Green homes are becoming more and more popular because of the benefits brought to the homeowners. In both cost and appearance, green homes are in no sense inferior to their counterparts. In fact, green homes cost less to live in, making them the smart choice in the post-recession economy.

Source: Trilogy Partners’ Portfolio

Here are some sustainable design ideas for your home:

• The R-House is designed from the ground up for optimal insulation so as to reduce heating and cooling bills. It features a super-insulated exterior, matched to minimized windows and a mechanical unit that circulates air throughout the home.

• Designed based on the same principles as the R-House, the TED House uses components and materials such as cellulose, EPS insulation, R-10 windows, and an air barrier to insulate it against its surroundings. However, it also uses design tricks such as an extended space above the kitchen to improve comfort, while allowing a degree of customization for interested consumers.

• Resembling nothing so much as a commercial building in an urban landscape, Live/Work/Home is nonetheless based on longhouses. Its central space stretches from front to back, while sliding panels and solar tubes let in as much light as needed.

For more sustainable home designs, please contact us at Trilogy Partners.

The increased interest in green home design is spurring a revival of modernism in the design of new homes in our area. Modernism has evolved from being viewed as boring and featureless, to being embraced for its simplicity and adaptability to being environmentally friendly.

Today’s modern homes are making more use of sustainable construction materials such as glass, concrete and steel that can provide the additional benefit of energy conservation. Instead of the overly ornate and imposing McMansions that overtook the landscape for almost two decades, today’s modern-styled home designers seek to lessen their impact on the environment.

Green home design works hand-in-hand with modern design that allows these structures to blend in with their natural surroundings with minimal stress to the environment. Some designers choose to mimic their natural surroundings in their exterior designs. The use of bold color in mid-century modern interiors allows for a playfulness that makes this style one that can be adapted to almost anyone tastes, and still providing the functionality of green design.

For the latest trends in green and modern design, contact the team at Trilogy Partners.

Source: Trilogy Partners

Despite outdated preconceptions, green homes built using modern materials with modern methods are as good or better than their conventional counterparts. In fact, their reduced costs are one of the main reasons that green building is popular.

Here are the benefits of choosing green home design:

• Green materials provide a number of benefits, ranging from long-lasting usefulness to reduced cost and reduced consumption of scarce resources. In fact, some green materials emit less pollutants, making for a healthier living space.
• Efficient fixtures and appliances consume less resources while still providing optimal function. For homeowners, this is important because less consumption means a reduced bill each month.
• Based on similar logic, automated amenities can also help homeowners save. For example, a programmable thermostat can turn down the heat during the day and then turn it back up when rush hour is approaching.
• Choosing an urban rather than rural location is better for the environment because it provides convenient access to amenities while encouraging positive habits. For example, being close to a supermarket means that homeowners and their families can walk rather than drive, thus saving on gas.

People interested in green home design can contact us at Trilogy Partners for skilled and experienced assistance with their needs.

Rough-textured raw stone is a popular trend in bathroom design. A rough stone bathroom can have one or all walls in natural or engineered stone. The unfinished textures work with contemporary or traditional bathroom designs.

Raw stone has subtle color variations that bring the mountains into your home. The look is natural and can be combined with any type of lighting and plumbing fixtures. The raw stone can be used effectively in a master bathroom, guest bath or mudroom. The rustic look and feel make for a great outdoor bathroom and spa next to a pool deck. Raw stone combines well with rough, natural wood.

A truly rustic bathroom can have stone walls, and a simple wood vanity and counter with a stone or ceramic vessel sink. Raw stone can line an alcove for the shower giving it the appearance of a mountain cave. Stone can also be used to build an obelisk or pyramid with a shower head for a curb-less shower.

Contact Trilogy Partners, an award-winning custom home builder in Breckenridge, can design and build the perfect rough stone bathroom for your custom home or vacation lodge in the Summit County area.

Suspended beds are quite popular in interior design. They give the impression that they’re floating on air, so that you’ll feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud.

Suspension in design is not limited to beds, though. Suspended fireplaces are fast becoming a trend in homes as well, given how sophisticated and unique they can look when done right.

But aside from aesthetic appeal, suspended fireplaces offer function, too. They take up less area because instead of using horizontal space, they use vertical space, a part of the room that’s not usually maximized. They can be mounted on the wall, leaving the area beneath them free. They are a good choice for people who want sleek and modern fireplaces.

Suspended fireplaces can also serve as a room divider when placed between the living and dining room. But because they’re floating, they still work well in open spaces.

Lastly, suspended fireplaces offer a fantastic 360-degree view. Thus, you can install one in your home and treat it like a focal centerpiece. Because you are not hindered by a wall, you can go with any shape and any design you want. So instead of the usual rectangular fireplace, experiment with round and oval ones for a change!

For more information be sure to contact us at Trilogy Partners today!

Colorado is becoming well known for its craft breweries but there are also some great little wineries popping up throughout the area. Buying wine quite often turns into collecting wine. A wine cellar is the perfect place to store your wine collection and can also be the perfect place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine.

Wine cellars can be incorporated into an existing space such as underneath the steps of your home or they can be built to a specific plan. Not all wine cellars need to be damp and dark.

Here are some suggestions for your future wine cellar:

• Use bright colors on the walls to keep things bright and airy.
• If you like a cozy feel wood floors can make the right impact.
• If your cellar is short on height use custom lighting that sits close to the roof.
• Leaving walls and floors concrete can provide the right temperature, add some comfort by laying down plush area rugs to provide texture and warmth.
• Use a color combination making the walls a different color to the racks, this will provide visual appeal.

If you need more information about potentially adding a wine cellar to your home, then be sure to contact the experts at Trilogy Partners today!

Wood adds natural warmth and texture to any room and it’s used extensively in kitchens and bathrooms by Trilogy Partners.

Wood countertops and butcher-block kitchen islands have always been interior design favorites.  Wood top kitchen islands can also be combined with stone or tile for versatility in food preparation.

Maple, cherry and other hardwoods need to be sealed and cleaned but they work well in areas where water and other liquids are used in food preparation and cleaning.

Wood countertops can be varnished to a high shine where water beads up on the surface.  They can be treated with various products that include tung oil, lemon oil, linseed oil and beeswax. An under-mounted sink in the bathroom or kitchen allows water to drain into the sink from the wood countertop.

The countertop can be smooth and elegant or rustic and weathered. A weathered countertop works well in a bathroom or wash area that is part of a mudroom.  The wood is actually recycled from a barn or other building.  It is sanded, smoothed and varnished or treated to avoid splinters.

Photo Source: Houzz

Colorado’s outdoor beauty is the perfect setting for patio entertaining and relaxing. And because we are ecologically diligent, we always look for ways to incorporate a sustainable design into an aesthetically pleasing setting. Eco-friendly materials include porous (pervious) concrete, stones and permeable pavers for better water movement in your yard. Landscaping with low-maintenance native plants and installing a “smart” irrigation system is another way to conserve water. Solar lighting is a great choice. Also, using LED outdoor lighting uses less electricity and may lower your electric bill, too.

• As you prepare to build or renovate your patio area, Better Homes & Gardens offers design suggestions to consider:
• Instead of an attached patio, utilize a spot that offers the most scenic vista or stage an area near a large tree.
• Water gardens bring beauty and serenity to your yard.
• Build your own fire pit! You can decide the size, and it can be a patio focal point.
• Instead of traditional lines, think curves. Gentle, circular arrangements with your patio stones and plants create a striking visual in your yard.

Not only will your patio provide a charming venue for relaxation and entertaining, it will increase your Colorado home’s value.

image via Houzz

Trust in Trilogy

Trilogy Partners design-and-build professionals carefully study interior and exterior trends for home and commercial buildings. Existing and new decor is every homeowner’s priority when building or remodeling. We are seeing ten striking home interior design trends for 2013:

1. Brass is the metal of the moment! From accent pieces to lighting, hardware and railings, brass is timeless and affordable.
2. Elegant florals and graceful tapestry-look fabrics are in demand for every room.
3. Computer-generated fabrics are all the rage on fashion runways, so look for these materials in upscale living rooms.
4. Move over modern because everything old is new again. Vintage looks in the kitchen (weathered concrete, slate, irregular flooring) are popular design choices.
5. Antique furniture and period pieces mix beautifully with your modern decor.
6. “Gloss! High gloss! Shine! Polish! Lacquer!”  – Jeffrey Bilhuber
7. Bright, hi-resolution computer-like colors are front and center.
8. James Mont furniture is over-the-top and has been called chic-savage.
9. Art pieces are no longer for the rich and famous. Investing in complimentary and affordable art for your home is trending.
10. Man Cave decor goes high tech this year and includes media rooms full of boy toys, wine cellars, and even hibachi-grill islands for the chef in every man.

Floor plan for remodeled Baldy Townhome

Necessity is the mother of invention — and creativity! A Colorado couple purchased a Baldy Mountain townhouse that, though structurally sound, had a terrible floorplan. They felt the master bath was “an embarrassment,” and the formal dining room an unnecessary space.

Working with a limited budget and wanting to enhance their new home’s interior beauty and function, they contracted Colorado builder Trilogy Partners to help transform their house into a home.

The wasted dining room space was used to enlarge the master bedroom, bath, and walk-in closet. The final floor plan also included a mudroom, laundry room and half-bath. The couple says Trilogy’s professionalism and willingness to work within their budget and timeframe took their townhome “to the pinnacle of property values within our market.” They are especially thrilled with their new, luxurious master bath.

Trilogy Partners takes pride in enhancing Colorado’s natural beauty by building environmentally friendly homes using sustainable, “green” materials. We work with Energy Star® partners and products to help our clients realize long-term energy-efficiency and lower utility bills. Call 970-453-2230 or contact our design/build team for additional information.