TMS Architects

Some Serious Sandcastles!

2013-06-12T14:20:17Z

At TMS Architects, we KNOW that designing and building oceanfront structures can be challenging but imagine if you had to construct them out of sand! On June 19th, one of the Seacoast’s favorite events kicks off in Hampton Beach, NH with the delivery of 250 tons of sand for the 13th Annual Master Sand Sculpting Competition.

Local lore has it that the event was started in 2000 when the U.S. Mint asked local artist and master sand sculptor Gregory Grady to create a huge facsimile of the then-new New Hampshire quarter out of ten tons of sand during a children’s festival at the beach. This amazing quarter led to the first annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpture Competition in 2001. For this first competition, 220 tons of imported sand were trucked in and ten world class masters went to work creating their individual masterpieces. Each year, when the pieces are completed, they are sprayed with windscreen (a solution of glue and water) to protect them from the elements and they remain on the beach for several weeks for viewing, illuminated at night for added drama.

Over the years, this event has grown into the largest Masters Competition in the Northeast United States, offers cash prizes for the winners and free lessons for those wanting to learn how to really make sandcastles! TMS will be following the competition and will share the images with you as the sculptures take shape. To see winners from the past, visit www.hamptonbeach.org/sandcastle-competition.cfm Stayed tuned!

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Dynamic Trellis Designs for Indoor Spaces

2013-06-12T05:33:04Z

A few months ago we shared some inspiring photos of deck and porch designs, including one of a unique trellis that added significant character to a deck design. These outdoor structures can enhance interiors, too. Lattice patterns inspired by these outdoor structures can give interior spaces just the right touch of interest and sophistication it needs to achieve that “wow” factor.

Trellis motifs, much like many other design elements, can be traced back hundreds of years. Here’s a brief history of the trellis, which we came across on the My Dog-Eared Pages design blog:

“Treillage can be traced back to the 12^th century when [it was] used to support the vines growing on simple French farms, and on to the 17^th century where it appeared in the formal gardens of Versailles. From the royal palaces of Europe, treillage made its way to cities where architects and designers embraced its use from building facades to elegant interiors. At the turn of the century, it was first introduced to America by decorator Elise de Wolfe in her Trellis Room at the Colony Club.”

Designers continue to be inspired by the unique look of trellis-inspired latticework patterns. Several magazines and design blogs have been buzzing over latticework patterns in recent months, and The Wall Street Journal even dedicated space to admiring the pattern’s intersection of geometry and romance.

Let’s look at why this pattern has everyone swooning over latticework.

Source: Houzz

Source: Decor Pad / The Creativity Exchange

Source: Daily Crush

Have you incorporated a latticework pattern in your home through architectural elements, wall coverings or accent pieces? If so, leave a comment below and share with us how it adds to the space.

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Aging in Place with Thoughtful Home Design

2013-06-06T22:26:58Z

Remodeling Magazine recently reported on a MetLife Mature Market Institute survey conducted in late 2012 which revealed that 82% of older baby boomers are electing to age in place rather than move.

According to the report, this is a 7% increase among the same group of people, defined as boomers born in 1946, since the previous survey was conducted in 2007. Amy Goyer of MetLife told Remodeling Magazine that the results do point toward the increasing need for remodeling solutions to help boomers age in place gracefully. Remodeling projects should, Goyer notes, enhance homes with “technology and smart home design/modification options that not only make it possible to remain at home throughout the aging process, but to also beautify and add value to the home and community for all ages.”

For New England boomers with historic homes, remodeling projects that can help to accommodate any future accessibility needs while maintaining the historic character of their home must be approached with precision and care. For example, in a newer home, a doorway can usually be widened so that wheelchairs can enter with ease. But in historic homes, existing doorways are typically not recommended for removal or retrofitting. There are other options, however. As the article “Making Historic Properties Accessible” suggests, new points of entry that will allow for wheelchair traffic can be added instead.

In other instances, some of the tried-and-true aging in place and universal design tactics will work just as well in a historic home as they would in any other home in need of a few modifications so owners can age in place with comfort. Here are a few of the strategies that the National Aging in Place Council recommends for any home.

Lowering bathroom sinks and raising toilets
Installing grab bars around the bathroom
Creating walk-in closets with storage space at varied heights
Rearranging furniture throughout the house to ensure enough room for “maneuvering clearance”
Countertops of varying heights in the kitchen
Lowering cooking surfaces and raising sinks and dishwashers

Photo via Houzz

Are you among the first wave of baby boomers planning to age in place? If so, are you in need of a home renovation to address future needs? Whether your home is 20 years old or 200 years old, TMS Architects can help you develop a renovation plan that will address your concerns so you can age in place comfortable in the home you love, all the while maintaining your home’s unique character and style. Please contact us for more information on our services.

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Can You Change the World in 15 Minutes?

2013-06-05T21:15:57Z

Photo Credit SeacoastNH.com

Our guest blogger, J. Dennis Robinson, was recently honored by being asked to deliver a TEDx talk and we are honored that he chose to share this with TMS Architects. This marvelous talk presents a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Dennis, Portsmouth, technology and his unique take on the history of our area. Congratulations Dennis for finding your superpowers!

It is an honor to be asked to give a TEDx talk. These live lectures, streamed online, are considered pretty prestigious and so I agreed. A word of warning. The minute you say YES, your whole world changes because you are now supposed to make the world a better place. And you only get 15 minutes to do it — 18 if you push the envelope. It’s a volunteer job. You have to stand up on a stage in front of a live audience with three cameras pointed at you. And if you mess up, that’s what the world will see.

The next two or three months were — what’s the good word for it? — challenging. You first have to figure out WHAT you’re going to say to fix the planet. This is a forum for creative ideas, so you better be brilliant. Then you have to figure out HOW to say it. TEDx is the local version of the big TED talks that are watched all around the globe. The dedicated people who pulled together TEDx Piscataqua River were vigilant. I got a ton of emails asking to see my early thoughts, my outline, my rough draft, my slides, my final draft. There was a rehearsal and a sound check and pages and pages of helpful instructions.

All of this, of course, makes the speaker more nervous. Thee were about a dozen of us talking on topics from robotics to urban real estate. Speakers included a public radio personality, a comedy write, a tap dancer, and a running nun. I spoke about writing history in the digital age. We speakers did not know each other. We did not meet except in passing in the green room on the day of the big event. But we were all floating in the same boat together. We had been “called,” and we all said YES.

I managed to make things extra complicated by creating over 120 slides. I like to SHOW when I tell. But how to fit that many images into that tiny timeframe? It wasn’t easy. I rehearsed a lot at home with a stopwatch and never really hit the mark. I ran over my allotted time. But no hook came out to pull me off the stage. No trap door opened into a pit of hungry alligators. I got through it. We all survived.

This week they posted the TEDx talks online at YouTube. Here’s the link to mine. I haven’t noticed any change taking place in the world yet. But hey, it’s only been a few days. Give it time.

SEE: Re-writing American History Together

J. Dennis Robinson is editor and owner of the popular Web site SeacoastNH.com and author of books about history. His latest books are UNDER THE ISLES OF SHOALS about archaeology and AMERICA’S PRIVATEER about the War of 1812.He is currently writing a book on the 1873 Smuttynose Island murders.

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Making the Most of Your Space with a Breakfast Nook

2013-06-01T01:28:19Z

The word “nook” may conjure up images of a thorough house cleaning in which the smallest of crevasses and tightest spaces are freed of dust and dirt. But to a designer, the word is often related to spaces of the home in which an awkward corner can be transformed into a cozy, stylish spot full of potential.

Breakfast nooks are a particularly fantastic design solution for homeowners looking to create an eat-in kitchen where the family can enjoy meals together. It can also become an ideal space for playing cards or board games or completing projects.

A breakfast nook will be as beautiful as it is functional with a look and feel that is achieved with the right colors and an adequate amount of sunlight, as Houzz writer Becky Harris shares in her ideabook “Breakfast Nooks, Sunny Side Up.”

And as Traditional Home magazine shared in its round up of the top kitchen trends of 2013, a thoughtfully-designed breakfast nook can maximize even space by adding supplemental storage options. For example, many breakfast nooks feature built-in seating with drawers or storage bins placed underneath the seats, as noted by one Houzz ideabook.

Let’s take a look at some cozy, thoughtfully-designed breakfast nooks that make for a great spot to enjoy a meal and conversations with the ones you love the most.

This bright nook allows for plenty of natural sunlight to infiltrate the space, while creating the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view of the surrounding scenery.

Photo via Houzz

This breakfast nook is perfectly situated in a bay window, making the most of the floor space.

Photo via Houzz

A narrow, oval table fits seamlessly into this wide nook.

Photo via Houzz

Built-in benches with extra deep drawers offer the owners of this home ample storage space for anything ranging from pots and pans to table linens.

Photo via Traditional Home

This breakfast nook shows that even the smallest of corners can make for a wonderful seating area.

Photo via Paper Blog

Do you have a breakfast nook in your residence or vacation home? If so, leave a comment below and share with us what you love most about it.

Contact TMS Architects today for your residential architecture and design needs. Our team of seasoned design professionals is ready to help you create the home of your dreams, right down to the breakfast nook.

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A Tour of Victorian-Era Architecture

2013-05-31T17:20:11Z

Named after 19th century British Queen Victoria, Victorian-era architecture is all about distinctive ornamentation that can come in a variety of styles and combination of features. The most recognizable Victorian-era architecture is the Queen Anne style. From steep roof lines and multiple colors to decorative gables and engaging textures, with Victorian designs of the Queen Anne style “more is never too much.” But Victorian style architecture is multi-faceted. Let’s take a look at the other styles of the Victorian-era that don’t always get the attention they may deserve.

Gothic Revival: In addition to popular Victorian features like elaborate textures, multiple colors, steeply pitched roofs, embellished vergeboard (often called gingerbread gables), this Victorian-era style often includes vertical board-and-batten siding.

Photo via Houzz

Second Empire: This more urban style of Victorian-era architecture consists of a tall, flat facade that’s topped with a curved roof (called a mansard-style roof) with multiple dormer windows.

Photo via Houzz

Stick Eastlake: In increased use of shingles, wood and framing is what resulted in the development of the Stick Eastlake style Victorian architecture. Defining characteristics include decorative trusswork and other elaborate craftsman details.

Photo via Houzz

Folk Victorian: Combining elements of American homestead with Victorian romanticism and English Cottage architecture, this more rural style is known for its slightly more simple ornamentation and wrap-around porches.

Photo via Houzz

Italianate: Named for the influences drawn from Italian-style villas, this Victorian style combines elements from Old World country estates and traditional Roman architecture with features like Corinthian columns, decorative eaves and arched windows.

Photo via Houzz

You can read and learn more about Victorian-era architecture on ErasofElegance.com.

Which Victorian-era architectural style speaks the most to you? Share your thoughts on Victorian-era residential architecture in a comment below.

With a passion for history and architecture, our team here at TMS Architects has become well known for our historical preservation and renovation work in and around New England. To learn more about how we honor historical architecture while successfully renovating spaces for comfortable and convenient modern living, browse our portfolio.

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Brae Burn Country Club – A New Look Takes Shape

2013-05-30T16:33:36Z

An exterior view of the clubhouse with the new curved wall of windows in the Grille Dining Room

Brae Burn Country Club, located in West Newton, MA and founded in 1897, has a storied past, steeped in tradition and has played an integral role in advancing the sport of golf in America. With a challenging Donald Ross-designed course, the club has hosted seven USGA Championships.

TMS Architects has been honored to work with Brae Burn on a renovation to their clubhouse facilities . Now nearing completion, the renovation has expanded the space to provide more dining areas for members as well as create a visual continuity between the Grille Dining Room, the Inglenook, the Bar and the more casual Grille Lounge. A variety of seating options were included in the design , fireplaces added and a color palette developed with lighter colors and mahogany accents.

We will post more photographs when the furniture is installed and the final touches added inside and out. The opening of the renovated space is scheduled for late June. Fore more information, visit www.braeburngolf.com

The bar take shape

A new pergola and fencing

Carpet being installed in the Grille Room

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Design Details: Bay Windows

2013-05-30T16:24:14Z

Adding natural light, character and beautiful frames for picturesque views, thoughtful window design can bring immeasurable value to a home.

Selecting the right type of bay window, for example, will not only enhance the overall beauty and character of the home’s exterior, but it will significantly impact the look and feel of the interior space, as well. Bay windows can make interior spaces feel more open while also creating a gorgeous panoramic effect.

Project by TMS Architects

Bay windows are typically found in the form of a stationary window flanking double-hung or casement windows. And one Houzz design writer points out that the angled bay window, in particular, is “the most ubiquitous” of its kind because of the way it maximizes natural light and the connection to the landscape.

Photo via Houzz

Box bays are created with a dormer-like extension on the first floor of the home and generally consist of a large expanse of front-facing windows and sometimes also feature side-facing windows. A gentle curved roof can additional be used to soften the angles of box bays.

Photo via Houzz

Bay windows that are less angular are referred to as bow bays or circle bays. Both types consist of rounded construction and usually have few or thin grilles to allow for optimal natural light infiltration. The distinguishing difference between bow bays and circle bays is that bow bays are usually larger, creating a “sweeping arc of an exterior wall.”

Photo via Houzz

Bay windows found on the second floor of a home are called oriel windows. Oriels can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What often define oriels are the architectural and structural brackets that support the base of the oriel window extension on the home’s exterior. Oriel windows not only expand floor space like other types of bay windows, but they can also double as a portico covering an entry when placed strategically.

Photo via Houzz

Bay windows certainly add the wow factor and make for a nice renovation project that can enhance both the exterior and interior of a home. If you are interested in adding a bay window to your current home or hope to include one in a new construction, contact the team at TMS Architects at 603-436-4274 and let’s discuss your ideas.

To see more stunning windows, check out our previous post on “Windows that Wow.”

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Tips for Staging a Historic Home

2013-05-23T15:23:11Z

Whether you are downsizing or relocating, selling your home is a process that should be navigated with great care, especially if you are selling a historic home. As Kristie Barnett – a property staging consultant and blogger for The Decorologist - shared with Houzz, “Most historic homes sell to a specific kind of buyer who is looking for character and architectural details that will make them fall head over heels.”

Staging your historic home to highlight its best features will not only attract the right type of buyers, but also ensure that your home’s future owner will be someone who appreciates its distinct character. Below are a few of Barnett’s suggestions to make a historic home really shine.

Place Emphasis on Architecture – Architectural details often tell the story of a historic home better than its décor. Emphasize it by using colors effectively and by keeping patterns and ornate décor to a minimum.

Photo via Houzz

Make Meaningful Color Choices – Be sure to use colors inspired by the time period in which it was built. You can also use color to focus on unique selling points. In the example below, it’s been used to highlight the claw-foot tub.

Photo via Houzz

Keep the Kitchen Functional – The kitchen is the one room in any home, whether it’s 200 years old or 20 years old, that must be functional for the modern buyer. Today’s historic home buyers are looking for kitchens with design solutions that help to retain its historic charm while providing extra storage space and functionality.

Photo via Houzz

Clear Out the Clutter – As Lowely Finnerty told Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, “de-cluttering is always worth doing.” But in addition to eliminating unnecessary clutter, historic homeowners should carefully edit furniture arrangements to create symmetry, Barnett says.

Photo via Houzz

Have you ever sold a historic home before? If so, what home staging strategies did you use?

If you own a historic home and are looking to make some necessary updates, contact TMS Architects. Historic renovation and preservation is one of our specialties. Contact us for more information on our services at 603-436-4274.

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Queen Anne Style Architecture: “More is Never Too Much”

2013-05-23T14:47:57Z

The next architectural style we’re taking a more in depth look at is the Queen Anne style. As with some of the other architectural styles common in the US, the Queen Anne style has roots in Europe, where the style was developed by Richard Norman Shaw in the late 1860s in England by reviving Elizabethan and Jacobsen styles and combining them with ornate features and details from the Queen Anne Period (Housing Educators).

Henry Hobson Richardson is the American architect credited with designing the first Queen Anne style home in America in 1874: The Watts-Sherman House in Newport, Rhode Island. As Historic New England recounts, the Queen Anne style received a significant amount of exposure a few years later at the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876, as the style was promoted in books of new plans and the country’s first architectural magazine, The American Architect and Building News. The style’s popularity continued to grow as the Industrial Revolution aided in mass production of building materials like doors, windows, and decorative details.

Between 1878 and 1883, the Queen Anne style became a “strong force” in American Architecture. Housing Educators points out that the differences between Shaw’s Queen Ann Style and the more Americanized style are a result of having to adapt to the conditions and building materials available in America. For example, Shaw’s style used hallways to separate rooms and different parts of the house, while the American Queen Anne style features more open floor plans.

Other features characteristic to the style include:

Complex, forward-facing gables that intersect
Bay windows that usually extend from the upper floors
Spacious covered porches or verandas that wrap around a side of the home
Towers and turrets
Ornate stained glass windows
Spindles, finials, roof crestings, corner brackets, and other extremely decorative cutouts
An asymmetrical multi-faceted form with two or three stories
Siding ranging from half timbering to stucco, and patterned shingle to clapboard
Rich, bold colors

Photo via Houzz

Think these features are too much? That’s what makes it! As Antique Home notes, “More is NEVER TOO MUCH” when it comes to Queen Anne style architecture.

Do you own a Queen Anne style home? If so, what are your favorite features from this style?

No matter the style of your historic home, TMS Architects can help you make it more functional for your modern life while retaining its distinct architectural characteristics. Contact us today at 603-436-4274 to learn more about our historic renovation and preservation services.

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TMS Architects

Some Serious Sandcastles!

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