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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.

A Look at 2015 Bathroom Design Trends

Here are some of the hottest bathroom trends for 2015.

Are you thinking of remodeling your bathroom? Knowing the latest bathroom design trends will help you choose a layout, fixtures and a color scheme that’s right for you.

Here’s a look at a few of the hottest 2015 bathroom trends:

Walk-in Showers: Forget about one-piece shower and tub units. Spacious, walk-in showers are all the rage. Often constructed with stone surrounds and clear glass doors, they’re both beautiful and relaxing.
Free-standing Tubs: Many homeowners are choosing to go without tubs, but if you do want one, free-standing is the way to go.
Water-conserving Toilets: Green living is very trendy, and so are toilets that use less water per flush. Some even have dual flushing options, so you can use a higher flush volume when needed.
Double-sink Vanities: His and her sinks, mounted into a single vanity, are very popular in master bathrooms. They’re pretty convenient, too.
LED Lighting: Let’s face it — you need to see clearly in the bathroom. LED lighting allows you to do that, while also creating a warm and glowing space.

Contact TAB Associates if you’re looking for an experienced architect to help design the bathroom of your dreams.

How To Upgrade Your Kitchen Without Spending A Lot Of Money

It is possible to upgrade your kitchen without breaking the bank.

Many homeowners shy away from remodeling their kitchen because they assume it’s going to be an expensive project. However, if you make wise choices, this does not have to be true. Stop suffering with an outdated kitchen, and follow these tips for upgrading kitchen on a budget.

Apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls. A bright color can make your kitchen feel more spacious and open. Green and blue are popular kitchen colors right now. Coral and burnt orange are also modern and artistic.
Refinish your cabinets. A fresh stain job will hide scratches and make your cabinet doors look new again.
Replace your cabinet hardware. It’s amazing what a difference this small change can make. Get rid of outdated hardware and choose something simple and sleek to make your kitchen look more modern.
Mount hooks on your wall so that you can hang up your pots and pans. This not only creates more storage space in your cabinets, but also adds a modern, professional look to your room.

If your kitchen is in need of a thorough remodel, contact TAB Associates. We offer expert design services to transform your space.

Check Out These Kitchen Innovations That Will Improve Your New Home

These kitchen innovation tips will ensure that yours keeps working for you, making cooking and sharing meals with family as efficient and enjoyable as ever.

The kitchen is the heart of your home. These kitchen innovation tips will ensure that yours keeps working for you, making cooking and sharing meals with family as efficient and enjoyable as ever.

Instead of letting a bright white or black refrigerator interfere with your decorating scheme, consider choosing one that blends in to your other kitchen decor. Handles that match your cabinet handles, cabinet-like doors, and control panels that disappear are just a few features of today’s best refrigerators.
Lighting is about more than being able to see. Pendant lamps add ambient lighting above a kitchen island, and lights inside your cupboards can make it easier to find what you need late at night.
LCD control screens on ovens, microwaves and refrigerators make it easier than ever to control your appliances. Some even integrate with your smartphone for seamless control.
Upscale appliances, such as steam ovens, built-in fryers and induction cooktops, were once only found in restaurants. Now, you can include them in your home kitchen design.

If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, make sure you work with an experienced architect to design a layout that fits your lifestyle. Contact TAB Associates to learn more about our services.