Tuesday, December 13th will be a milestone for Kevin Pearce. He will once again strap on his snowboard and take to the mountain with friends and family here in Breckenridge, Colorado. This ride down the mountain will be Kevin’s first since his life-changing accident back in 2009 in Utah. Pearce, a shoe-in for the 2010 United States snowboarding team, was practicing a difficult move in Park City and sustained a serious trauma to his head, which left him in a coma.

Pearce promises there will be “No tricks. No big air. No spins or double corks. No halfpipe.”

Photo via ESPN

“I really couldn’t be much happier about the way things turned out,” Pearce said. “Even the smallest things, like jumping on a snowboard. It has totally changed my perspective.”

With the economy still struggling to rebound it appears that a new American home is emerging. Gone are the extravagant additions and in its place are more practical and functional ones. According to The Wall Street Journal “Tough recent years are leaving their mark on home design…Big home builders, smaller architecture firms and even bathroom-fixture makers are adjusting to the shift toward more practical features and away from the aspirational.”

One of the many changes that are taking shape in this new “economic downturn” era are the abandonment of the “formal” rooms. Formal living and dining rooms are making way for larger kitchens and more closet space. The open family room is now on the scene and is much more functional than a formal living room. Also making a departure is the grand foyer, which is being replaced with “drop zones” or glorified mud rooms.

Families are looking for everyday spaces, a room that will be utilized on a daily basis.

Trilogy Partners

We are also seeing more homes that are incorporating universal design. Elevator shafts are being added to the floor plan and larger showers are replacing the jacuzzis and soaker tubs.

What are some of the ways you think our homes have changed? What aspect of home design is most important to you and your family?

With the success of ABC’s latest primetime show Pan Am, aviation-inspired design has become the latest trend to hit the home furnishings industry. These furniture designs have taken flight and are becoming more popular in today’s homes. Even Restoration Hardware has delved into this aviation-themed realm. Their new line Aviator features hand-crafted designs made with antiqued leather, stainless steel and aluminum.

Photo via Restoration Hardware

Photo via Restoration Hardware

These looks were inspired by the “streamlined modernity of the Golden Age of aviation.”

A more modern take on aviation is from the creative minds at Skypak. Their redesign of original airline trolleys is both fashionable and functional.

Photo via Skypak

These repurposed airline trolleys can be used as storage for your CD collection or to hold your vintage wine collection.

Photo via Skypak

It can also double as an espresso machine holder.

Photo via Skypak

Since the turn of the century we have been inspired by aviation and now your home can be transformed with these great designs.

A bathroom should be a place of calm and relaxation. An oasis where you can wash away the stresses of your daily life. Think of a zen-like bath, with natural elements and sleek lines.

Trilogy Partners

This Steamboat Springs’ home features a bath that accentuates the natural elements.

Trilogy Partners

We wanted to bring a touch of nature into this guest bath.

Trilogy Partners

And this breathtaking bath draws inspiration for its beautiful view, also by bringing nature indoors.

By incorporating natural elements into your bath you’ll be able to create a place where you can go and rejuvenate your body and mind.

Countertops are becoming increasingly  more important in today’s kitchens and with a multitude of styles and colors it is becoming more difficult to find your home’s perfect match. Whether you are looking for a sleek, clean look or something with a little more texture, your countertops can set the tone for the rest of the kitchen. Natural stone such as granite, marble, soapstone and slate still reign supreme in most kitchens. They tend to be more durable and resistant to scratches, not to mention their beauty can help enhance the aesthetic of the kitchen.

Trilogy Partners

Trilogy Partners

Some kitchens will mix different surface areas. The countertops are natural stone and the island might be a butcher block. Whichever type of material you decide to use make sure you do your research to determine which will work best in your kitchen.

The importance of energy modeling in zero net energy home design cannot be overstated. Energy modeling is an early design phase analysis used to determine the projected energy needs of the structure to be designed.

Michael Rath, a Breckenridge, Colorado zero net energy home builder and managing partner at Trilogy Partners, says, “One of the most important aspects of creating the ZNE structure is energy modeling. This takes place early in the design phase. It’s important to estimate accurately the energy requirements of the finished structure. An energy census is completed and sophisticated computer modeling is employed. Once the energy needs of the structure are estimated, systems can then be employed to provide enough energy to the structure so that it consumes no more than it produces and can indeed be called a ZNE building.”

Energy modeling analysis utilizes a proposed building program to define and quantify the energy demand, and to establish design criteria that are technically feasible and economically realistic. It takes into account all of the environmental data, and physical and programmatic information about the proposed net zero energy building.

Trilogy Partners was the first to build a zero net energy home in Breckenridge, Colorado in 2010. Contact us for information on building a home in the Breckenridge, Colorado area that emphasizes sustainability and zero net energy by visiting the Trilogy Partners website or calling 970-453-2230. Trilogy Partners of Breckenridge, CO “Design smart. Build beautiful.”

We love mixing styles to create memorable spaces.  Pairing antique furnishings with contemporary lines can really enhance the aesthetic look of a room, but if done improperly it can upset the balance.

CasaSugar has provided some tips you should keep in mind when bringing these two very different design styles together.

• Give them something in common. Qualities like a similar silhouette, texture or material can bridge the gap between two very different items.
• Think about proportion. If a piece is very bold, either place it alongside less showy items to let it make a statement; or harmonize with similarly-proportioned pieces.
• Add context. Details matter…from the right-hued frame for artwork to the color of the wall behind it. Getting these little things right makes a surprisingly big difference.

What do you think about mixing styles? Share your thoughts below.

As the “baby boomer” generation ages one of the growing concerns for homeowners is universal design, or aging in place. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 25% of America’s population were born between 1946-1964. “Aging in place is a major issue,” said Stephen Melman, Director of Economic Services at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in D.C.. “Ninety percent of households say they want to age in place, but only 20 percent have done anything about it.”

One of the trends we are seeing in regards to universal design is ground level entrances and masters on the main level. We are also designing homes with wider interior doors, hallways and turn around space. Lever handles are replacing knobs, for they are easier to open and more task lighting, which makes it easier to see.

Bathrooms are becoming equipped with grab bars as well as stepless shower bases. For those who enjoy outdoor living we are finding more requests for zero-entry swimming pool.

If you are interested in learning more about universal design or aging in place please give us a call at 970-453-2230.

It seems that JFK’s iconic Terminal 6, designed by the brilliant architect I.M. Pei, will be destined to the same unfortunate fate as many other important buildings before it here in the United States.  Terminal 6 was built in 1970 as the National Airlines Sundrome. It’s most recent occupant was JetBlue Airways, which vacated the building back in 2008.

For years the once famous terminal sat empty, waiting for the day that the Port Authority would begin its demolition. It seems that the time is finally here. Despite pleas from both the design community and preservationists, I.M. Pei’s Terminal 6 is becoming a thing of the past.

Henry Cobb, a colleague of Pei, recently told the New York Times that the terminal was still “structurally sound and has proved highly adaptable to changing demands throughout four decades of use.” He even pleaded with David Barger, president and chief executive of JetBlue, for a “reversal of this death sentence.” He further went on to write that by saving Terminal 6 it would “further strengthen the distinctive identity of JetBlue as a sponsor of design excellence and an effective advocate for a sustainable future. ”

Another advocate for saving the terminal is Geoffrey Arend, founder and editor of the trade publication Air Cargo News. He recently said that “It represents an era of aviation.”

Already the concourses and boarding gates of Terminal 6 have been destroyed and it looks like the main pavilion will soon come to the same fate.

Photo via New York Times

Today Copper and Keystone mountain opened for ski season and like many in the Breck area, we know what we will be doing this weekend! Always two of the first mountains to open in Colorado, Copper and Keystone are great places to stretch your legs before the opening of Breckenridge, which is a week away. With 55% of our runs on Breck classified as black, you’ll want to put your best foot forward.

This ski season Breckenridge will celebrate its 50th anniversary, it’s actual birthday falling on Friday, December 16th. In its 50th year existence Breckenridge has become one of the world’s most popular ski destinations. That’s right, we said world’s.

The town of Breckenridge has put together some interesting facts on their first 50 years that we wanted to share with you.

• Breck has received approximately 17,500 inches of snow (1,416 feet) since the resort opened in 1961.
• Breck has welcomed visitors from all 50 US states and over 60 different countries, cementing the resort as truly a global destination.
• Breck has hosted approximately 39 million skiers and snowboarders since 1961 (the first season featured around 17,000 total skier visits, as compared to 1.63 million in 2010/11)
• Breck was the first ski resort in North America to install a high speed quad chairlift, in 1981.
• Breck became the first ski resort to allow snowboarding in Colorado, in 1984.
• Breck installed the Quicksilver Super 6, the first and only double loading chairlift in the USA, in 1996.
• Breck built the highest high-speed quad chairlift in the world, the Imperial Express Superchair, topping out at an elevation of 12,840 ft. in 2005

We love working and living in the Breckenridge area! Let’s hope that this year is another record breaking ski season!