Sliding barn doors allow you to save a lot of space. While traditional doors can take up to 9 square feet of space due to their swinging action, sliding barn doors only take up a few inches. They work well in large rooms where you want to preserve the spacious look. One disadvantage is that they are not as soundproof as traditional doors because they don’t close as tightly, so you’ll want to avoid using them in places where silence is valued.

Sliding barn doors pair well with a rustic home. They can be painted any color you please. Some have vertical panels that look very much like real barn doors, while others are more plain and elegant for your modern home.

Are you looking for qualified architects to help design your home? Contact TAB Associates, Inc. to learn more about our services.

• The Speculative Residence- Set in the mountains, this home is situated to take full advantage of the view. Going beyond the simple cabin style home, this reaches 5000 square feet.
• TS Lot 42- taking some concepts of a more traditional mountain chalet home and expanding them, these townhomes are made from natural material to help them fit into their rustic environment.

Don’t be afraid to build out with your mountain chalet home, and include some more modern ideas like full glass walls. For more design ideas, follow our posts on Facebook.

To learn about the architectural and design services we offer at TAB Associates, contact us with inquiries.

• Greater attention from the public regarding large-scale construction projects- Members of the public are increasingly likely to take an active role in managing and deciding on large scale building projects that have a strong impact on the urban landscape and local economy.

• Off-the-grid on the urban scene– Although going “off-the-grid” used to be associated with living out of town, even urban dwellers are attempting to avoid a dependence on the grid for power.

• De-emphasizing vehicle traffic– Across the country, more and more commuters try to get where they need to be via public transport.

• Affordable low-rise and mid-rise housing– Instead of towering high-rise residential structures, urban dwellers increasingly prefer approachable, low/mid-rise housing.

For more industry news, check out our Facebook page. Contact us to learn about TAB Associates services.

A home that we designed in Avon, Colorado offers a beautiful view of Beaver Creek and Game Creek. Set in the mountains, its master bedroom faces the Gorge Range for a spectacular view.

This duplex in Wildridge offers a design that showcases the elevation. The duplex is built in contour with the slope of the land, and large windows make it easy to look out into the mountains.

This home in Red Sky Ranch is another one of our masterpieces, offering beautiful views of the Gore Mountain Range from the dining room and living room. The design of the living space perfectly frames the mountain views as the deck reaches out into the landscape seamlessly bringing the outside in.

Contact TAB Associates to discuss your custom home design, including a the importance of a view, with our qualified architects.  We study your site with the views in the forefront of importance.  We use a topographical program to verify views surveyed on site and study them in both plan and section.  In this way, the windows of the home frame the views and do not cut off the tops of the mountains from anywhere in the home.

For more information on the art and science of capturing dynamite views, click here.

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.

TAB Associates has its finger on the pulse of mountain home trends. People are increasingly dissatisfied with the classic and claustrophobic ‘boxy room’ set up, and are looking for more creative, open spaces to utilize throughout the house.

One of the advantages of building a custom home in Colorado is that there is gorgeous scenery and abundant sunshine year round. This makes for open floor plans, which are already trending, more sensible for the Colorado home. One way to keep this space open is by combining a ‘total living area’ — an open floor plan that utilizes dining and living in one, then opens up to the kitchen.

The kitchen is the “heart” of the home. Big windows and other pieces finish off the design perfectly, allowing a great deal of light in, as well as the feel of ‘being in nature.’  We provide the windows and God provides the ‘art’.

When it comes to knowing mountain home trends, and how to customize a home to keep clients happy, TAB Associates has the experience and expertise to create a home that’s not only trendy but long-lasting and beautiful.

We had a chance to interview Tab Bonidy, owner of the Colorado architecture firm, TAB Associates, Inc. and ask him a few questions about his history with architecture and where he thinks the future of the industry is heading. Take a look:

What made you want to become an architect?
I wanted to become an architect since I was 10 years old.  I had a private art teacher when I was ten and I designed a home.  Ever since then, that is all I wanted to do.

What goes on a day-to-day basis in an architect’s life?
Working on projects is the day to day business.  Also, trying to find more work these days is quite important.

What is your favorite aspect about being an architect? 
The creative side of solving a client’s desires is my favorite aspect of being an architect.  So I would say it is Conceptual Design which is the beginning of a project, although I very much enjoy detailing a project which comes towards the end.

What is your favorite structure/building/piece of architecture and why?
I guess I would say log homes because of their difficulty, but really anything complex, even like a complex steel structure is fun to design.

What is your most memorable piece of architecture that you have personally worked on? 
I would have to say either the Cook Residence, the Catlin Residence or the Thomas Residence.  They were all challenging sites which is where our job starts and they were all great clients to work for and with together.

What’s your favorite thing about being a business owner?
I would have to say that getting to do things my way.  Also, providing a great place to work is very important.

What makes TAB Associates successful?
I believe it is because we really listen to our clients desires.  We put our ego aside and design for our clients.  We start with a good program and design the concept on the site with all of its amenities right in front of us.  We make the process fun for our clients and they are a part of every step of the way.  In this way, they know exactly why things are the way they turn out because they are an integral part of the process.

Where do you see the architecture industry heading in the next 5 years?
I can only hope it will get more busy, but that will take a major change in Washington DC.  We need to restore our Country back to being a prosperous nation.  This will take some deregulation and us becoming energy independent.

Source: Tab Associates

Incorporating mountain home trends involves the use of natural wood and stone. Both materials are available in a wide range of styles, textures and colors and add the perfect touch in creating an atmosphere to reflect a client’s individual taste and vision for a mountain home.

Exterior: Natural materials make up the list of options for exteriors and include wood, stone, concrete, stucco, metal panels, timber and recycled wood. A modern upgrade is the use of glass sliding doors versus the traditional rustic style wood doors. Another option that focuses on melding the indoors with the outdoors is creating a design with more glass areas throughout the home.

Interior: Wood and stone are equally important in the interior where colors, hues and textures are blended using a variety of materials. From antique wood, quarried stone or polished concrete for floors to concrete slab kitchen countertops and hand textured walls, the possibilities in design are nearly endless. The combination of the outside materials incorporated into the interior design orchestrates a smooth and natural blending of the two.

As an authority on custom mountain and log home design, TAB Associates, Inc. can turn your vision into reality. For more information about our services, please call (970) 766-1470.

By using a single space for multiple purposes, flex space emphasizes quality of space over quantity of space. There are almost limitless examples of flex space. From the home office that doubles as a guest room to a living-dining area, flex space can open a house and give plenty of breathing room without being a sprawling waste of under-utilized space.

With drop down screens and a projector, as well as the help of an automated window covering, a family room is instantly transformed into a media room.  This is another great example of flex space.

To get the most out of flex space, it’s vital for thorough planning during the design process, with architects working with clients to determine their lifestyle needs, listen closely, and design accordingly.

At TAB Associates, our philosophy is to keep those mountain home trends in mind, but to work with our clients to fulfill their every need. If you’d like to learn more about how our philosophy can work for you, please take a moment to contact us.