Archives
See our blog for new projects, announcements, and all things TMS Architects.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.
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Upgrading a Historic Home with Energy-Efficient Lighting
In an era where energy-efficiency is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, when it comes to lighting a home effectively, modernizing the lighting in an historic preservation can be a challenge for both the homeowner and the architect. In order to protect the integrity of historic preservation in New England, finding a balance between the natural daylight and historic light fixtures with modern upgrades is essential.
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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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Lighting Vaulted and Cathedral Ceilings in a Modern Home
Vaulted and cathedral ceilings present unique challenges in terms of lighting a modern or historic home, especially when task lighting is required. With the wrong lighting your beautiful open spaces can become a dark and glum eye-sore, rather than bright, fun areas to host gatherings among family, friends and colleagues. Read on for some lighting ideas, whether you’re ceiling is vaulted or cathedral.
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Even the ‘Money Pit’ House can be Restored with the Right Architect
In 1986, Tom Hanks and Shelley Long had audiences in stitches in The Money Pit, a film about a dream house that becomes a renovation nightmare. That story, of course, is just fiction – or is it?
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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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Light Up a Transitional Room with Schoolhouse Lights
When designing a transitional room, finding the right balance of new and old furnishing while maintaining an uncluttered space can be a difficult accomplishment. This can be especially true when you are trying to add task or ambient lighting.
New updates to timeless schoolhouse lights are an excellent way to add a vintage appeal to any room, especially when incorporating them with historic architecture. Light-diffusing shades and the smooth, clean lines of the pendulum-style lights are a classic way to add light to areas that are in need. Today’s schoolhouse lights offer bands of color, various geometric shapes, to add interest, and fancier fittings that would work in a number of transitional rooms.
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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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Minding the Future: Integrating Sustainable Landscaping
Encouraged by an ever-deepening understanding of global environmental issues, many homeowners and commercial enterprises are seeking new ways to “build greener” and surround their homes with sustainable landscaping. Such insightful landscaping can enrich your home and its natural surroundings in multiple ways.
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The Timeless Quality of Historic Homes
Between the facades and shimmering storefronts of new developments, historic homes can still be found in cityscapes across the nation, and globe, because of the variety of benefits provided by historic preservation.
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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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Organic Architecture: Bridging Architecture and Nature
Since 1908, Frank Lloyd Wright has used the word “organic” in his philosophy of architecture. Expanding on the teachings of his mentor, Louis Sullivan, he took this concept that form follows function and developed it into the idea that “form and function are one.”
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Outdoor Showers That Pop With Character
Relaxing in a long, hot shower after a busy day is a great way for most diligent workers to unwind. Unfortunately, one aspect of oceanfront home design that’s often overlooked is the outdoor shower and bath.
Not surprisingly, outdoor showers are well-suited and highly functional for coastal homes. They’re novel enclosures that allow one to rinse off after a swim or enjoy a proper shower while remaining outdoors. Other uses of outdoor showers include washing hands and tools after a gardening session, showering after exercise and cleaning a pet’s muddy paws.
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