architects in Portsmouth NH
See our blog for new projects, announcements, and all things TMS Architects.Harness the Power of Passive Energy in Home Design
Passive home designs work with the environment rather than against it. By taking advantage of location, orientation, and local climate, a passive home is designed to maintain comfortable temperatures while reducing energy consumption.
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Sustainability Spotlight: Constructing Silo & Shipping Container Homes
As the green building industry continues to expand, builders and architects are only getting more creative with sustainable home designs. We’re particularly inspired by the concept of re-purposing structures such as silos and shipping containers into beautiful and efficient eco-friendly homes. These designs take upcycling to the next level.
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Building with Reclaimed Brick & Green Advantages
Sustainable building materials can be just as beautiful and functional as they are eco-friendly. As more and more homeowners and builders go green, brick masonry construction is becoming an important player in green building and sustainable home design. This is because bricks are inherently green and result in gorgeous structures that last for generations to come.
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Cedar Siding Shingles Provide a Rustic, Country Look
The photo we pinned of the exterior of our project called the New Hampshire Hilltop Home has been pinned to multiple Pinterest boards. The well-liked pin has us pondering wooden shingles, and the way they exude both a historical and modern look.
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Utilize Rainwater Harvesting for Sustainable Living
Saving water (and money) is easy with a residential rainwater harvesting system. Rainwater is great for watering all gardens and plants, including edible ones. The two most common home rainwater harvesting systems are rain barrels and cisterns. Rain barrels are easy to install and use and do not require any type of permit. Large cistern systems that hold more than 100 gallons and involve pumps will warrant the help of a professional to obtain the proper permits.
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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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Visit The Music Hall This December for the Holidays
Several years ago we worked on the historic renovation of The Music Hall theater in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The renovations breathed new life into the architectural gem, which remains a fixture of the local arts scene and community. If you haven’t visited since the renovation, the holiday season is a great time to have a look while enjoying a play, concert, or other event at the theater this December.
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Visit the Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Bank Museum
One of the specialties of our architecture firm is historic preservation, so we have an interest in historical activities and events in our community. From historic homes and building projects to the sense of nostalgia we feel as a result of fond memories, history plays an important role in everyday life. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to look back on history and celebrate days of old.
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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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What You Need to Know about Restoring a Victorian Home
Restoring a Victorian home can be a seemingly endless undertaking, both physically and financially. However, once your project is complete, you’ll not only have a beautiful home, but you’ll also have contributed to a historic preservation project in New England. While it’s best to hire a licensed architect to help plan your restoration, there are some tips you can follow if you prefer to do the work yourself.
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Sustainable Architecture: Facing Carbon Head-On in the Future
The concept of sustainability dates back to the 1970s when the energy crisis, uncontrolled pollution and environmentally damaging materials made the world realize we couldn’t depend on fossil fuels forever. Fortunately, new studies have unveiled the benefits of renewable resources, recycling existing materials and adopting sustainable practices to help turn things around, and in industries such as organic architecture, professionals of all stripes are trying to do their part to better the world.
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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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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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What You Need to Know About Hardscaping
Hardscaping is an excellent addition to any home or commercial property in need of an uplift or boost in value. There are many considerations when developing a plan for your project, and working with an architect is a great way to ensure your money is well spent and that your project will not cause damage to your home’s existing facade.
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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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