interior design tips | Page 3 of 5

How to Design and Elegant and Transitional Living Room

Transitional design combined classic and modern design elements to create spaces that are both relaxing and sophisticated. If you love transitional style, consider implementing some of these living room designs into your home.

Try pairing a more traditional color, such as beige, with a more modern pattern, such as thick stripes or criss-cross patterns. For example, an area rug in beige and cream offers perfect transitional appeal.
Lamps add a warm, special touch to a living room. Give your space a transitional, modern look by choosing artistic lamps in bold colors like red or cobalt blue.
Large windows allow light to shine into the room. For transitional designs, choose wide windows that extend almost, but not all of the way, to the floor.
Built-in shelves and bookcases are a theme in more traditional styles. You can make them more modern or traditional by keeping them simple with geometric designs. Natural wood is a classic choice that coordinates with most any décor.

When you’re ready to update your living room in a more transitional style, contact TAB Associates. We’ll be happy to create a space that accentuates your own unique style.

Everything You Should Know About Budgeting for Your Home Remodel

One of the first steps in remodeling your home is setting a budget, but even that can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. Here are a few tips for setting a home remodeling budget that will allow you to create a suitable space, and also avoid being blindsided by unexpected costs.

Establish your budget before you begin working with contractors and designers. This way, you can let the people you’re working with know your budget up front, so you don’t end up falling in love with designs you can’t afford.
Talk to others in your area who have had home remodels, and check with a few companies to make sure your budget is realistic. You might find that you have to settle for remodeling one room rather than two in order to stick with your budget, or that you can make more changes than you originally planned.
Always understand what you’re paying for when hiring designers or contractors. Does your contract include materials and labor? Does it cover the plan sketch?

If you’re looking for responsible, reasonable architects to orchestrate your next remodel, contact TAB Associates today.

Planning a Bathroom Remodel? Don’t Forget These Important Design Tips!

Bathroom remodeling can be very satisfying. You’ll love getting ready for the day in your new space! Before you jump into this project, however, you have a little planning to do. Here are some tips to ensure this stage goes smoothly, so you can move on to the actual remodeling.

Make sure you leave adequate space around your fixtures. Too many bathrooms have cramped toilet spaces or sinks too close to the toilets because of poor planning.
If your bathroom size allows for it, try not to make the toilet the first thing you see when you step inside the bathroom. The sink or a lovely vanity make for a much more pleasant greeting.
Consider keeping some of the current bathroom in place. Perhaps you still like the floor, the shower stall or the vanity. Remember you don’t necessarily have to replace everything.
Set a budget, so you can give this to contractors and designers up-front and protect yourself from surprise costs.
Pick a few high-end materials to splurge on, whether it be tile or a fancy sink. It only takes a few to give your bathroom high-end appeal.
Consider replacing cabinet drawer faces and doors instead of removing the entire vanity. This will save both time and money.
Consider adding roll-out shelves in the bottom of sink bases and cabinets to reach the stuff in the back of the cabinet.

Contact TAB Associates to discuss your bathroom remodeling plans today.

Small Remodeling Touches That Can Make a Big Difference

Sometimes it doesn’t take a full remodel to give your home a new and exciting look. These small remodeling ideas can make a big difference with little time and effort.

Under-cabinet lighting can make your whole kitchen seem more welcoming and open. It also makes tasks like chopping onions and preparing late-night coffee easier.
A dimmer switch can allow you to change the mood in your living and dining room with just a touch of the hand. Set the light low for a romantic evening, or turn it up for an exciting board game night.
A motion-activated porch light is a great choice if you’re always fumbling for your keys in the dark. You’ll feel safe and secure, even when you get home late at night.
Soft-close cabinets and drawers are a great addition to your kitchen. No more fighting with stuck drawers or knocking your head on cabinets that got left open.
A built-in soap dispenser decreases the amount of clutter on your kitchen counter top, giving it a neater appearance.

If you’re interested in making these or other remodeling changes, contact TAB Associates to discuss your plans today.

Things to Avoid in Your Next Home Remodel

Remodeling do’s and remodeling don’ts abound when it comes to creating the perfect home. The following are some things we strongly recommend you don’t do as you plan your remodeling project.

Don’t delay decisions. This adds time and expense to the project. Instead, get the information you need quickly and don’t hesitate to be decisive.
Don’t bargain hunt. Bargain hunting for materials might save you a buck or two, but it probably won’t. Remember, contractors have relationships with suppliers that can save you even more.
Don’t underbudget. Always plan a small contingency fund for unexpected expenses or small cost overruns. This will save you a great number of headaches.
Don’t get in the way. Make sure your contractor can work free from distractions including kids, pets, and you. While you’ll no doubt be eager to see the work going on, try and limit your time on the job site.
Don’t skimp on planning. The more planning you do, the better the finished remodel will look and feel.

The architects at Tab Associates, Inc. would be happy to discuss these “remodeling don’ts” with you. We invite you to contact us for more information, and to discuss the “remodeling do’s” we recommend!

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.