Eagle Valley High School

Over the past year, one of the projects I have been working on has been the Construction Administration for the Addition and Renovation of the Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum Colorado. While the school was never closed due to construction, we are in the middle of the final summer push before school resumes for the 2018-2019 school year!

The school went through the demolition of an older section to make room for a new two story science wing and an adjacent courtyard.

The Autoshop class was relocated offsite and the Autoshop building was removed to make room for the additional parking needed for a larger student population.

There is an entirely new building which has a little bit of everything, from a lecture hall to culinary classrooms to a CNA training room. The school is collaborating with the local community college, Colorado Mountain College, for some of these classes.

This is all in addition to extensive renovations to the locker rooms, office administration, and the library.

For me there is a great sense of accomplishment when collaborating with the local schools as you are helping to shape the learning environments of the future generations and perhaps working where my kids will someday attend!

-Warner Hopkins

Add Rustic Touches to Your Kitchen

A kitchen should feel warm and welcoming. A few rustic touches can go a long way towards ensuring your kitchen has a welcoming appeal. Consider these simple rustic touches for your kitchen design:

  • Include an open-air set of hooks in your kitchen design, and use it to hang your pots and pans. Copper pans, especially, have a very rustic appeal.
  • A fireplace adds instant warmth, both literally and figuratively, to your kitchen. You can even use it for roasting marshmallows on cool winter nights.
  • You can add rustic appeal to almost any set of cabinets by choosing antique brass hardware. Choose matching antique brass water faucets and light fixtures to create a unified look.
  • Stone is a natural material that adds rustic appeal when used to make a fireplace, an archway, or even a heat-resistant wall behind your range.
  • Add a vintage accessory here and there to carry the rustic appeal through the room. Old tins, older wall hangings, and other items from a local antique store are perfect choices.

Are you looking for a reliable architecture firm in Colorado to help create your perfect kitchen design? Contact TAB Associates to learn more about our services.

For More information, check out this article:

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.
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.

Top Reasons to Hire An Architect For Your Next Project

Since a home is more than the sum of its parts, an architect is needed to make sure that structural choices will not cause harm elsewhere in the home.
Since a home is more than the sum of its parts, an architect is needed to make sure that structural choices will not cause harm elsewhere in the home.

Construction is a complicated and time-consuming endeavor, meaning that both skill and experience are needed to keep mistakes to a minimum. Since even small mistakes in either building or renovating a home can result in significant expenses, the services of an architect are more necessities than luxuries.

Consider these reasons to hire an architect:

  • Architects possess a more comprehensive set of skills than designers. This makes them particularly well-suited to both more unusual and more challenging tasks.
  • A home is more than the sum of its parts. This is problematic because a change in one part can cause further changes in other parts of the home. An architect is needed to make sure that structural choices will not cause harm elsewhere in the home.
  • The neglect of even seemingly unimportant details can lead to serious problems down the road. Hire an architect if you want attention to the details.
  • Over time, architects accrue both connections and experience working with other experts in the construction industry. These connections ensure that the construction process will flow that much more smoothly for their clients.

To learn more about finding the best Vail Valley architect for your dream home, please contact The Architectural Balance.

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.

Add A Touch of Elegance to Your Home With Wooden Ceilings

Much of wood's appeal lies in the rich colors and patterns laid out upon their surfaces, which makes the building material beautiful but not ostentatious.
Much of wood’s appeal lies in the rich colors and patterns laid out upon their surfaces, which makes the building material beautiful but not ostentatious.

In this as in other matters, you can choose out of a number of building materials when it comes to the ceiling of your home. However, if you are interested in something that is both beautiful and elegant without being impractical, there are few choices as good as wooden ceilings.

  • Much of wood’s appeal lies in the rich colors and patterns laid out upon their surfaces, which makes the building material beautiful but not ostentatious. At the same time, wood lends warmth to the room, which is perfect if you are searching for something to sooth the senses.
  • Of course, it is also important to mention that wood is versatile, meaning that not all wooden ceilings have to consist of planks lined up in a row. For example, if you are interested in something more luxurious, then you may be interested in a wooden ceiling with carved details. Alternatively, if you use reclaimed wood, their weathered surfaces can contribute to the creation of a cozier and more comfortable atmosphere.
  • When it comes to wooden ceilings, the possibilities are truly limitless.  Realize that a wooden ceiling will psychologically lower the ceiling height due to its darker than most drywall color and make the room feel more intimate.

To learn more about the benefits of wooden ceilings in custom home design, please contact us at The Architectural Balance.

Advice On Hiring an Architect to Make Your Dream Home Come True

If you are thinking of remodeling your home, there’s one step you simply cannot skip — hiring an architect. Those who hire architects to design their homes or help design their remodels are consistently pleased with their results. Here’s why:

architects in vail CO
Source: TAB Associates
  • Someone will need to coordinate the various construction professionals who come together to work on your home. Who better than an architect, who thoroughly understands the ins and outs of your home design?
  • There’s a lot of paperwork  associated with building or remodeling a home. Satisfying building codes and meeting structural demands are not tasks to be undertaken by a novice. Your architect can ensure that these needs are met, and that the resulting structure is also attractive.
  • Architects are trained to see the big picture. You might think that brass doorknobs look good with anything, but your architect will be able to point out potential flaws in ideas like this before you waste your money on designs that don’t turn out to be as amazing as you’d hoped.

Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling and existing one, the architects at TAB Associates would love to help. Contact us to discuss your needs today.

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.

Plans to Build Your Own Home? Follow These Tips to Get Started

If you want to live in a home that fits your dreams and expectations in every way, then building your own home is a great choice. However, the process can be difficult if you don’t approach it in the right way. Follow these tips to build your own home successfully.

3D home rendering
Source: TAB Associates
  • Pick the right land. Consider the school district, access to public spaces, the community, neighbors… anything you’d consider if moving into an existing home. You’ll also need to look at grading and topology to make sure it will work with the style of home you wish to build.
  • Hire an excellent builder. Get plenty of references, and get a few estimates before choosing someone. You need a builder who is easy to work with, and who is clear about what’s included in their services and what is not. Make sure your builder is licensed.
  • Have your plans drawn up by an architect. Even if you choose stock plans rather than custom plans, you’ll know that everything is properly laid out. Choose an architect with plenty of experience designing residential structures.

To discuss your custom home plans and start building your dream home, contact the architects at TAB Associates, Inc.