With much of the nation experiencing a drought, it is a good long-term investment to plant drought-resistant plants. There is more information and more options available than ever before. Here are some beautiful and hearty plants that don’t require a lot of water.

• Blanket flower. This drought-tolerant perennial, whose official name is gaillardia, blooms all summer and into fall. Colorado State University represents this flower for Colorado.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

• Sugar Maple. A Colorado NBC affiliate states that the sugar maple is both colorful and drought-tolerant. It also looks great year ’round!
• Succulents. Perhaps the best known of drought-tolerant plants, succulents require very little water. Their waxy leaves also make for an interesting contrast when juxtaposed with other types of plantings. According to an article in The Denver Post, echevaria are popular in Colorado.

The most important thing is that a drought-tolerant plant is appropriate for its site. If you are looking for a custom home built by an architect who respects the landscape, consider Trilogy Partners.

Leading media outlets are predicting that sustainable design will increase in 2013. Here are some notable events and trends to watch:

• National Sustainable Design Expo. This event, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), takes place on the National Mall in Washington D.C. It takes place in April 2013, so maybe the cherry blossoms will be in bloom!
• Sustainable Design Assessment Teams. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) started SDAT to focus on issues of sustainability in varied communities. For more info, visit the AIA website.
• Solar panels. Inhabitat predicts that solar panels on rooftops will increase in number. In related news, integrated solar chargers may appear on more batteries.
• Winter gardens. Fresh food can be obtained all year from winter gardens. And the lack of shipping means fewer carbon emissions. Plus, they can be a beautiful addition to a home’s landscape!

For sustainable design in Colorado and other locales, contact Trilogy Builds.

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Image via sxc

The idea of a “smart home” gained visibility over a decade ago with Bill Gates’ Washington home. Gates’ estate is worth over $160 Million, but you can implement similar advances into your home for a whole lot less. Here are some fun and practical tech features for your home:

• Remote home-monitoring. Homeowners can control their appliances and lighting from their pcs or cell phones.
• Security. Video feeds can be monitored via mobile devices. Sensors can also alert people on their mobile device. One company offering this service is Homesite.
• Underwater music. Bill Gates’ home has an underwater music system and so do hotels like The Unique in Sao Paulo. We predict that soon this technology will we widely available for homes.
• Archos TV. This wireless keyboard remote is Android capable and even has gesture control. It was featured at the CEDIA Electronics Show, which shows many of the latest tech developments.

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Image via Shutterstock

As concern over rising energy costs and environmental destruction rises, homeowners are looking for ways to go green while enjoying cutting edge design and attractive architecture. We put a heavy emphasis on sustainable design at Trilogy, and we will be excited to explore some of these upcoming green building trends with our Colorado customers in 2013.

photo via flickr.com

Solar Panels

Design experts at Inhabitat believe that demand for home solar panel systems will only grow during 2013. Manufacturers are finding new ways to make them attractive and easy to blend in with the exterior of a home.

Healthy Building Materials

With many paints and building materials releasing dangerous volatile organic compounds, designers and manufacturers alike will continue to expand their offerings of healthy alternatives that are free from these emissions.

Storm Resistance

Massive natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy have highlighted the importance of building structures that can withstand flooding and high winds. Many homeowners are expected to look for durable, storm-proof architecture during 2013.

Pre-Industrial Inspiration

Finally, designers can expect to see a surge in demand for pre-industrial features like root cellars and kitchen gardens. Even the sleekest modern homes can be complemented by a few of these useful additions.

There is no point in serving a banquet of local sustainable foods in a room laden with non-sustainable design elements. Sustainable interior design ensures a comprehensive integration of sustainable elements in every room of the home – all of which work to complement one another.

photo via architecturaldigest.com

Architectural Digest highlighted some of the stunning tabletop designs featured at the 15th- annual “Dining by Design” fundraiser – Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids (DIFFA). The event was hosted by AD and featured multiple examples of sustainable dining room design.

One of the most notable designs, especially in terms of sustainability, was Ralph Lauren’s home installation. It is a wonderful example of the importance of design continuity. Built for a log cabin, the Lauren dining table was designed by Alfredo Paredes. It is constructed from rough-hewn timber, and resides underneath an antler chandelier, and earth-toned cushions and table coverings, which all play into the homey feel of a rustic family cabin.

Sustainable tables focus on using recycled/reused materials, minimal finish – or low-VOC pigments – and should serve as a complement to existing interior design themes. For more information on how to implement sustainable design in your dining room, contact Trilogy Builders – expert sustainable builders for over 15- years.

The holiday season tends to put everyone into a festive spirit. As much as it is known for receiving gifts, it’s also known for the act of gift giving itself. We tend to feel more generous and selfless during the holiday season as we reflect upon ourselves, our friends, our family and the year that has past. If you have an interest in Colorado architecture, then this should put you in the right mood for this article at the Architizer Blog.

The article lists and describes ten design projects that were instituted to benefit the common good. All of them are quite noteworthy; for example, number eight’s The Gates Foundations’s Inaugural Toilet Festival. As humorous as it sounds, legendary multi-billionaire Bill Gates had his thoughts firmly planted on our sustainability. He issued a multi-million dollar challenge to anyone who could create a toilet that wasn’t dependent on plumbed water, a sewer system or electricity. Someone came forward with a self-cleaning, solar powered toilet that turns urine and waste into hydrogen and fertilizer!

Check out the rest of the design projects listed at Architizer Blog that will help return your faith in our ability to do less damage to our environment, and share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Source: Architizer

Ever since our inception in 1998, we have become well known for our unique and innovative design and construction projects throughout the Colorado mountain region. We take great pride in our work as a Colorado builder, and even more pride in working with our clients in order to achieve their aims. This has led us to receiving achievements such as the Summit County Builder of the Year in 2007 as well as the Summit County Parade of Homes Premier Award Winner.

One of the reasons we receive such recognition is due to our commitment to sustainability in our building projects. Our custom built homes are not only some of the most energy efficient homes in the area, but some of the most energy efficient homes in the entire country as well. We use some of the most innovative sustainable technologies available, combining it with our home design, which consists of practicality as well as style.

Although we pride ourselves in our hard work ethic and innovative ideas and practices, none of it is possible without our clients. We wish to thank you for your business, your trust and your friendship, and we wish you happy holidays from Trilogy Partners!

As the New Year approaches, you are probably wondering what kind of design trends are going to develop throughout next year. One design trend that is sure to continue is the use of sustainable design. Both commercial and private buildings will continue to use green design elements in their construction to help limit the amount of damage they do to the environment as well as to help be as energy efficient as possible.

The value of green building has become more obvious to both homeowners and commercial building owners. In 2005, green building was worth around $10 billion. This number has grown to an estimated $85 billion over the last year and is projected to rise to around $98 to $106 billion. People understand the value of being green. Not only are they benefiting the environment, but they are becoming more energy efficient. This allows them to save on energy costs. According to the Dodge Construction Green Outlook report conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction, 44% of all of next year’s construction is expected to use sustainable design.

The use of sustainable design will continue to grow in popularity over the next year due to the associated environmental friendliness and energy savings.

Source: Construction.com, Google Images

It is nearing the end of the year, a year that we at Trilogy Partners feel was a successful year for not only us, but for our clients as well. As a reminder of that success, we want to share our favorite blogs of 2012 with you:

Photo via the LA Times

• Mad Men – The immense popularity of what was one of the most popular shows in the last few years influenced this post about a home completely inspired by the many mid-century style apartments showcased in the series.

• The Perfect Entrance – A fantastic post about creating a lasting impression the moment you set foot through the entrance of a home.

• A Sustainable Olympics– A very informing article about the London Olympics and what sustainable building practices they used in preparing for the summer games.

• iPhone Apps – There’s nothing more pleasing than fooling around with new iPhone apps, and this post details five apps that help with home design.

As the saying goes, we should learn from the past, so why not peruse through some of our best blog posts for additional luxury homes design knowledge? Be sure to share your favorite post of last year with us as well!

A fresh mountain house, featured in Architectural Digest, holds lessons for those wanting a rustic residence that is updated and individualistic. The space, by Michael S. Smith, is shown in the images below. Here’s what we like about the mountain home:

• A zone for each activity. The dining table is set in its own space, with its own access to the outdoors. Though the home has no formal dining room, it clearly indicates which activity is to be performed where. A rectangular light fixture and rectangular rug further define the dining zone and echo the shape of the dining table.

Image via Architectural Digest. Photo: Roger Davies.

• No clutter. A mountain home should be focused on the notable terrain, with clear views and copious daylight. Clutter is a distraction.

Image via Architectural Digest. Photo: Roger Davies.

• Natural materials. A mountain home can compliment its surroundings with natural materials. This lesson applies to both traditional and modern mountain homes.

Image via Architectural Digest. Photo: Roger Davies.

This isn’t the only fresh mountain house that Architectural Digest has written about. Click here to read the AD article about a Steamboat home by Trilogy Partners!