TMS Architects Portsmouth NH
See our blog for new projects, announcements, and all things TMS Architects.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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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?
Read More
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.
Read More
TD Garden Unveils ProShop Upgrade!
Congratulations to TD Garden and Bruin and Celtic team executives as they cut the ribbon on the next phase of their planned $70 million renovation of the 20 year old arena. This phase involved a $4.5 million upgrade and TMS Architects, along with Cambridge 7, was delighted to be a member of the design team that created this dynamic new space.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
Historic Preservation: Utilizing Sensitive Additions
Historic preservation in New England is tantamount to most owners of the gems of yesteryear. While older construction is generally far superior to the fast-paced construction of today, modern living makes it necessary to increase your living space while maintaining the integrity of your home’s history. Enter the practice of utilizing sensitive additions.
Read More
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.
Read More
A Preview of Oppportunity Works New Building!
The mission of this extraordinary organization, Opportunity Works, is “Empowering people with disabilities to experience the freedom to live, work and enjoy a valued role in society and TMS Architects is proud of the role we have played in their new building under construction in Haverhill, MA.
Opportunity Works is a private, not-for-profit corporation serving more than 216 men and women, ranging in age from 22 years to 75 years, who come from eighteen Merrimack Valley and North Shore communities in Massachusetts. The agency operates with a staff who bring a broad range of experience in working with people with disabilities. OW is headquartered in Newburyport and currently leases a satellite facility in Haverhill , MA. However, this facility does not meet the specific requirements of the Opportunity Works community and it was decided to design and construct a custom facility in Haverhill to meet their needs.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
“Field of Dreams”
We just finished photographing this beautiful TMS-designed home and wanted to share some of the photos with you. This was a dream house for the homeowners, idyllically sited in a beautiful New England meadow. The exterior massing of the house respects the style of the surrounding neighborhood as well as grounding the home to the site more naturally. Large overhangs, material choices and low slung rooms help create horizontal datum bans that connect the massing of the home attractively to the site, overlooking the meadow as it rolls towards the rear of the house.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
Sustainable Architecture 101: The Utility of Salvaged Wood
An important facet of sustainable architecture includes using building materials that are not harmful to the environment, as well as reusing materials whenever possible. Salvaged wood can be upcycled and used in many applications that meet both of those criteria. Considering the beauty, uniqueness and historical quality of reclaimed wood, you should not overlook its usefulness.
Read More
The Miracle of Changing Rooms
TMS Architect’s guest historian, J. Dennis Robinson, provides us with an interesting post on moving things around and how a change in space or time can really alter your perspective! As he says, “the more things change, the more they stay the same…”
“I used to row an Alden Ocean Shell. I put the fiberglass boat on the top of my old Toyota Tercell and hauled it from one access point on the Piscataqua River to the next. Once, long ago, I put the boat in the back yard to store it for the winter — and it sits there still.
Read More