This article was printed in Mountain Town Magazine

High Country Homes: The Best Built Homes in the World

It is a fact: generally speaking the cost of designing and building a home in the high country is considerably more than the costs for a lowland counterpart. The same holds true for multi-family residences including condos and town homes. Are architects and builders simply charging more and profiting handsomely as a result of a high country luxury real estate market? The answer in most cases would be a resounding no. The case may be that average homes in the high country are simply better design and constructed. In fact, they may just be the most finely crafted homes on the planet. (This article will mostly focus on single-family homes but most comparisons also apply to multi-family as well.)

Much of the additional cost of designing and building a mountain home is regulatory in nature. In other words, the result of building codes and design standards imposed by Home Owners Associations and municipalities. Are these higher standards unreasonable in nature? For the most part no because they rest on the notion that homes in the high country must be built to withstand some of the harshest climactic conditions on the planet as well as contribute in a positive manner to the neighborhoods in which they are built.

Building Codes:

In the US, most mountain regions in the northern latitudes or west of the Mississippi are considered Climate Zone 7, as is most of Alaska. Nationwide changes in 2012 residential building codes address the construction of all new homes in the country but particularly impact homes built in Zone 7 because the code changes demonstrably increased standards for energy efficiency. Not only must the physical structure of a mountain home withstand hurricane force winds and enormous roof snow loads of 100 pounds per square foot in many place, those roofs need to be framed 14” thick to accommodate the required amount of fiberglass insulation. Newly adopted codes also mandate thicker and denser wall insulation, ultra high efficient window systems, and caulking and sealing requirements to make the structural envelope of the home less prone to heat leakage. In fact, these new homes will be so “tight” that codes require mechanical ventilation as insurance against excess levels of interior air contamination from habitants and outgassing of building materials. Additional steps to prevent excess levels of radon are a part of the new codes. In many cases fire suppression systems and monitored smoke alarm systems have also been mandated. Automated environmental, lighting, and window shade systems are not only convenience features but are part of the energy control equation. Energy efficient appliance and heating systems, as well as active and passive solar designs, are highly regarded as part of an energy scorecard that must reach a certain “score” before a building permit is issued by the municipality.

Our next blog post will continue the article with a discussion of costs imposed by HOA’s and government entities.

From our Client:

My wife and I began our journey to build our custom vacation dream house in Breckenridge Colorado, by reviewing reputable contractors in the Summit area that were building inspired homes of high quality and exceptional craftsmanship. More importantly, we were looking for a design/build firm that would manage both the design and construction process. Since this was to be an extremely custom “period” home, we knew we needed a firm that would understand our unique vision, be collaborative and provide inspiration. We ultimately selected Trilogy for our project and were not disappointed.

Building a second home a thousand miles from where you live, can be a scary proposition. However, it can be accomplished if you don’t have to separately manage an architect, interior designer and builder. This is where Trilogy, as a “Design/Build” contractor, truly shined. Additionally, what made Trilogy stand out for us was the 3-D modeling services that were provided every step of the way. From schematic design to interior finishes and ultimately furniture selections, the 3D modeling process and the ability to view and edit the design remotely and real time, made the project not only that more successful but a lot less stressful.

Trilogy is a true “concierge” builder. They handled every step of the process from site surveys and initial schematic design, to assisting with the final furniture selections and sourcing of antique reproductions. Monthly budget forecasting allowed us to make informed decisions of where to best spend our money. This is our third custom home, and the Trilogy staff, without exception, were some of the best professionals and craftsman we have ever had the pleasure to work with.

From our Design Build team:

This home was another unique collaboration between owner (an engineer with decades of construction experience) and Trilogy Partners. Trilogy was entrusted as Design Build Project Manager and retained bhh Partners of Breckenridge, Colorado for basic architectural design. The home concept is based on a family homestead that grew over the years from a simple sheep station to a farm and then an entire 3 wing house with a completely separate but attached in-law dwelling. Trilogy modeled the entire home in 3D in preparation for an exquisitely detailed interior design selection process. Trilogy’s Project Management Modeling process allowed the owners to be involved in every design decision from thousands of miles away. This home is energy efficient due to closed cell foam insulation. An air exchange and humidification system provide optimal indoor air quality. Passive solar enhances a high efficiency in floor radiant heating system. The outcome is a unique home that encapsulates the historical vision of the owners and functionality of two separate living quarters in one homestead.

THE HOMESTEAD STORY

This home, though built recently, has a long history. It’s an old story about a family with a hardworking father and a loving mother and three kids who lived in Denver, butloved the mountains more than anything. About 1908 they decided to buy an old sheep station outside of Breckenridge.

At first they lived in the simple shepherd’s cabin they referred to as the “Station House.” As the children grew, so did the family’s passion for horses, ranching, hunting, and fishing and the great outdoors, and it wasn’t long before everyone in the family began to refer to the Station House as home. Denver just became Denver, and it was certainly not where their hearts longed to be. A heavy bell large enough to be heard for several miles, which became known as the “Dinner Bell,” was installed by the front door to call the kids home for supper. After a few years, the family built a pole barn for the horses and a carriage, and then it became the place where they parked the Model T.

About 1923 the eldest son returned from college. His first duty was to supervise the construction of “The Manor House.” Now that mother and father had the time to spend not just summer, but most of the year in the valley, it made sense that they build a real house. The Station House could be used by guests. The son had a lot to do and not much time because the house had to be finished in time for a very important event. A wedding, his wedding, was to happen in the spring, barely a year away. So the Manor House, built with local timbers and many local hands, rose up between the old Station House and the Pole Barn. And there was a first marriage at the house. As the family continued to grow, it seemed the Manor House had to grow with them and over the years, it reached out to either side until finally, it was connected by a long front porch to the Station House, just to the south, and the Pole Barn just to the north. The dinner Bell was installed beneath the gable in the front porch because children still needed to be called home from the hills.

Fifty years passed and the fact that dozens of mothers, fathers, children, and grand children and even great grandchildren spread all over the country still called it Home didn’t seem strange to any of them. For this was where they came to share the most important things with the rest of their family. They came in the summers and winters, stayed sometimes a week, often longer, but at least once a year, if not a couple times more.

They came for the most memorable days of their lives, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and sometimes for no reason other than they needed to be with their kin. On those saddest days, when one had passed away, they gathered to remember at the Manor House. They would bury their own in the family plot where the sheep once graced in a meadow that the elk favored in winter. There would be hugs, and tears. But for all, it was far better being sad ere than anywhere else.

And now, a hundred years have passed since a family of five first set for in the valley. And the Manor House, the Station House, and Pole Barn all deserve a little sprucing up in time for another important event. For in the spring comes wedding number 32.

The following are a few home fixtures you should consider investing in to help reduce your water usage. Source: Houzz

When it comes to your custom home design, don’t forget about the smaller details that can help you create a more eco-friendly home. For example, the home fixtures that you use in your kitchen and bathrooms. The following are a few home fixtures you should consider investing in to help reduce your water usage:

• WaterSense faucets – These faucets can help to reduce the flow of water by as much as 30 percent without sacrificing performance. This could end up saving you as much as 500 gallons of water a year.
• Dual-flush toilets – Toilets consume more water than any other indoor fixture. A dual-flush toilet has two different flush options, one for liquid waste that uses less water and one for solid waste.
• Graywater reuse – A graywater reuse system allows you to use the water that you wasted in the sink for a nearby toilet for use in flushing. Basically, the system lets you recycle water.
• Urinals – Obviously, the urinal only works for the boys; however, you’ll conserve way more water. Some manufacturers even offer waterless urinals.

These are some home fixtures that you can use to help save water. Contact Trilogy Partners for more tips on creating a green home.

Your design team should include an architect, an interior designer, and a builder. Source: Houzz

Beautiful homes don’t just sprout from the ground. They are the culmination of months, sometimes even years of dedicated planning and preparation. When you are planning a building project, the following are three of the most important tips to follow so that the process will go as smooth as possible.

1. Choose a design team. Your team should include an architect, an interior designer, and a builder.
2. Identify features and size. From the number of bedrooms to the wine cellar and game room, itemize the general framework of what your home will look like.
3. Create blueprints. Once your architect has the overall feel for what you want, have them draft blueprints you can review and amend.

Once all of these tasks are complete, construction can begin and since your team has worked together from the start, they will be able to finish your home quickly and to the precise specifications you have created together.

Planning a building project? Contact Trilogy Partners and we will be happy to show you some of the homes we have recently completed in the area and tell you more about the planning that went into them.

Windows and skylights allow more light into the home and reduces the reliance on electric lights during the day. Source: Houzz

Green housing solutions are the hottest trend in construction and Trilogy is helping our clients “green up” their lifestyles. From carefully selecting the light fixtures to upgrading the appliances they use, the following are some ways you can use green design to your advantage.

• More Windows and Skylights. This allows more light into the home and reduces the reliance on electric lights during the day.
• Repurposing. Old wood can be made to look new and stylish. A little elbow grease is all it takes to turn the old into fabulous furniture, flooring, or paneling.
• LEED Certified Appliances. From dishwashers to refrigerators, the higher the LEED rating, the more efficient the unit will operate. Not only do these appliances looks stylish, most will pay for themselves over their lifespan.
• Zoning. Zoning the home’s HVAC system gives you greater control over the interior climate. This allows you to “shut down” rooms when they’re not in use so that you’re not wasting energy throughout the year.

Trilogy can help you build the green housing solutions you desire. We encourage you to contact us for more information about this year’s trends and the features we recommend including in your plans.

Eco-friendly decorating is a specialty we’ve honed to ensure our client’s mountain homes have as little impact as possible. Source: Houzz

Designing and decorating a new home requires careful consideration of not only the materials to be used, but their environmental impact as well. To that end, eco-friendly decorating is a specialty we’ve honed to ensure our client’s mountain homes have as little impact on the Rockies as possible.

One of our favorite services is to repurpose old materials by giving them new life. Reclaimed wood is a popular choice in Colorado because it lends itself well to the creation of a rustic appearance. another popular choice is to use burlap and linen that can be embroidered and personalized with everything from family crests to a favorite motto.

Perhaps most common is the use of vintage and/or antique furniture. Crafted during an era where quality was paramount, we select pieces that have aged well. With these, the nicks, scratches, dents, and dings fade into the background of rich wood grains and the patina that has formed around hardware and fittings.

Eco-friendly decorating can transform your mountain home into a truly magnificent place to live. We invite you to contact Trilogy Partners to learn more about this year’s most stylish design options that have a minimal environmental impact.

Planning your home for home automation will not only help make your home more convenient, it will also help make your home more energy efficient as well. Source: Nest via Facebook

One of the features that many homeowners are beginning to implement when they plan their custom home designs is home automation. Planning your home for home automation will not only help make your home more convenient, it will also help make your home more energy efficient as well.

There are a lot of ways in which home automation can save energy around the home. Take for example a smart thermostat. While many homeowners have programmable thermostats, few actually take advantage of it in order to save energy. However, with a smart thermostat, you can control the programmable thermostat from your smartphone, making it much more convenient and easier to set the thermostat. This allows you to adjust your settings on the go. For example, maybe you forgot to program it before heading off for a two week vacation. You can now do so from your phone.

There are plenty of other ways you can save energy as well. You can control your home’s lighting from your smartphone through home automation, meaning you’ll never forget to turn the lights off again.

Consider home automation in your home design and contact us at TrilogyPartners for more information about home automation.

Check out these amazing energy-efficient homes and contact us at Trilogy Builds for more information about designing a custom energy efficient home today. Source: Houzz

When designing a custom home, you should strongly consider making it as energy efficient as possible in order to not only reduce your environmental footprint as much as you can, but to save a substantial amount of energy costs over the long term. The following are three examples of energy-efficient homes that we hope will inspire you:

• The R-House – This house was built to meet Germany’s passive house principles, which means that it is airtight deu to its super insulated exteriors that boast minimal thermal bridging, heat-recovery ventilators and highly insulated windows. Electrical consumption in this house is roughly 70 percent less than a typical home in the Syracuse area.
• The TED House – This three-story house uses closed-cell spray foam insulation in addition to a zip-panel air barrier, densely packed cellulose, R-10 windows and a metal panel rain screen to achieve passive house standards.
• Live/Work/Home – This uniquely designed home boasts a retractable front screen that helps maintain privacy and filter sunlight. It also makes use of linear single-story plan instead of combining parcels like other passive homes.

Check out these amazing energy-efficient homes and contact us at Trilogy Partners for more information about designing a custom energy efficient home today.

Mark Keedy

• Year Joined Trilogy: March 2015
  Position: Controller
  Education: Bachelor of Science in Financial Management, Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Masters of Science in Educational Statistics and Exercise Physiology, Certified Managerial Accountant
  Years in Summit County/ Colorado: 22 years
  Hometown: Sanborn, Iowa
  Favorite Things: Skiing, biking, and hiking
  The best thing about working here is: The company vision is a good one and is positioning itself for growth
  The best thing I’ve learned is: The office ladies are always right
  Where do you want to be in 5 years: In Summit County where summer is just two bad months of skiing
  Most Notable Memory While at Trilogy: Helping the clients to reach their vision of building a beautiful home

Green building codes are meant to protect the environment that the building’s community is located in. Source: Houzz

Different communities have different building codes. These building codes are meant to ensure the safety of the homeowner. There are also green building codes that you will have to abide by in different communities that are meant to help protect the environment that the community is located in.

Communities all over the country deal with various issues, from flooding and water pollution to droughts and smog. In order to keep these issues from occurring – or from getting too bad – green building codes are implemented. These codes establish a set of minimum standards for air quality, water consumption, storm water management, building efficiency, the toxicity of materials and general waste reduction. So, for example, in order to meet water conservation codes, you might have to meet certain requirements for your plumbing fixtures and landscape designs.

Many green building codes often help reduce the environmental impact by also prohibiting certain local plants and trees from being killed during the building of a new home. This would require you to take into account the environment of your property before beginning construction.

Keep green building codes in mind and be sure contact us at Trilogy Builds for more information about green building today.