Interior Design Trends and Spotlights | Page 5 of 7

How to Design an Extravagant Dining Room

Lend some flair and flourish to your home with some ideas from these extravagant dining room designs.

Time passes while people come and go, but luxury in the home is something that never goes out of style. As a result, if you are interested in lending your home some flair and flourish, you should consider perusing some of the extravagant dining room designs that can be found out there.

Use these tips to create an extravagant dining room:

If you find rooms done in a single style to be overbearing and uncomfortable, mix and match with other styles to create a whole that is more than the sum of its parts.
The dining room should have soft, warm lighting since it is a place of relaxation, but not all lights are equal to one another. If you have insufficient space for a full-sized chandelier, consider getting one of its miniature counterparts.
A gorgeous rug can be the exact element needed to complete the dining room. As a general rule, it should be big enough to host both the dining table and its seating, which is also small enough to contrast well with hardwood flooring.
Don’t neglect details such as crown moulding, wainscoting, and ornamental woodcarvings.

To learn more about our services, please contact us at TAB Associates.

Lighting Trends That Will Top in 2015

In contrast to their enormous and extravagant predecessors, mini-chandeliers are perfect for rooms with limited space, ranging from attic bedrooms to even baths and kitchens. That said, their upscale counterparts are also making a comeback.

Lighting can have enormous effect on the comfort of the home, making it a topic of enormous interest to interior designers. As a result, keeping up-to-date about the latest lighting trends is essential to ensuring interior design success.

Here are the top lighting trends in 2015:

LEDs are becoming more and more practical, making them the lighting of choice for more and more homeowners. Of particular note is the increasing interest in outdoor LEDs as a result of the increasing interest in outdoor living.
Warm colors have come into fashion, bringing with them a renewed interest in metallic, copper-colored fixtures.
In contrast to their enormous and extravagant predecessors, mini-chandeliers are perfect for rooms with limited space, ranging from attic bedrooms to even baths and kitchens. That said, their upscale counterparts are also making a comeback.
Sources of light have started popping up in all sorts of unexpected spaces to enhance their ease of use. Examples include but are not limited to both cabinets and showers.
More and more homeowners want their lights incorporated into their home security systems for superior protection. At the same time, their wireless setup also results in increased convenience.

Please contact us for more useful information.

Modern Interior Trends for 2015

Eco-friendly materials like stone, metal, and wood are becoming more and more popular in interior design.

As the times change, the prevailing fashions change with them. Interior design is no exception to this rule, meaning that successful interior design is reliant on keeping up with the latest in interior design trends.

Here are some of the interior design trends that promise to be big in 2015:

Eco-consciousness has become more and more important, so it should come as no surprise to learn that natural materials such as stone, metal, and wood are becoming more and more popular in interior design.
Likewise, interest in natural themes has exploded. Examples range from vivid colors and floral decorations to indoor water features and larger windows to let in the light.
More and more interior designers are mixing old and new styles to create stunning but nonetheless comfortable spaces. The combination of the rustic and the retro with the classic and the luxurious makes for excellent complements and contrasts.
At the same time, spaces are becoming more versatile to cater to a range of needs.

Please check out our projects to see how we can put these and other design trends to good use. If you have other inquiries related to our services, please contact us at your earliest convenience.

Tips to Hiring An Interior Designer

An experienced designer can help you find elements that coordinate well, fit into your budget, and will remain in style for years to come.

If you want to create a space that it as functional as possible while also expressing your own personal style, hiring an interior designer is almost essential. An experienced designer can help you find elements that coordinate well, fit into your budget, and will remain in style for years to come. Follow these tips to hire a great designer:

Seek out a designer who will work with you and listen to your ideas rather than taking over the entire process.
Decide how you want to use the space you are decorating, and share this information with designers up front. This is the most important element designers will need to know in order to come up with ideas that will work for your space.
Talk to several designers, and only hire one that’s easy to get along with and professional. You’ll need to interact with this person regularly, so it’s important that you’re compatible.
Don’t be afraid to tell your designer if you don’t like certain ideas. He or she should accommodate your preferences by making changes when requested.

Contact TAB Associates to learn more about our architecture and interior design services.

Home Renovation Tips By TAB Associates

These tips will help guide you in the right direction for your home's construction. — These tips will help guide you in the right direction for your home’s construction.

Whether you’re making just a couple of changes or entirely gutting your home, remodeling requires a lot of careful planning and decisions. These home renovation tips will help guide you in the right direction.

If you don’t have a lot of experience with a certain aspect of your renovation, such as installing tile or carpeting, hire someone who does. It will cost less to hire someone than it will to make a mistake and have to re-do the entire project.
Ensure that your home, one remodeled, does not stand out from the other homes on the block too much. It’s okay to be a touch unique, but you also don’t want to build a mansion in a neighborhood of cape cods.
Choose elements that are always in style, rather than the trendiest decor. Doing so will ensure your home doesn’t look outdated when you eventually sell it.
Remodel your existing spaces before adding new one, and before finishing unfinished rooms, such as the basement.
Use high-quality materials, or you’ll find that you need to remodel again soon.

Are you looking for an experienced architect to help you re-design your home? Contact TAB Associates to learn about our services.

Cabin Homes Interior Design Ideas

A cabin's well-lived-in appearance encourages you to make use of its interior as you please, whereas its too-perfect counterparts can make you afraid of scratching their finish. — A cabin’s well-lived-in appearance encourages you to make use of its interior as you please, whereas its too-perfect counterparts can make you afraid of scratching their finish.

Made using a combination of stone, wood, and other natural materials, cabins can project a cozy and comfortable atmosphere that is sure to soothe even the most frazzled occupants. With cabins as with other homes, good interior design is essential to ensuring their overall success.

Put these interior design ideas for a cabin style home to good use:

Much of a cabin’s charm lies in its well-lived-in appearance. This encourages you to make use of its interior as you please, whereas its too-perfect counterparts can make you afraid of scratching their finish. Both weathered surfaces and warm stained wood are useful for creating this impression of casual comfort.
Cabins often come with nooks and crannies that can be turned into functional spaces with built-in furniture. Combined with a window to the outside, such locations make excellent work-spaces.
Although wood in its natural colors is useful for creating a warm and welcoming impression, some people like to paint it white for a bright and airy look that is well-suited to crowded spaces.
Hardwood flooring is a must, but rugs can balance them with softness.

Please contact us at The Architectural Balance to learn more about the latest trends in interior design for a cabin like appearance.

2014 Architectural Trends

When designing your new home, it’s important to consider not just classic designs and structures, but also modern trends. Here’s a look at some of the hottest architectural trends for 2014, some of which you may want to incorporate into your design.

designing a flex room — Source: TAB Associates

Flex Rooms – Flex rooms are rooms that can have a number of uses. For instance, you could use a room as a dining room when you have guests over, and a library during other hours of the day. All you need to make it happen is some ornate bookshelves, a beautiful table, and the right layout.

Health-Conscious Materials – Hypoallergenic materials and materials that don’t release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air are becoming increasingly popular. Wood stains, paints, and synthetic materials are being disregarded in favor of natural materials like wood and stone.

Innovative Storage Spaces – From drawers that pull out of the staircase, to cubbies hiding behind bookshelves, architects are creating clever ways to stash your items out of sight.

Are you looking for an experienced architect to help design the home of your dreams? Contact TAB Associates, Inc. to learn more about our services.

Interior Design Trends for 2014

Just like personal style, interior design is always changing. New trends are emerging and allowing homeowners to create looks that are truly their own. Here’s a look at a few design trends for 2014 that you may want to consider incorporating into your home.

2014 interior design tips — Source: TAB Associates

Vintage Decor – Unique, vintage furniture and decorations are more popular than ever. There’s just something special about having a chest or chair that you know no one else has — especially when it matches your decor perfectly.

Plenty of Color – Neutral, beige tones are out — at least when they’re not paired with brighter, flashier colors. Loud tones like bright cobalt blue and yellow are very popular right now.

The Rustic Look – From exposed wooden beams in the ceiling, to bedrooms that feel like they’re in a mountain retreat, the cabin-style, rustic look has gained a lot of footing in 2014.

Spa-Style Bathrooms – From walk-in showers, to ornate tile and heated floors, bathrooms are becoming a true place of luxury. Many are made to resemble mountain resorts with natural stone and wood used throughout the designs.

For help incorporating these home design trends into your building plans, contact TAB Associates, Inc.

Tips for Building a Cabin Home

Whether you plan to use it as a vacation home or as your primary dwelling, a log cabin home can create feelings of comfort and warmth. Use these tips when building a cabin home that’s perfect for your family.

building a log cabin — Source: TAB Associates

Don’t overlook the importance of log selection. All wood is not created equal. The better the logs you use to construct your cabin, the more attractive it will be and the longer it will last.
Remember to account for the settling of the wood when planning keyways, slip joints, and window installations.
Wiring a log home is not exactly like wiring a traditional drywall home. Hire an electrician who has experience working with log cabins for best results.
Get off to the right start with the right buildings plans. Work with an experienced architect to design a custom cabin, or purchase pre-made plans.
Remember that building codes may specific what you can and cannot do with your cabin’s structure. If you work with an architect who has experience building cabins, he or she should be familiar with these restrictions.

Contact the experts at TAB Associates, Inc. if you’re looking for help designing the perfect log cabin home.

How To Build A Fire Pit For Your Yard

On cool fall and spring nights, sitting around a campfire with family and friends is incredibly relaxing. Having a fire pit in your backyard is sure to prove worthwhile, time and time again. Follow these simple tips when building a firepit.

outdoor firepit — Source: TAB Associates

Choose a site that’s located far from buildings and trees. Make sure the ground is level for easy building.
Check your local building codes. Some require that the fire pit is surrounded with sand or gravel.
Design your pit. Traditionally, they are cylindrical, and about 2 feet tall with a 5-foot diameter. However, you can make a bigger or smaller pit depending on your needs.
Dig the ground out and create a concrete foundation for your fire pit. You’ll also need to create a drainage area in the center.
When the foundation is formed and dry, lay the stones. If using natural stones, you may need to chisel them slightly to create attractive shapes. Seal them together with mortar, smooth it out, and seal it. You’re done!

At TAB Associates, our talented architects and designers are always happy to help you design the home of your dreams. Contact us to discuss your building plans today.