36 inches wide tall and also fully integrates with your cabinetry.
At TAB Associates, we do all kinds of projects using these and more innovative kitchen appliances, tailored to meet the needs of our clients. If you’ve got a project you’d like to get started, or have questions, please take a moment to visit us.
Working hand-in-hand with the client is a good hallmark of a professional architect.
We’ve noticed there are plenty of Colorado architects who have been skipped over or fired by clients who come over to TAB Associates, instead, for all of their home building and design needs.
In an article written by Tab Bonidy, President of TAB Associates, there are quite a few reasons why other architects lose jobs. The primary reason, of course, is that the architect the clients were using couldn’t get past his or her own ego, leaving the clients dissatisfied. Stemming from a huge ego comes three very big problems that get architects fired:
Inability to listen. Because of the strong ego, the former architect never really heard what the client wanted.
Not keeping the client involved. Clients fully involved in the process (particularly the concept phase) often love their end results, because they were part of the design process and had an investment in it.
The “I know what you want” syndrome. Clients know what they like and dislike, and taking that away from them is a recipe for disaster.
If you’d like to learn more about Colorado architects who care more about custom designs for their clients’ needs, please take a moment to check out TAB Associates.
McCoy Peak Lodge is a prime example of one of TAB’s past resort projects.
Colorado offers beautiful landscapes and numerous outdoor activities during spring and summer seasons, spectacular scenery during the fall and challenging snow covered mountain slopes in the winter. These reasons, alone, make resort architecture in Colorado a competitive business as more and more visitors make their way to the to the state to enjoy extraordinary vacations, weekend getaways or as a retirement destinations.
McCoy Peak Lodge is a fine example of the type of outstanding architecture that draws visitors to Colorado. The 160,000 sq. ft. lodge is family-friendly with 36 luxury condominium units, underground parking and stunning views.
Tab Bonidy utilized his 16 years of experience to capture the essence of what a luxury resort should entail in design, construction and budget while optimizing the mountain landscape of Beaver Creek. The project exemplifies Tab’s ability to create a vision with a positive impact while keeping all elements of the project in balance.
When the best in design, creativity and architectural balance is needed to develop a complete plan for a luxury resort from start to finish, contact TAB Associates, Inc. and let the experienced architects be the visionaries of your next project.
Every discipline and study, typically, has a board of highly-trained professionals and members of academia that set base standards for the practice; Architecture is one of them. The upcoming AIA National Convention will be offering an array of informative keynote speakers, tours, and educational seminars.
Colin Powell will round out AIA 2013 with a speech on leadership and facing challenges.
If you’ve been wondering who will be gracing the stage at this year’s AIA National Convention, here is a brief preview of a few of the speakers and seminars to expect.
Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS, is the opening keynote speaker who will address entrepreneurial leadership focusing on humanitarianism. His concept of giving a pair of shoes to in-need children for every pair of his brand sold turned from a singular concept to a global movement.
Cameron Sinclair will speak about the architectural profession, as a whole, and how those in the profession can make a difference by taking on global projects and ensuring the results have a long-lasting and positive effect on the future.
Leadership will be the focus of General Colin Powell in the closing keynote speech. General Powell will reflect on the challenges and benefits of being a leader.
Guests will have access to approximately 160 seminars to choose from as well as preconvention workshops and self-guided educational tours.
Staying current with trending styles in modern architecture is an on-going responsibility of architects. Such is the case with the team at TAB Associates, Inc. whose goal is to always be in the forefront with the latest information available regarding trends in Colorado architecture as well as providing up-to-date options for planning and interior designs.
