We’re doubling the size of this Frisco manufactured log A-Frame to add a great room, dining area, two car garage and artist’s workspace. Trilogy utilized Project Management Modeling (some model views on display here) to demonstrate the potential of the current design to the client before beginning to the construction. 

At Trilogy Partners we understand that a dream is specific to the individual. It is inspired by where you came from, what your ambitions are and with whom you are sharing your dream with. Our job is to identify that dream and give it life. You are an integral part of this process and we work together through every step of design and construction to ensure that your dream home meets and exceeds your expectation.

How design + build works

1. Identify the scope of work New construction or remodel, budget, square footage, specific features that are important to you.
2. Develop concept This stage describes the scope of work and starts to build upon what your vision is identifying the style and features of your home.
3. Budget This is perhaps the most important step to us. We want to end the trend that construction always goes over budget. Through our cutting-edge 3D digital modeling we can create a realistic budget that will be honored throughout the construction process because we already have the house built in the computer. We can make revisions to work within your budget, saving you both time and money from the back and forth between design firm and construction company, since we act as both.
4. Design phase Architectural drawings, 3D modeling and interior design. During the design phase our clients play an integral role in the design and layout of their home. Design does not live in the designer’s head for you to trust them that they are honoring your vision and style, at Trilogy your design comes to life right in front of you through real time design sessions.
5. Construction phase Now is the time to see your 3D home model come to life. You stay updated with daily photos and site notes, bi-weekly budget updates and draws and an open line of communication to your Trilogy team.

In our client’s words:

I’m sitting in the Hearth room in our Colorado home. It’s early morning and the sun is shinning in from the east. My husband calls from London where we live as expats.

He asks the same question each time he calls “Do you like my house” In my high pitched happy voice I reply “No, I LOVE IT”

Our dream was to find a place to bring our family together. We have lived overseas for nearly 14 years. Family is something we cherish…we’ve found it to be a very important part of the European culture.

Our home is located in Breckenridge, Colorado but it has a very European style & flare according to those who enter. But it just feels like home to us…..

Our relationship with Trilogy has strengthened as the house was being built. Their dedication to a complex project & us living abroad was a challenge in its self.

The end result is amazing…..

From our Design Build team:

This mountain modern home was designed for an American couple who spent most of their time abroad for work. They wanted a place in the states where all their family could be together and enjoy holidays and special occasions. This 4 bed 5 bath home of approximately 5000 square feet is located within a mile of the Peak 8 base area at Breckenridge Ski area. The clients wanted a distinctly Colorado feel, with modern design elements embraced by rusticity. Hand crafted timber elements by a local timber smith are a featured element. The owner collaborated with Trilogy on interior design.

From our client:

When we went to Trilogy, we were unsure of what could be done to upgrade our duplex on a funny lot. We knew the windows and exterior siding needed replacing. We also wanted some extra living space, a usable entry and a garage. Trilogy took our ideas and worked with the architect to come up with a concept which was done in a couple of months. Once we decided on a basic idea the project took off. We realized we could get all the things on our list done and much more to transform our property into a home that is more than we imagined it could be. Trilogy was so helpful in providing the needed information for financing. We asked more than once “can we really do this”.

Before ground breaking, Trilogy produced a 3-D walkthrough model which made the project come to life. During the first months of planning and permitting the 3-D model helped us change some room layouts and add some nice extras that just fit (i.e. 112 loft, special fireplace and 110 bedroom layout). The 3-D model really helped in picking the floor covering layout, wood, carpet or tile type. Furniture size and placement went from guess work to an easy decision with the 3-D modeling.

During the building, many challenges came up and the Trilogy group could always come up with a plan to resolve the issues while keeping our end goal in mind. The Trilogy group really put their heart and soul in this project. We thank them for bringing this project to reality, for all the little extra add-ons which they knew we needed to make this our special home we will enjoy for years to come.

From our Design Build team:

What do you do with a modular duplex high atop Breckenridge with the most awe-inspiring views but dated look from the 70s? Many people would be tempted to start anew but Trilogy saw the opportunity to turn the ugly duckling into the beautiful swan it is today. The result is a home that is unrecognizable from the original structure.

This home was originally a modular duplex originally set in 1978. The remodel was total and complete and resulted in approximately 3000 additional square feet and a contemporary mountain home with an attached vacation rental.

Trilogy worked with the clients to envision what their ideal mountain home would look like and worked with the existing structure and the client’s budget to turn that dream into a reality. The clients enjoyed a design experience that included 3d modeling of all architectural and design details. This was an industry first for a project of this size as Building Information Modeling is usually reserved for larger projects due to cost considerations.

From our Design Build team:

Complete stem to stern redo on a Wailua river home near Kapaa, Kauai for one of the creators of the South Park television series. No detail was overlooked in this unique collaboration between Michael Rath of Trilogy and the owner, for his favorite place on earth.

The Rocky Region’s best and boldest example of Western – Mountain – Asian fusion. A unique collaboration between Michael Rath and the owner resulted in a one-of-a-kind 6000 square foot home with a totally authentic 800 square foot Japanese Tea House surrounded by gardens and a hot springs spa. Located on a premier ski in and out lot in Steamboat, the home will serve as a creative space as well as a gathering place for friends and family. This timber frame home features timbers from a railroad trestle that once spanned the Great Salt Lake. Structural Insulating Panels wrap the entire timber structure in a combination of polyurethane foam and OSB, making this home not only incredibly energy efficient, but also awesomely sturdy and stable. An air exchange management and humidification system delivers fresh air throughout the home to offset the “tight” quality of the building envelope.

Featured in May 2010 Architectural Digest  

On a hilltop overlooking the ranch town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a turn of the century entrepreneur and lover of American West and Japan builds a ranch estate. He surrounds his home with Japanese gardens and in a quiet meadow in the back, pays homage to serenity with a Japanese Tea House. Ski in to the luscious garden spa. An outstanding example of the “Design Build” concept, the owners charged Trilogy with the design, construction, interior design, and décor of this marvelous mountain retreat. Located on a premier ski in and out lot in Steamboat, the home will serve as a creative space as well as a gathering place for friends and family.

“There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through.” ~ Dan Rice

A unique Mining Themed Home designed and built by Trilogy Partners in Breckenridge, Colorado on the Breckenridge Golf Course. This home was the grand prize winner of the 2008 Summit County Parade of Homes winning every major award. Also featured in Forbes Magazine. All exterior finishes are of reclaimed barn wood and authentic timber frame structure. Interior by Trilogy Partners, additional interiors by Interiors by Design.

From our Design Build team:

Inspiration: An Englishman leaves his country to seek his fortunes in the silver mines of the American West. He strikes it rich and converts on his minig structures into a magnificent home worthy of his love, Calista, hoping to woo her from England to America.

This home reflects the golden era of Colorado mining in a bold and glorious fashion. A vaulted, open living area features an antiqued timber frame with antique wood clad ceilings, rejuvenated old wood floors, hand forged steel accents, granite, cut sandstone and exposed concrete floors and walls that have been stained and aged. Hand hewn beams, old gray and brown board siding, recycled ski lift cable accents, and “miner’s smear” stone work on the exterior create that look and feel of the bygone miner’s era. A mine shaft elevator serves all three floors of the home. Victorian era style furnishings and finishes complete the periods look and feel. All elements combine to form a symphony that embraces mountain history and modern mountain living.

This home is also incredibly energy efficient combining passive solar design with SIP panel construction. An air exchange and management system provide optimal indoor air quality throughout the winter months.

This is the MOST award winning home in the history of the Summit County Parade of Homes capturing 9 awards including the award for Energy and Sustainable Design.

Who designs and builds these homes?

Labor costs to design and build in the Mountain Regions are usually greater than elsewhere in the US. A higher cost of living and frequent manpower shortages contribute to the price structure. But it is also true that designing and building homes in the high country requires a level of talent and expertise not generally required as a part of the production tract home building process. Highly engineered architecturally complex homes with computerized energy and environment management systems require design and build experts at the top of their profession. Add to that the costs of municipal development and building inspection personnel, and the manpower costs to build a mountain home must inevitably be higher. A high altitude environment also contributes to a lengthened build period and higher labor costs.

Other factors determine costs. Location; it certainly costs more to build in Aspen than Summit County. Work force housing initiatives and other tax measures designed to support common elements and municipal programs also come into effect dependent on locale. But the driving force behind the relatively high cost of mountain homes is most significantly influenced by one thing: outstanding quality.

Mountain Homes in the US are without a doubt designed and built to the highest standards in the world. They are designed more thoroughly and thoughtfully, engineered to be tougher and stronger, consist of higher quality materials, are built by extremely capable builders and contractors, and are the product of an extraordinarily introspective and involved review and construction inspection process.

The mountain homes being built today will stand for centuries longer than many of their lowland counterparts. And that kind of quality and longevity simply cost more.

 
  What’s on the outside matters too:

Municipalities in the high country, especially those with a strong historical preservation imperative, often impose strict design guidelines governing the architectural style and use of exterior materials within historic districts. New homes and remodels in the Victorian Era ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado must “fit in” with their historic neighborhoods in terms of design, color, height, and size, allowing the town to remain true to its heritage. These strict design and review requirements extend the approval and design process resulting in higher costs. Many Home Owner Associations in the high country impose design requirements to include specific and costly exterior materials, a certain percentage of quarried stone per elevation, extensive landscaping, and a high standard of architectural quality, diversity, and complexity all resulting in a multi-layered design review process that could take as long as 6 months to complete. The result of all this additional attention to detail is usually a distinct community populated by homes with strong architectural integrity and character.

Our next blog posting concludes the discussion while considering labor and location costs.