TMS Architects Portsmouth NH
See our blog for new projects, announcements, and all things TMS Architects.New Life for an Old Barn!
TMS Architects recently had the opportunity to work again with Rob Karosis to photograph an unusual architectural project that Shannon Alther, TMS principal, worked on recently. The homeowners of this beautiful home and barn had lived in the area for years and were thinking seriously about downsizing…apparently all they really needed in a new locale was access to the internet and an airport. However, the more they thought about leaving the area, the pull of family and grandchildren was hard to ignore so they came up with an ingenious solution in lieu of leaving the family home.
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Working with an Architect: Choosing a Floor Plan
Just because you’ve decided to build a two-story Cape Cod home doesn’t mean it’s all settled when imagery of your future home surfaces in daydreams. If you’re working with an architect, he’s going to need a bit more tangible information before construction can begin!
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Flex Rooms: Maximizing Space in Any Home
TMS architects is always keeping track of the most popular home design trends, from building materials to market trends. And today, we will be taking a closer look at flex rooms in houses and lofts, which are becoming particularly attractive to homeowners and potential buyers.
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Buzzing in Durham
Durham, NH, home of UNH, is a hotbed of construction activity these days as multiple projects are underway to provide housing and retail space for university students. A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for Madbury Commons, a TMS-designed project that, when completed by the fall of 2015, will provide students with 126 residential apartments and commercial space on the ground floor of both buildings.
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Finding an Architect for Your Project
Hiring an architect is the highest level of service you can receive for a residential construction project. And, working with an architect is the best solution for the busy homeowner who doesn’t have the time to oversee a full-scale project day-in and day-out.
Just like you wouldn’t trust just anyone with your car, you should never hire a residential architect you aren’t 100 percent confident will meet and exceed your needs and expectations. After all, it’s your home; it’s your most valuable asset! Whether it’s a small-scale remodel or a whole-home renovation, there are several factors to consider before bringing an architect into the picture.
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A New TMS Home – “Oceanfront Outlook”
Rob Karosis of Rob Karosis Photography recently photographed this TMS-designed home with interiors created by Cebula Design and landscaping by Woodburn and Company. The location near the ocean is stunning and the interiors utilize a design palette that compliments its oceanfront location. Samia Touma, TMS project manager, explained that “this very inspiring site presented a number of challenges, including the clients’ wish to save some existing mature trees while the elongated shape of the site made siting the residence a difficult task. Incorporating a generous program on the narrow site was a challenge. The screen porch and attached garage had to be relocated several times to achieve the final layout due to programmatic and site constraints.”
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Container Water Features: A Defining Feature That Saves Space
Incorporating water features is a great way to add a zen-like quality to your outdoor space. While they can require significant maintenance, container water features can define your yard without consuming vital space, all while providing the natural, soothing effects of water.
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Back to Basics: Applying Common Sense in Sustainable Architecture
Not very long ago, the term sustainable architecture would have been redundant. Architecture was, by its very nature, sustainable. Humans either inhabited structures that already existed or built just enough shelter to protect their families from the elements.
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A Boy’s Dollhouse Memories
Having just moved a large pink dollhouse, made for my daughter by her grandfather, J. Dennis Robinson’s recent post for TMS Architects was very poignant. The pink dollhouse has seen better days and needs some refurbishing but it was a labor of love and evokes so many good memories. Dennis Robinson is absolutely right….architecture can be found in a pink dollhouse, a model of Portsmouth’s South Church, a hand-made wooden fire station, a home or skyscraper…all were designed, built and are repositories of very powerful memories.
Dollhouses are not just for girls. My grandfather made one for me when I was a boy. It was a realistic, hand-made, wooden fire station almost three feet tall. It had a tower and two arched openings for my fire trucks. Grandpa Jake painted every red brick on the firehouse and installed every tiny shingle on the steep sloping roof. The model is still up in the attic of my parent’s home.
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What to Know Before Bringing Water Features into Your Landscape
Whether it’s a trickling fountain or a gently flowing stream, a water feature can add graceful movement, soothing sounds and therapeutic beauty to landscape designs. It can turn an outdoor space into a calming oasis or a work of art in nature to create the perfect scene for dining and entertaining.
This water feature constructed with concrete and stone, complemented with colorful Koi and pond fish, makes this back patio and outdoor living space a dreamy escape.
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A TMS Beachfront Remodel Finishing in Time for Summer!
Cristina Marias, TMS Architect’s interior designer, took these progress photographs recently of a TMS home in the final stages of construction before the homeowners move in for the summer. Built by CM Ragusa Builders, it is a lovely renovation with gorgeous ocean views from the upper floor and on a beautiful summer day, it was a perfect spot to visit. We will be professionally photographing this residence very shortly but wanted to share some “teaser” pictures with you.
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Exciting Progress on New TMS-Designed Residence
TMS Architects’ project manager, Justin Knowlton, came back from a sit visit recently with new photographs of a TMS-designed home on the New Hampshire Seacoast. Located on a wooded site with water and march views, the home’s progress can be seen in the following pictures. Justin explained that because so much mahogany was used on the interior millwork, it was decided to purchase an entire tree and mill it in New Hampshire to insure that the colors and grain of the wood would match!
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Is This Obelisk Architecture?
J. Dennis Robinson, historian and TMS Architects’ guest blogger, brings us an interesting piece today about Edward Tuck, founder of the first graduate school of business at Dartmouth, and leaves us with an interesting question to ponder…is an obelisk architecture? Read on and let us know what you think!
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TMS Designs New Clubhouse in Hamden, MA
A new 25,000 square foot, TMS Architects designed, clubhouse is currently under construction at the Hampden Country Club in Hampden, Massachusetts. The clubhouse is a synthesis of rustic styles such as western arts and crafts, timber frame and New England farmhouse. Situated on a large hillside, generous windows provide unobstructed views overlooking the Berkshire Mountains and the professionally designed golf course by renowned course designer, Brian Silva.
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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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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 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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What Are They Doing?
Several interesting structures have been taking shape in a parking lot directly outside TMS Architects’ offices and finally an article in The Portsmouth Herald revealed what’s going on out there ! The parking lot is apparently connected to Port City Makerspace which defines itself as ” a co-op shop for Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We are a community based shop that provides tools and workspace to members for a low monthly fee…the space we provide is the ultimate playground for those who tinker, design, build, fabricate, prototype, make and machine”
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A Transformation in Progress!
TMS Architects’s intrepid project manager, Justin Knowlton, paid a site visit yesterday to a renovation he is supervising currently under construction on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. Designed by TMS principal, William Soupcoff, these photos speak volumes about the transformational possibilities inherent in an architecturally-designed renovation.
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