Inspirations
See our blog for new projects, announcements, and all things TMS Architects.Reinvented and Renovated Space
We recently photographed a beautifully renovated space that was the result of a collaboration between TMS Architcts, Cebula Design and Ragusa Builders. The homeowners had operated a small business out of their home for many years and after their retirement, they decided to convert the shipping/warehouse space into a cozy family room and mudroom with an elegantly detailed connection to the main house. They confess that with the convenient gas fireplace, large screen TV and comfortable seating, most of their leisure time is spent relaxing in this new space! As they say, “pictures speak a thousand words” and Rob Karosis’s photographs of this elegant space certainly capture the beauty of this renovation.
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TMS Wins Best of Houzz 2015
Houzz has become a go-to resource for homeowners, designers, and home improvement professionals. It’s a place for finding design inspiration and opportunities to collaborate. It’s a place for finding the right professionals for a home design or renovation project. It’s a place for designers and home improvement experts to showcase their work. Houzz has rapidly expanded to become one of the world’s leading online platforms for home remodeling and design with a community of over 25 million design enthusiasts, professionals, and homeowners.
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Festive Holiday Decor Ideas for Entryways
Make a good first impression this holiday season by adding festive decor to your entryway. Guests will instantly feel welcomed when greeted by such touches as wreaths, garlands, and luminaries. You’ll also boost your home’s curb appeal in the process.
A festive wreath hung on the front door is always a staple for a well-decorated holiday entryway. Whether you make a wreath yourself or buy a pre-decorated or, even better, a fresh evergreen wreath, you should choose a style that matches well with your home’s exterior as well as other holiday decor outside and inside the home. You can even get creative with how you hang your wreath, opting for a ribbon instead of the traditional door hanger.
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Festive Wood Burning Stove Decoration Ideas for the Holidays
There is nothing more comforting than curling up next to a warm fire on a cold winter’s night. During the holiday season, it is especially important that your home feel warm and comfortable.
A wood-burning stove can really help set a festive mood while also warming your home. What’s more, you can incorporate your wood-burning stove into your holiday decor. Here are some ideas to try this year:
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Elegantly Decorate Your Christmas Tree for the Holidays
As the focal point of your holiday decorations, decorating your Christmas tree is an important task for setting the tone of your home this season. From setting the tree up to stringing lights to adding ornaments and wrapping the bottom with a tree skirt, trimming your tree may be time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be hard. By planning ahead, you can create an elegant Christmas tree that is worthy of any store window.
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Get Decorative with Your Holiday Mantle
Your home’s fireplace is sure to be a popular gathering spot for friends and families this holiday season. A creatively decorated mantle will help set a festive mood and spread cheer throughout the home. Whether your tastes are rustic, traditional, or eclectic, you can personalize your mantle decor to suit any holiday style.
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Give Your Fireplace an Upgrade This Winter
Winter is inevitably on its way which means it will also be the season for gathering around the fireplace to keep warm on cold winter days and nights. Why not consider giving your fireplace an upgrade both to improve its visual appearance and maximize its safety features?
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5 Tips for Transforming a Small Space into a Comfortable Home
Urban sprawl is making way for micro apartments, and eco-friendly homeowners are happy to invest in smaller spaces that reduce waste and costs. The following five strategies can help you harness the minimalist principles of modern home design.
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New 2015 Color Trends for Your Home
The results are in and next year’s color trends have been announced by top designers. From deep, rich colors to whimsical, pastel offerings, there’s sure to be a color scheme that will appeal to your sense of style and taste. Get in on these color trends early and be the first of your friends to embrace the hues of 2015.
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Unexpected and Clever Home Storage Solutions
While most homeowners would happily add more storage space to their home design, finding innovative ways to increase this space is a major problem for historic homeowners.
Older homes don’t have the same storage needs we do in modern times since people didn’t own as many things that needed to be tucked away out of sight. Since many older homes have clearly defined rooms rather than open concept designs, insufficient storage can make your rooms seem untidy or overly busy. TMS Architects has found some unexpected and clever home solutions that can improve storage space.
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Bringing a Stylish and Functional Library in Your Home
When you have old leather bound tomes from grandparents, stacks of stories from those years when toddlers still scurried around the home, and dusty hardcovers that you just can’t let go of, there are few household features to store books like a library. If it seems like you have too many books and nowhere to put them, constructing a library might be your best option; however, some advance planning is required before diving into this endeavor.
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Outdoor Fireplace Ideas That Will Heat Up Any Gathering
An outdoor fireplace can enhance a variety of spaces outdoors and heat up any gathering. From ornate to simplistic in design, the choices are virtually endless. Working with an architect to develop your design is very helpful as there are many considerations to make when adding a fireplace to your landscape.
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Sustainable Architecture: Integrating Bamboo Into a Home
Bamboo is making a greater appearance in modern home design as conscientious owners and sustainable architects are learning more about this material’s great sustainability factors.
As the fastest growing wood producing plant in the world, bamboo is tougher than steel when it comes to tensile and compression strength. It’s also harder than red oak and maple, and isn’t as susceptible to warping from temperature or humidity as conventional wood products. Add to these factors rapid growth, improved air quality and breathtaking beauty, bamboo is truly a favorite material in sustainable architecture.
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It’s All in the Details in a Modern Bathroom
If you’re upgrading an historic home or searching for new home design ideas for a future project, there are plenty of themes and styles to help guide your way during the process, especially when it comes to the bathroom. Whether you’re upgrading to increase your home’s value or to create a spa-like retreat for your own enjoyment, a successful project is all in the details. Many people overlook easy-to-miss details that can make a big impression on guests and homeowners alike.
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Modern Designs That will Help an Old Fireplace Standout Again
Has the fireplace in your home seen better days? Do you have a historic home that needs a pop of new life as the weather cools off? If you’re still staring at that old, plain fireplace with a grimace, you can get an architect to give it a face-lift. But until you find the right architect to work with, view a few of these fireplace designs for a bit of inspiration.
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Illuminate Dark Corners with Contemporary Hall Lighting
Hallways are often overlooked when designing and creating focal points in a home. Whether your hallway leads to a living or private quarters, there’s ample opportunity to turn this space into one that enhances your home’s aesthetic and expresses your sense of style.
One of the most important facets of designing a hallway is the lighting. Not only is adequate ambient lighting needed for safe passage, but it’s also a great way to showcase important design elements as well.
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Warm-Up a Home with a New Fire Pit
Are you looking to customize your home? Do you want to bring character to an open, spacious backyard? When flower gardens and pools just aren’t cutting it anymore, and you want something that draws people toward your home, like a moth to a flame, you should consider installing a fire pit.
Why are they so popular? Unlike other household amenities, fire pits can be used throughout the year. During the winter they can be used as a source of heat, and in the summer, they can serve as the perfect hangout for cocktails and entertaining. All you have to consider is how it’ll fit in your home design plans.
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Enhance a Historic Home with Garden Lighting
When you have great focal points in your landscape, garden lighting will help draw the eye and showcase these features. Your home’s first impression is reliant on its curb appeal, which includes a beautifully landscaped yard, a well-kept exterior and attractive lighting to enhance an historic or modern home. Not only will you impress your guests with stunning lighting, you’ll also increase your home’s resale value.
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Utilize the Energy Star Light Bulb Guide When Seeking New Lighting
An important facet of sustainable architecture is to reduce energy consumption and your carbon footprint. Although it may seem insignificant, something as simple as replacing ordinary incandescent bulbs in your home with Energy Star-rated products can add up to substantial savings on both your energy bills and your home’s carbon footprint.
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Adding an Addition to Your Historic Home
Historic preservation is an aspect of Americana that can be seen in New England and communities both small and large. And, this is one of the driving factors that keep some homeowners in their historic home from one generation to the next, leading some to add an addition. But with tight regulations that ensure the integrity of original structures, this is not a project homeowners should take on without the advice and design skills of an experienced architect.
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