Blog
See our blog for new projects, announcements, and all things TMS Architects.
History Lessons in Color & Home Design
Historic architecture is an incredible source of inspiration for the design/build industry. By paying attention to woodwork, details and color choices, we often learn lessons that help us through the modern renovation process. This is especially true for people who own a historic home or building and are planning a renovation or preservation project.
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Colors for Kids’ Rooms
When it comes to choosing colors for kids’ rooms, the sky is the limit. Pink for girls and blue for boys are great traditional options, while gender neutral green and yellow can also be playful and fun. There are many options in between as well, not to mention exciting color combinations to create a whole new look.
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Of Books and Buildings
TMS Architects is delighted to welcome J. Dennis Robinson back as a guest blogger after a hiatus in which he was toiling away on his new book, Mystery on the Isles of Shoals. The link he draws between architects and writers is very apt and we wish him well with his latest project!
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Express Your Personality with a Colorful Door
Updating your home to enhance its curb appeal can be as simple as introducing a new color of paint. If you really want to give your home a boost, as well as a touch of character, a colorful door might just do the trick! The trend right now is to paint your doors a bold shade that makes them stand out from the rest of the house. Even your home’s interior architecture can be highlighted with a colorful door. A new hue can help express your personality both in and outside of your home.
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Take a Look at Pantone’s 2015 Color Palettes
If you’re thinking about painting your home, or want to accent a specific architectural feature, you’ve probably started thinking about the colors you might like to use. However, color selection is more complicated than just picking one hue. You should choose colors that complement each other harmoniously or create an interesting contrast, depending on your style and preference.
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The Art of a Remodel
The title refers to an article on a TMS Architects project that appears in Coastal Home Magazine’s Spring 2014 issue. The piece, written by Allison Knab with photographs by Rob Karosis, chronicles an extensive renovation undertaken by Exeter, New Hampshire homeowners. A talented team was organized for the renovation with the architectural design provided by TMS principal architect William Soupcoff, AIA and the project managed by TMS’s Tim Giguere, AIA, project architect. K & S Contracting handled the construction end of the renovation and Cebula Design provided interior design input.
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Cozy Courtyard Gardens
The natural beauty, intimate coziness and peaceful charm of a courtyard garden makes it unlike any other space on your property. In addition to the privacy and serenity courtyards offer, they are also functionally versatile — the perfect place for entertaining, eating, reading, working, napping and more.
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Mark Your Calendars for The Music Hall’s 23rd Annual Kitchen Tour
TMS Architects has enjoyed working with the Portsmouth Music Hall Theatre over the years, having partnered with a team of builders, construction companies and engineers to complete a historic renovation of the theater in 2006 and 2007. So, we’re excited to be lending our support to the theater once again this year by sponsoring the upcoming Music Hall Kitchen Tour.
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A Look into The Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden
We’re fortunate to have a number of gorgeous gardens near the Portsmouth area that can help inspire thoughts for your own garden. Among them is the Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden, a National Historic Landmark that’s not too far from TMS Architects’ office!
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Stone Accents for Your Garden Spaces
Stone accents provide a myriad of benefits for garden rooms and landscape designs. In addition to connecting your home to its natural surroundings, stone materials add texture, color and visual interest. They’re also incredibly durable, so you benefit from both a low-maintenance landscape and hardscape features.
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Give Definition to Your Outdoor Space with Garden Room Walls
Gardens take on an entirely new dimension when borders are defined. Take a landscaped area of your property from an open space to an enclosed one, and you’ve created a secret garden room that’s private, comfortable and perfect for solo relaxation or intimate conversations.
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A New Hampshire Coastal Renovation Underway!
Under the watchful design guidance of TMS principal architect, Robert Carty, AIA, and Chris Ragusa of CM Ragusa Builders, a wonderful renovation is under construction near the ocean on New Hampshire’s coastline. The homeowners live in the Midwest, using this home as their beach vacation house and wanted to expand the family living area to make it more open for entertaining and large family gatherings.
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Styles of Gardens
As with residential and commercial architecture, beautiful landscape architecture is achieved through the successful application of specific design principles, features and details. The styles, in fact, are almost exactly akin. Just like designing a building, designing a garden or an entire property gives you an opportunity to exhibit a particular style that expresses your taste and personality.
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The ASLA’s Outdoor Design Trends of 2014
Whether you’re redesigning your outdoor living space and garden room to go along with your home renovation or are planning for a brand new home, there are a lot of places to look to for design inspiration, which can make the decision making process all the more difficult. However, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) helps make the process a bit easier thanks to its annual Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey.
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Flooring Ideas for Your Garden Room
Today’s garden rooms bring all the comforts of your home outdoors. You’ll find plush couches mingling with stylish area rugs, outdoor fireplaces, personalized decor, trendy color schemes and more. Recently, we even discussed choosing a ceiling for your garden room.
On that same note, flooring is another choice you may not have considered for your garden room, but it’s one that can really make an impact on the look and feel of your space. Flagstone, brick, tile, gravel and even grass are some examples of garden room flooring options. Each one can be used to add color, dimension and texture to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your space, while also serving a functional purpose.
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From Canopies to Tree Cover, Garden Rooms Have Ceilings, too!
Ceilings are often referred to by interior designers as the fifth wall. Homeowners often neglect this space, but ceilings are another blank canvas with tremendous design potential. Ceiling treatments can help solve design problems, such as making a room feel bigger or cozier.
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Decorative Elements Add the Finishing Touch to Garden Rooms
When you’re renovating a home or starting a new build, decorative elements like paintings or a luxurious light fixture often put the finishing touch on the room. The same can be said when it comes to your outdoor living spaces. Deciding on the plants and layout is only half the fun when designing your garden! Selecting decorative elements to place among your landscape is a great way to add year-round contrast and color to the panorama, and it displays the harmonious relationship that can exist between organic and man-made elements.
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Explore the Historic Gardens at Strawbery Banke Museum
The warmer weather is calling you outdoors this spring, so why not visit a charming local garden for some inspiration for your own backyard? Set in an original waterfront neighborhood, the historic gardens at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, are a destination you should add to your list this year.
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Arbors, Gazebos & Pergolas Add Architectural Interest to Garden Rooms
With warm weather on the horizon, many homeowners are looking forward to spending time outdoors after a long winter here in New England. Just as we refresh our homes with new décor each season, the same can be done in our garden rooms as well. In addition to incorporating a variety of flowers and plants, you can also enhance your space and add architectural interest with structures like arbors, gazebos and pergolas. Including all of these elements will make your garden feel more like a room, even in a vast, open landscape.
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Garden Rooms Made for Fun
While some homeowners want their gardens and landscaped areas to be a place for relaxation, others see them as spaces to entertain and enjoy time with family and friends. That’s the idea behind garden game rooms. Whether it’s bocce ball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, corn hole, badminton, etc., lawn games are what make group gatherings more fun, especially with the milder temperatures we usually experience here in New England during the spring and summer. If engaging in some friendly competition is part of your family’s tradition during holidays or a favorite way to entertain, you’ll certainly see the value of incorporating some space for games into your garden rooms. Below are a handful of inspiring ideas.
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